Food, tours, music and more planned for Union County ColorFest

UNION COUNTY, Ill. -- Several Union County communities will be celebrating their annual ColorFest this weekend with food, music, a car show, a tractor pull and lots of other activities.

"It is a self-generating, county-wide event," said Terry Rueffer, former Union County Chamber of Commerce vice-chairman. "We want to show off Union County as a place to visit, move to, eat, drink and have a good time."

This is the ninth year for the Union County ColorFest, which is always held the second weekend in October. Thousands of people usually turn out for the fest.

The Illinois communities involved include Alto Pass, Anna, Cobden, Dongola, Jonesboro and Lick Creek. Each community has its own Colorfest committee.

ColorFest brochures detailing the weekend's activities are available at the Stinson Memorial Library in Anna, local Kroger and Wal-Mart stores, as well as various ColorFest locations. Those interested may also call the Union County Chamber of Commerce at (618) 833-6311 for more information.

"Most people think of Illinois as Chicago and a big, ugly cornfield," Rueffer said. "Union County is all rolling hills, orchards and stuff like that, lots of trees. With the leaves changing colors in the fall, this is the time of year when the county is looking its best."

One of the activities planned during ColorFest is a home and structure tour organized by the P.A.S.T. (Promoting Appreciation of Structural Treasures) group of Union County.

Homes included in the tour are the Alex and Bev Popov home in Anna, the Robert Spellman home in Jonesboro and the Bruce and Tricia Francis home in Cobden. Structures to be toured include the Stinson Memorial Library and St. Anne's Church, both in Anna.

The P.A.S.T. organization got its start with an Historical Home Tour during ColorFest weekend in 1995. Since that time P.A.S.T. members joined together to preserve the wealth of history contained in such old structures for future generations.

"We feel so strongly about preserving these historic structures," said Elaine Crain, P.A.S.T. publicity chair. "We feel this information needs to be documented before it is too late because that sometimes gets lost when people tear down buildings and change the landscape."

Proceeds from the ColorFest home and structure tour will go to P.A.S.T.'s most recent acquisitions -- St. Anne's Church and the Kirkpatrick home in Anna. The organization plans to restore the little gothic church and develop the Kirkpatrick property into a museum.

Tour times both Saturday and Sunday will be 1 to 5 p.m. Admission costs $3. Donations will be accepted. For more information about P.A.S.T., write to P.A.S.T., PO Box 778, Jonesboro, IL 62952.

jgosche@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR COLORFESTALTO PASS

Wine tasting and music -- Alto Vineyard

"Pickin' in the Park" -- downtown park shelter

Specialty food items -- Rendleman Orchards

Featured antiques and "old wares" -- Austin's of Alto Pass

Draft sodas and old-fashioned shakes -- Northwest Passage and Root beer SaloonANNA

Union County Republican Women's Club breakfast -- Sunshine Inn Community Center

Residence and business decorating contest (starts Wednesday, ends Friday)

Gospel music -- United Methodist Church

Biathlon -- Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center

Health fair -- Union County Hospital

Children's activities -- Boyd Orchards

ColorFest party -- Great Boars of Fire

Gift shopping -- The Potato Barn

Kirkpatrick pottery display -- Isom's Antiques

Tractor pull -- Anna City ParkCOBDEN

Fall Festival -- Flamm Orchards

OctoberFest -- Owl Creek Vineyard

Exhibits -- Cobden MuseumDONGOLA

Softball tournament, buggy rides, pageant and lots more -- Dongola Ball Park

Pancake breakfast and motorcycle poker run -- Dongola Fire Department

Tractor pull -- Dongola Ball Park

Hog Wild Bar-B-Q -- Dongola Ball Park

Garden walks, "Elvis" and "Best of ColorFest" catfish -- Fragrant Fields and The Mule Barn Cafe

Custom Classic Car Show -- Dongola Ball ParkJONESBORO

Crafts, vendors and music -- Jonesboro square

Limestone Creek Winery open

Barbecue plates -- Jonesboro Public Library

Calling contest, archery match, coonhound events and more -- Trail of Tears LodgeLICK CREEK

Cajun food and music -- Lick Creek General Store

ColorFest Fun Day for children

ColorFest brochures detailing the weekend's activities are available at the Stinson Memorial Library in Anna, local Kroger and Wal-Mart stores, as well as various ColorFest locations. Those interested may also call the Union County Chamber of Commerce at (618) 833-6311 for more information.