Published: September 11, 2008 12:59 pm      

Fall Festival celebrates area rivers

DANVILLE — From crafts to live music, a bounce house, a beer garden, mud volleyball and even tomahawk throwing, the City of Danville Parks and Recreation Department presents an annual event that truly has something for everyone. This year’s Vermilion River Fall Festival, set for Sept. 19-21, at Ellsworth Park will be no exception.

Two new displays, both educational, also are part of the festival this year.

Cindy Parson, recreation manager for the city,explained the background of the Storm Drain Marking that will take place during the event.

“In 2004, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn (began) celebrating ‘It's Our River Day.’ Our festival has always been on the third Saturday in September, the same weekend as the ‘It's Our River Day’ celebration,” Parson said.

“We thought it was a great theme to match up with, so ever since 2004, the festival has done something to help support and maintain our rivers.

“In the past we have had fishing, canoeing and kayaking clinics, river clean ups, river bank clean ups and this year we are hoping to help with a solution to storm water pollution,” she said.

“Volunteers will mark storm drains with medallions that state ‘No Dumping — Drain to Lake.’ Hopefully by marking the drains, this will educate people as to where storm water actually runs to and ends up.

“Storm water can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt, pet waste and other pollutants and flow into storm sewers, which drain directly into lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands and coastal waters,” Parson said. “These are the same waters that we fish, swim and get our drinking water from. We hope that with this knowledge, we adopt healthy household habits to protect our water sys-tems.”

Other safety information will come via Kyle Finley and will deal with electricity. The Bismarck man owns Life Line Demo Inc., a firm that provides electricity safety training throughout the country.

A former Illinois Power lineman, Finley said he sets up a display that features “arcs, flashes and explosions.” He uses audience members to show the common misconceptions that people have about keeping safe around downed power lines and household outlets.

“What keeps you safe if a live power line falls on your car has nothing to do with the tires,” Finley said. That’s one of the many false ideas he clears up with his demonstrations.

The fall festival built its reputation on crafts, though, and that category continues to grow. Fall décor, especially Halloween-themed items, dominate the many booths that sit under tents protected from the weather.

Both a flea market and a commercial area will help satisfy all urges to shop. Food booths provide what may be the last tastes of fair food until next summer.

At 5 p.m., Friday kids’ activities begin and continue through the weekend. This year, they range from traditional pony rides to inflatable blow up toys.

Fun and games for all ages include a movie Friday night, tomahawk throwing, cake walks and a dunk tank with celebrity targets.

Adult entertainment features a beer garden, bingo for cash, the Illiana Antique Car Show, four live bands and a DJ.

A complete schedule of events will appear in the Commercial-News prior to the festival.

FYI

The City of Danville Parks and Recreation Department presents the Vermilion River Fall Festival from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 19 and 20 and 11 a.m.-5p.m. Sept. 21 at Ellsworth Park. Admission is free.