Batavia needs help with 175th celebration
Help the city of Batavia celebrate 175 years with games, fun and friends during Labor Day weekend. The event offers something for everyone in the family, including a half marathon, community picnic, pageant and more. Bring the family down to the Batavia Riverwalk on Friday through Monday for the celebration.
Founded in 1833, Batavia is the oldest city in Kane County. Other highlights include a historical exposition, pioneer parade, duck derby, historical pageant, bridge bash celebrating the completion of the Wilson Street bridge and downtown fireworks. For information about the 175th celebration, visit www.cityofbatavia.net.
Calling all bakers!: Committee members are seeking donations of cakes, cookies or pies for a cake walk to be held during a community picnic on Sunday as part of Batavia's 175th anniversary celebration. Anyone interested in baking for the event is asked to call Carla Hill or Chris Winter at (630) 406-5274 for drop off times and locations. In addition to the cake walk, the community picnic will include pioneer games, strolling actors depicting historical characters, a beard and mustache contest and more.
Collectibles commemorate 175th: Own a piece of Batavia history as the city celebrates its 175th anniversary. Limited edition ornaments bearing the 175th logo are available for $10 at the Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Ave.; Batavia Main Street, 2 E. Wilson St.; Batavia Chamber of Commerce, 106 W. Wilson St.; Batavia Park District, 327 W. Wilson St.; and the Batavia Depot Museum, 155 Houston St. Lapel pins are also available for $2 at Batavia Main Street, Batavia Park District, Batavia Depot Museum, Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. and Abby's Hallmark, 79 S. Randall Road.
"Little Town in a Big Woods": The city presents "Little Town in a Big Woods," a pageant written by Batavia's resident historian and author Marilyn Robinson, as part of the city's 175th celebration. Audience members will take a trip back in time to Batavia's origin and witness a patchwork of experiences that have made Batavia what it is today. Performances are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Rotolo Middle School, 1501 S. Raddant Road, in Batavia. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Doors will open for general seating at 6:30 p.m.
This special performance is cast with the following talent: John Dryden, Patty Vogel, Meghan Vogel, Rich Baker, Kimberly Pierce, Jim Pierce, Peg McMahon, Steve Macarus, Jennifer Reeves-Wilson, Jim Oberg, Elise Holm, Jake Holm, Ali Lillig, Scott Lillig and Curt Welsh. The production is directed by Lori Holm and assisted by Jesse Thomas Hicks III. Historical photographs are being provided by the Batavia Historical Society.
Marilyn Robinson will be present with copies of her book, "A Little Town in a Big Woods," and representatives from the Batavia Historical Society will be on hand with gifts for purchase, including 175th commemorative ornaments and lapel pins. For information about the pageant, call Lori Holm at (630) 887-7269. For a complete listing of 175th events, visit www.cityofbatavia.net.
Highlights: Help the city of Batavia celebrate 175 years with games, fun and friends during Labor Day weekend. The "Batavia Historical Exposition: A Peek into the Past" will be Friday to Monday will be at the Batavia City Council Chambers. The Pioneer Parade will step off at noon Saturday at Clark Island and end at the Batavia Riverwalk. Dress up yourself, your stroller, your bicycle or your wagon for this fun festive event. Prizes will be awarded. After the parade, relax to a free concert by the Fox Valley Concert Band on the Riverwalk. At 3 p.m. Saturday, enjoy the "Chuck the Duck Derby." Race registration is from noon to 2:45 p.m. on the day of the race and at the Batavia Public Library the week prior. Just bring in your construction duck and register your race information. In return, you'll receive a race bib with your duck's number to cheer on your winner. On Sunday, the Batavia's Half Madness Half Marathon will be from 7:30 to 10 a.m. For information and registration, visit www.halfmadness.com. It will be followed by the Community Church Service from noon to 1 p.m. at the Batavia Riverwalk. After the service, there will be a community picnic at 1 p.m. Pack a picnic lunch or purchase one from a downtown restaurant and bring the family out for an afternoon of fun. Play old-fashioned pioneer games, enter pie eating contests, participate in a cake walk, and collect giveaways. The Wilson Street Bridge Dedication Ceremony and Tours will be at 4:30 p.m. It will be followed at 5 p.m. by "Best of Batavia" where you can experience special samplers at Batavia restaurants and Music Matters Steel Drum Band at 5:30 p.m. The Michael Heaton Band will perform from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The fireworks celebration will be at 9 p.m. from Clark Island. To view the complete schedule of events online, visit www.cityofbatavia.net.