This Weekend in Southern Illinois -Jun 5-7

Two major regional events to pass along, both fairly close to each other.

The Annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres State Historic Site near Prairue du Rocher in Randolph County will be Saturday and Sunday.  Tipi's and tents will be set up around the reconstructed stone fort, there will be cool opening ceremonies with drum and fife corps, soldiers of three 18th century armies, and cannon each day, as well as traditional crafters demonstrating their work, rifle and cannon competitions, vendors with a wide variety of merchandise from Dutch shoes used by 17th and 18th century French colonial farmers to Native American reproduction artifacts, and more.  It's a very colorful event you won't want to miss if you have the chance to get there at all.  Admission is free.  I published an article with details May 28th on Gather.

The Horseradish Festival in Collinsville is Saturday (10am-10pm) and Sunday (10am-6pm) at Woodland Park.  Admission is free.  There's storyteller, Root Toss, Root Golf, Root Sacking contest, Bloody Mary Contest, a Taekwondo exhibition, Little Miss Pageant, and Music by Lucky Dan and Naked Mike (Sat), Catfish and the Big Boss Blues Band (Sat) and The Backseat cruisers (Sun) and the Rx Blues Band (Sun).

Nashville, located in Washington County, an hour's drive east on I-64 from St Louis, will host the 5K Walk With the Dogs benefitting research and treatment of pancreatic cancer, whose victims include Patrick Swayze.  The Washington County Sheriff's Department's new K-9 recruit, Dakota, will take part; Dakota replaces Sitka who was recently put to sleep due to cancer.  They are continuing to sign up walkers, including webwalkers linked in by internet, up to the event.  The event starts at 7am Saturday in Nashville.  Their website is at http://www.jthompsonwalkwiththedogs.com/.  I published an article with details on Gather earlier this spring which has been linked to their website.

There are also several county American Cancer Society Relays for Life this weekend including the Hardin/Pope County American Cancer Society Relay for Life  5pm Friday-5am Saturday at Hardin Co High School.  Elizabethtown... Wabash County American Cancer Society Relay for Life 7pm Friday-7am Saturday at Mount Carmel High School... Jefferson County American Cancer Society Relay for Life at 6pm at Mt Vernon Outland Airport...Hamilton County American Cancer Society Relay for Life starting at 6pm Friday at McLeansboro Courthouse Square. 

Olney Area Pilots Association Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast is Sunday 8-11am at Olney/Noble Airport.  Up to 35 airplanes on display.  Visit with pilots, have breakfast.  Open to public.  618-393-2967

For more events this weekend or any weekend in Southern Illinois, consult my website, Southern Illinois Road trip at http://home.midwest.net/~howes/southernillinoisroadtrip./