FRANKLIN GROVE — In a time when finances are tight, and travel is limited, One does not have to go far to enjoy days of treasure hunting, fun games and activities,;an education and a world of entertainment.

This is the promise of all those who venture to Franklin Grove for the 2010 edition of the Franklin Grove Summer Harvest Festival.

The Franklin Grove Fire Department village-wide yard sales kick things off Friday morning. Come early, stay late. Food will be available by the AFC Football Boosters at the Franklin Grove Village Hall as well as at eateries in the village.

Rowen Derksen will entertain folks with a trip down memory lane accompanied by his sidekick 12-string guitar at two shows at the H.I. Lincoln building, while others are reliving memories at the All-Class reunion at the Dixon Elks Club.

Saturday morning begins bright and early with a pancake and sausage breakfast at the Church of the Brethren while many begin there search for valued treasures in the fertile fields of more than 50 yard sales.

The village is enveloped in a flood of activity as the children’s fun alley and petting zoo opens in the parking lot at the Franklin Grove United Methodist Church and the working exhibits move in to action at the show grounds of the Living History Antique Equipment Association.

Fathers and sons in particular are anxious to show off their prized pieces of equipment that did the work that supported the families on the family farms and provided the necessary food to keep a vibrant community fed.

The whole family will enjoy the activities of Chaplin Creek as they see how the work was done in rural America more than a century ago, and what they did for fun before the days of cell phones, facebook and I-pods.

No festival would be complete without the Saturday night parade, and yes, this is an election this year, so we‘ll see the Democrats, the Republicans, a few Independents and who knows. Maybe a tea partier.

The Copper Creek Band featuring Jimmy Wolber and friends will provide the music for the street dance sponsored by the Franklin Grove Area Business Association. Before the dance, the biggest race since the abandoning of the tractor slow race, will feature The Ashton Gazette/Johnson Day Care sponsored running of the big wheels race.

On Sunday the Presbyterians will sponsor a breakfast before the community church service.

After a visit to the art show and a stab at winning the family kickball tournament, the focus of activity moves away from the downtown and move south of town toward the activities of the Chaplin Creek Historic Village and the Living History Antique Equipment Show.

On Sunday afternoon the retired teachers will be honored with a tea at the Meadows of Franklin Grove.

Closing activities at Atlasta Park complete the weekend with the Franklin Grove Woman’s Club ice cream social, the community chorus, several raffles and recognizing the teacher honorees who can attend and all others who have served us faithfully.

Wow! What a great weekend!

For the complete article see the 07-28-2010 issue.

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