Events

• Friday Events
• Saturday Events
• Sunday Events
• Homestead Talent Showcase
• PJWC Baby Contest
• Festival 56 Presents...
• 5K Run/Walk
• Parade
• Car Show
• 50/50 Raffle
• Concerts
• Food

Event Locations and Directions

Location Maps and Driving Directions can be found on our Maps Page!

Musical Entertainment of the Homestead Festival

Each year the Homestead Featival features a wonderful selection of musical acts scattered throughout our community. Providing our guests with a variety of styles and genres, we are sure you will find performances that meet your pesonal style and preferences. Below is a list of some of the artists who will be performing at this years Homestead Festival.

Snap Shot - Darius Miller Park, Friday 8:30 PM - 12:30 AM

Friday evening September 9th the Princeton Jaycees Beer Garden will be held at Darius Miller Park with the gates opening at 8:00 p.m. and music and entertainment by Snapshot taking the stage from 8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

Come join the Rock and Roll Party with Snap Shot! Dance to the music of Journey, Bon Jovi, REO Speed wagon, Collective Soul, Daughtry and many other hits from the 1980's thru today!

Our '5' lead singers keep the mix going with rich harmonies and range!

Having originally playing through the 80’s and 90’s we reformed in 2009 and have keep it Rocking at Major Clubs and Festivals across Northern Illinois!

Snap Shot features Princeton native Murph Cater on lead vocals and Danny Garcia, former Percussionist with Steppenwolf. So if you like Classic Rock, get ready for a rockin good time when Snap Shot takes the stage.

Snap Shot is:
- Patrick “Murph” Cater – Vocal
- Don Agler - Vocal and Guitar
- Greg Dollerschell - Vocal and Guitar
- Rick Piontek - Vocal and Keyboards
- Mike Mathy - Vocal and Bass Guitar
- Danny Garcia - Percussion

Check out Snap Shot at www.snapshotrocks.com.

Mississippi Heat - Alexander Park, Saturday 4:30-6:30 PM

Sponsored by Citizens First National Bank

Led by the weeping wail of bandleader Pierre Lacocque's dexterous harp playing and the powerful soul-blues vocals of Inetta Visor, MISSISSIPPI HEAT has been one of the most successful Chicago Blues bands to come out of the Windy City for years. This hard-driving blues band plays classic Chicago blues with flair, intelligence and respect for the traditions established by musical predecessors Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf . . . Mississippi Heat provides living proof that a harp dominated Chicago style band is not an anachronism. Pierre Lacocque is that rare younger generation harpist who's absorbed the lessons of subtlety, silence, and solo construction from the masters -- Big and Little Walter, the Sonny Boy Williamsons -- as well as their raucous, hawklike tonal power.

The Princeton Park District will provide food, beverages and Spirits for your enjoyment.

Be sure to come Saturday, September 10th and enjoy Mississippi Heat from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Shady Alexander Park.

Check out Mississippi Heat on Myspace.

Rodeo Drive - Darius Miller Park, Saturday 8:30 PM -12:30 AM

Sponsored by Princeton Jaycees

Saturday evening September 10th the Princeton Jaycees Beer Garden will be held at Darius Miller Park with the gates opening at 8:00 p.m. and music and entertainment by Rodeo Drive taking the stage from 8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

Rodeo Drive has been together since November, 2007. Bringing together members of several other local bands, Rodeo Drive draws on their past to play a mix of classic rock, country and blues music. Members include: Dan Smith, vocals and guitar; Eric Mills, vocals and bass guitar; Jay Suarez, vocals and drums; Tommy Rose, vocals and guitar; and Greg Wolcott, vocals and guitar. Rodeo Drive was selected as the opening act for one of LaGrotto's "Concerts for a Cause" events last summer, getting to work with Nashville recording acts Zac Brown Band and Little Big Town. Last summer, Rodeo Drive was the opening act for Nashville recording artist, Craig Morgan, at the Bureau County Fair. Rodeo Drive can be seen regularly at many public and private venues in and around Princeton, IL.

Rodeo Drive lists their influences as John Mellencamp, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Toby Keith, Grand Funk Railroad, ZZ Top, Tim McGraw, Wild Cherry, Doobie Brothers, Brooks and Dunn, BB King, Wilson Pickett, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley,Gary Moore, Eagles...

Check out Rodeo Drive on Myspace

Generics - Soldiers & Sailors Park, Sunday 11:00AM - Noon, 12:30PM - 1:30PM and 2:00PM - 3:00PM

Sponsored by Rediger Auction Service - Rick Rediger

The Goodies Band also known as the Generics is now in their 20th year performing in the Illinois Valley area. The variety band enjoys playing swing, country and 50's, 60's and 70's rock and roll music. The band began as a 2-piece combo comprised of Ray Schnarr, a vocalist and guitar player, and Gary Swanson, a keyboard player. Within a year the band became a four piece combo adding two individuals in Ray Pierson as the drummer and Jeff Grieff as a guitar player.

Ray Pierson was also known for his corny Pierson jokes. Over the years Tom Seda, Tom Rose, John Loftus and Mike Raffety have filled in as lead guitar players. The band grew to 7-pieces by adding Larry Kuepker as a vocalist and percussionist, Marilyn Younger as a vocalist and saxophone player, and Virjean Haywood as another vocalist.

Ray Pierson and Larry Kuepker have unexpectedly passed on. Their personalities and talent are still expressed in selected songs the band performs in their shows. The Goodies Show Band now consists of six members and three guest performers. The current members are Gary Swanson, Ray Schnarr, Stan Allan a vocalist and lead guitar player, Troy King the drummer, Marilyn Younger and Virjean Haywood. The guest performers are Bob Stevenson a vocalist and trumpet player, Ed Robinson a vocalist and Karen Robinson also a vocalist.

If you want a good time dancing and listening to the oldies but goodies music, be sure to catch one of The Goodies Band Shows.