Rainout Locations:

- Bureau County Fairgrounds
- Princeton High School Gym
- Bureau County Metro Center
- Festival 56 Theatre
- St. Louis Gym

Event Locations and Directions

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

Saturday Events

Underground Railroad 5K Race

Sponsored by the Princeton Park District & WZOE 1490

For More information about the Underground Railroad 5K, please follow the link below!

Window Displays

HOMESTEAD FESTIVAL COMMITTEE WINDOW DISPLAYS are a great opportunity for the area collectors, historians, businesses, organizations or clubs to promote themselves and to display any hidden talents or treasures. The theme for the display contest this year is "Let Freedom Ring".

The Steering Committee loves to see all the windows along Princeton's Main Street decorated to welcome the many people who come to Princeton for our wonderful Festival. Business owners who do not decorate their own windows are invited to make their windows available to clubs/organizations and collectors/historians looking for space for their displays.

This year's theme promises to be a fun one with a million possibilities. Our goal is to entice customers into our businesses with their own unique display of our theme.

Future information will provide businesses with details on how to sign up; deadlines; judging dates and contact information. All winners will be announced on Friday, September 9, 2011 during the Homestead Festival Announcements at 6:00 p.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Park.


Download A Registration
Form Here! 		  

Children's Fun Fair   

Sponsored by Citizens First National Bank

From 9:00-11:00 a.m. Citizens turns the bank parking lot off Pleasant Street into the place for family fun with your kids. A variety of games and prizes.

Citizens Fun Fair will again provide a Saturday morning of fun during Homestead weekend! Come and join in a morning of family fun!!!

Unlimited Play---only $3.00
(Maximum $10 per family)

Princeton Police will be featuring Fingerprinting & Drug Dog!

Raffle Sign Up!

All Proceeds benefit the Zearing Child Enrichment Center

*In case of rain, the event will be held at St. Louis Gym

Bureau County Pork Producers BBQ

For over 30 years the Bureau County Pork producers have been serving specially seasoned butterfly pork chops and pork burgers under the tent at Soldiers and Sailors Park. Cooked on an open grill by dozens of volunteer members, it is a once a year special taste. Join us and enjoy the flavor thousands of Homestead Festival visitors return to savor year after year.

Savor delicious butterfly pork chop sandwiches and pork dinners at Soldiers and Sailors Park from 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. They will also be serving on Sunday.

Princeton Park District Skate Park Competition

This competition is held at Alexander Park and includes youth and adult categories. Prizes, music and spectators make this an entertaining and exciting event.


Download A Registration
Form Here! 		  


PHS Alumni & Foundation Reception

Princeton High School, photo display provided by the Princeton Library. 9:00am - 12:00pm.

Stamp Cancellation

Sponsored by the Homestead Festival Steering Committee

Visit the Princeton Post Office between 9:00 a.m. - Noon for the yearly Special Homestead Stamp Cancellation. The stamp will contain the 2011 theme "Let Freedom Ring".

Make it with Lard Pie Baking Contest   

Sponsored by Bureau County Home and Community Education

If you desire participating make sure you have your pie delivered to Soldiers and Sailors Park by 9:00 a.m. All pies will be auctioned off at Noon.

Beta Sigma Phi Arts & Crafts Show   

A variety of vendors are set up all around the Court House Lawn from 9:00am-7:00 p.m.

For additional information and to secure a space please contact Connie Lind at 815-875-4330 or lindconnie@yahoo.com.


Download A Registration
Form Here! 		  

Owen Lovejoy Homestead Tours

OWEN LOVEJOY HOMESTEAD TOURS are FREE at the Homestead on East Peru Street from 8:00AM - 10:00AM and 3:00PM - 5:00PM.

A Former Station on the Underground Railroad, the Lovejoy Homestead was the home of the Denham and Lovejoy families for nearly 100 years. Reverend Lovejoy was its most famous resident and occupied the house from 1838 until his death in 1864. For additional information visit their website at www.lovejoyhomestead.com.

Wise Guys Burger Eating Contest

To participate be at Wise Guys Bar & Grill in Princeton at 11:30 a.m.

Watch for further information on past winners and the time you will need to beat!


Helicopter Rides

Sponsored by Nelson Enterprises

Allow Pilot Chris Kieffer to take you above and beyond for more thrills and excitement at the 40th Annual Homestead Festival. No more than 3 at a time so pick and choose your flying partners wisely. Enjoy the view of Homestead Festival from above and give your kids the thrill of a lifetime. Helicopter rides will begin at noon and end at sunset at Sullivans parking lot for $30 per person. This awesome addition to Homestead Festival is sponsored by Nelson Enterprises with them donating back $5 of each ride.

Prairie Arts Center Exhibit & Play

10:00AM - 1:00PM & 5:00PM - 8:00PM
Prairie Arts Center Gallery ~ "Harold Steele/Harvest" handcrafted farm and home tools

4:00PM - Ten Thousand Thunders at the Prairie Arts Center Theater
Come celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Owen Lovejoy's birth at the Prairie Arts Center Theater. This reader's theater performance, written by local author and playwright Trey R. Barker, is based on the 1843 trial of The State of Illinois vs. Owen Lovejoy.

Performances are Sat. Sept 3 at 7 pm, Sun Sept 4 at 3 pm, and during Homestead Weekend Fri, Sat, and Sun Sept 9-11 at 4 pm. Tickets are $10. To reserve tickets, please call the Prairie Arts Council Ticket Line at 815-200-4789. For more information, please visit www.theprairieartscouncil.org.

Any questions please contact Linda Gustafson at 815-872-9181.

Homestead Festival Parade

For More information about the Homestead Festival Parade, please follow the link below!

For more information contact Debbie Kirley at debbie.kirley@edwardjones.com

Getting to Know Lovejoy Descendents

Sponsored by Lovejoy Trustees Association

Reception in log cabin at Lovejoy Homestead.

Open to the public 4:00-5:00 p.m.

For More information, please follow the link below!

Blues Concert   

Sponsored by Citizens First National Bank

Enjoy Mississippi Heat at Alexander Park from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Food, beverage and spirits will be available through the Princeton Park District.

Additional information about Mississippi Heat can be found on our Concerts Page.

Festival 56 Presents "The Guys"

Sponsored by Norberg Memorial Home.

For More information about the Festival 56 "The Guys", please follow the link below!

The Homestead Talent Showcase

Sponsored by Midland States Bank

Talent from Princeton, whether current or returning to home roots, will be on display at the Homestead Talent Showcase for one night only on Saturday, September 10th at 7:30pm at Princeton High School Auditorium. This is the second year that the talent showcase has been a part of the Homestead Festival, and organizer Ron McCutchan, is looking forward to a stellar evening.

Performers will include Nick Towns (pianist); Dane Suarez (vocal); students from Main Street Dance Academy; Noah Currie (reading); Ron McCutchan (vocal); Karen Glover (vocal); Vickie Holmes with Lincoln School 3rd Grade Children's Chorus; Tara Kunkel; Kevin Smith and others. Tickets for the Homestead Talent Showcase are now available for $10 at Midland States Bank, Central Bank, and Citizens First National Bank or at the door 30 minutes prior to the performance.

Jaycees Beer Garden and Entertainment

Saturday evening 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.

Come out on Saturday Night and enjoy your favorite rock and country hits! Additional information about Rodeo Drive can be found on our Concerts Page

The Princeton Jaycees are very excited to have bands with great followings at their beer gardens this year. The Beer Garden will feature Budweiser and Barcardi and will be held rain or shine. There is a $5.00 cover charge so come enjoy the music at this annual event.

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