Colonial Days successful

Andover’s Colonial Days Festival, June 6 and 7, was a success because of volunteers helping and the generous sponsorship of area businesses and corporations.

 Visitors came from a wide area and enjoyed being a tourist in their own backyard. Stenzel Auction volunteered their services for the very successful fund-raising auction.Plans have been underway for months, preparing for Andover’s 175th anniversary next June 4 through 6. Groups and individuals are already requesting to be in the big parade, June 5, 2010. For information about the parade, please call (309) 521-8456.

 There will also be a play, “The Dreamers,” presented twice in previous years to sold-out crowds; art and crafts (521-8625); the Karen Anderson memorial apron show; band concerts; fireworks; amusements; a beard contest; 5K and fun runs; and games and contests.

 If you were unable to attend this year’s festival or want to come back to spend more time visiting Andover’s historic buildings, the Jenny Lind Chapel and Immigrant Museum is open every day through October from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The Andover Historical Museum is open the first Sunday of each month through August from 1 to 4 p.m. Group tours are available by calling 309-476-8228.

If you are looking for a place to picnic, plan to visit the beautiful Andover Lake Park is a 10-acre park and offers three picnic shelters, modern restrooms, playground equipment, baseball diamond, three-acre lake for fishing, sand volleyball court and tennis/basketball courts.

Ron Peterson, Chairman, Andover Tourism Coucil