5 things to do in DeKalb County: Veterans weekend, Hinckley fireworks and Centennial Celebration

1. 14th annual Veterans Weekend in DeKalb County Friday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 1

On July 30, a living history military encampment will set up at the Genoa Veterans Home, where it will stay until Sunday. The DeKalb AMVETS Post 90 will host a meet-and-greet starting at 4 p.m. and will have drink specials, food and a band.

On July 31, Hy-Vee will host a veterans and community breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. and staging for the motorcycle and motorcade parade of vehicles will start in the Hy-Vee parking lot at 11 a.m. All licensed motorcycles and other licensed vehicles may participate.

The parade will depart at 11:50 a.m. and go to eight senior living facilities in DeKalb and Sycamore and have a short program at each facility, then end up at the Genoa Veterans Home to join the Veterans Awareness Fair, which goes from 2 to 6 p.m.

On Aug. 1, there will be a veterans and community breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Genoa Veterans Home. The sportsman’s show will be from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

5 Things To Do near me

2. Hinckley Fireworks Fest on Saturday, July 31 at 5 p.m. at Hinckley Big-Rock High School, 700 E. Lincoln Highway in Hinckley.

Gates open at 5 p.m. to this free admission event, with a bike parade at 4:30 p.m., craft and vendor fair with pony rides from 5 to 8 p.m., food trucks and face painting from 5 to 9 p.m., WhiskeyFest Band from 7 to 10 p.m. and a fireworks show at dusk.

3. Centennial Celebration - DeKalb Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club of DeKalb, DeKalb American Legion Post 66 celebrated at band concert with cake on Tuesday, Aug. 3

Tickets for a drive-thru dinner are also available to allow concert-goers to have dinner at the park. Inboden’s will prepare a dinner that includes chicken or pork chop and sides at a cost of $15 (or $25 for two). Meals will be available for pickup at the Hopkins Park shelter from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 3.

DeKalb Municipal Band concert at 7:30 p.m. at Hopkins Park Bandshell, and a fundraiser raffle.

Four prizes will be awarded ranging from $200 to $1,000 and only 500 tickets will be sold. Tickets are available for $25 each and can be purchased by contacting Rotary at https://dekalbrotary.org, or Kiwanis at https://dekalbkiwanis.org. Tickets also will be available for purchase at the band concerts on July 27 and Aug. 3, or until tickets have sold out.

4. Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Festival at Sandwich Fairgrounds, 15730 Pratt Road, on Saturday, July 31 starts at noon.

Featuring: Chris Walz, Truman’s Ridge, Grass Attack, RoadKill Rangers, The GrassHoopers, Mike & Lisa Templeton and more.

$10 minimum suggested donation per person, and camping for the weekend will be Friday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 1 with $20 per night including electric and water. Food will also be available with food trucks, and folding chairs are available but participants are encouraged to bring their own.

5. Fowler dancers bring ‘Wizard of Oz’ to the big screen during the final weekend in July

“Wizard of Oz and More” will use dance, dialogue and daring acrobatics to tell the story of Dorothy, the girl from Kansas, who travels to the magical land of Oz, with her little dog, too, and with the help of three best friends, travels down the Yellow Brick Road, meets the Wonderful Wizard, and then battles the Wicked Witch of the West, to save the Emerald City and all else living in Oz. Yet ultimately, she discovers, there’s no place like home.

Screened over four showings in three days: 7 p.m. Friday, July 30; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 31; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1. All showings will be on the big screen at the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb.

Tickets are available through the Egyptian Theatre box office, 815-758-1225, and online at BethFowlerDanceCompany.com.

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