Petunia Festival returns to Dixon in July

DIXON – The Petunia Festival will be coming back to Dixon this year, on a smaller scale and with health guidelines in place.

The plan is to have a 3-day festival July 2-4 with live music, food, Family Fun Night, a parade and fireworks, dependent upon COVID-19 mitigations in place.

Social distancing and other safety protocols will be expected at all events.

Festival leadership has been working with the health department, police department and City Council on how to bring the signature event back to town while keeping safety precautions in place, Petunia Festival President Jennifer Bubrick said.

“It will be different than it has ever been, but we have to be conscious as a group for the community,” she said.

No matter how mitigations might affect other events, the fireworks will take place at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4.

The parade will be at 1 p.m. July 4, and the theme will revolve around all the holidays throughout the year since the pandemic caused people to miss so many celebrations this past year.

Ultimate Air Dogs will also be featured, and Family Fun Night will be on July 2. Entertainment will include community music acts, and the lineup will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Volleyball for those 21 and older will be July 3.

Tickets purchased at the Christmas Walk in 2019 will be honored, and general ticketing prices are still undecided.

The carnival is uncertain, and no car show is planned.

“It’s going to be different this year, but that’s OK,” Bubrick said. “We’re excited to bring something to the community that everyone loves, and we’ll be doing it in the safest way possible.”



Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers

Rachel Rodgers joined Sauk Valley Media in 2016 covering local government in Dixon and Lee County.