Saturday, May 22 will be a busy day in downtown as Genoa kicks off the year-long celebration of the 175th anniversary of the city’s founding. A market, mural dedication, music, speeches and more will provide activities from early morning through mid afternoon. All activities are free and open to the public.
The first Open Air Market of the season will begin at 9 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. in the Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Main and Genoa Streets. The market features fresh produce, spring plants, crafts, new products, flea market treasures, antiques and more. Additional markets will be held the fourth Saturday of every month through October. Two bands will perform in Main Street Park, located on the north side of Main Street just west of the market. Buchannon, a contemporary folk duo, will perform from 11 a.m. until noon. Truman’s Ridge, a blue grass band, will entertain from noon until 2 p.m.
The new mural, located on the west side of the Genoa Public Library, will be dedicated at 12:30 p.m. The mural was acquired by Genoa Main Street, Inc. working with the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition with funding from a National Scenic Byway Grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and an additional funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program (TAP).
The mural depicts an early road grading party. Road grading parties were part of the Good Roads Movement, an early attempt to improve local roads. The Good Roads Movement eventually led to the creation of the Lincoln Highway, the first successful, all-weather, coast-to-coast, automobile highway. For more information about the day’s events please visit Genoa Main Street website.
Click Here To Submit A News Tip Or Story