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Decatur Celebration, Inc. Announces New Festival on the Waterfront

Decatur, IL | February 28, 2012 – Decatur Celebration, Inc. officials announced plans to produce a festival on the marina of Lake Decatur this September 22 and 23.

The event is part of a combined effort with Decatur Convention & Visitors Bureau and Decatur Park District to showcase the Decatur-Forsyth area during the Bassmaster Toyota Trucks All-Star Week, which features the Evan Williams Bourbon Championship to be held on Lake Decatur.

“Our mission is to encourage community pride,” states board president, Steve Furrow.  “We are excited to further that mission with this opportunity, and are proud to showcase how Decatur celebrates during this world class event.”

Preliminary festival plans include family entertainment such as live music, interactive games, children’s carnival rides, arts and crafts vendors, and festival foods.

“You can expect the same ‘family fun’ approach that has made Decatur Celebration a success,” states producer/director, Lori Sturgill.  “We invite the entire community to be involved as plans develop.”

This world class event has been brought to the City of Decatur through the efforts of the Decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau.

At Decatur Celebration, there’s something exciting around every corner.

Each August, hundreds of thousands of people flock to Central Illinois to experience Decatur Celebration, the Midwest’s most exciting family street festival.  The massive 3-day event blankets the downtown business district with:

• Five Festivals in One: Music, Food, Arts & Crafts, Carnival, and Film
  • 10 Show Stages featuring national and emerging music artists
  • Over 60 unique food items hand-selected for quality and inspected for safety
  • 3 blocks of Arts & Crafters
  • Spectacular carnival rides for all ages
  • Razzle Dazzle Goodtimes Parade televised LIVE on WAND Storm Center 17
• Kids Block featuring children’s games, shows and prizes
• Wine Garden featuring a premier selection of wine and the cool sounds of blues music
• “Indie” art and music area called “The Back Lot” featuring emerging music artists on the Spotlight Stage, a community art project, artist exhibitions and craft beers.

Decatur Celebration’s 26 year-and-counting legacy includes much more than entertainment for the whole family; the Celebration is all about community.  Each year the event generates over $100,000 for a number of local service organizations, provides opportunities for volunteerism, and means millions to the local business community.

As the Midwest temperatures start to cool and we all begin thinking about hunkering down for the winter, Decatur Celebration is thinking about three very special hot summer nights in 2012 – August 3, 4 & 5!

Finding the right mix of “something for everyone” is as much a balancing act as any performed by our favorite street performers.  Add to that our internal persistence not to repeat headliners and you get quite a challenge each year.

So, with that said, it’s pretty safe to say who (most likely) WILL NOT be a Decatur Celebration headliner in 2012:

A History of Decatur Celebration Headliners

1986 – Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, Dan Peek (ex-America lead singer), Ronnie McDowell, The Association

1987 – Regency, John Conlee, Kingston Trio, Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band, Cadillac Cowboys, The Benchmarks

1988 – 1964 as the Beatles, B.J. Thomas, Lonnie Brooks, Grass Roots, Charlie Brown and the Coasters, Bertie Higgins

1989 – The Platters, The Kendalls, The Buckinghams, Henny Youngman, Tom Chapin, The Lettermen, Gary Morris

1990 – Chi-Lites, The Guess Who, Rare Earth, David Frizzell, Queen Ida, T. Graham Brown, 1964 as the Beatles, Jerry Butler, Vince Vance and the Valiants

1991 – Don M Daryle Singletary cLean, Exile, Dr. Hook, The Byrds, Rare Earth, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Vince Vance and the Valiants

1992 – Lassie, John Anderson, 1964 as the Beatles, Buckwheat Zydeco, Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, The Shirelles, Herman’s Hermits

1993 – Johnny Paycheck, Tiny Tim, The Blenders, Mickey Thomas’ Starship, Mamas and the Papas, The Jets

1994 – The Crystals, Arrow, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Eddie Rabbitt, C.J. Chenier, The Grass Roots

1995 – The Supremes, Electric Light Orchestra Part II, Earl Thomas Conley, Ray, Goodman and Brown, Zachard Richard, Irma Thomas

1996 – Commodores, Survivor, Ronnie McDowell, Bobby “Boris” Pickett, Sheb Wooley

1997 – Air Supply, The Turtles, Three Dog Night, Daryle Singletary, Sam Moore, Brewer and Shipley, Moxy Fruvous

1998 – Rick Springfield, The Manhattans, 10,000 Maniacs, Spyro Gyra, BeauSoliel

1999 – Kansas, Christopher Cross, All-4-One, The Del-Vikings, Gene Chandler, Paul Brandt, Terrance Simien

2000 – The Tokens, Gene Chandler, Savoy Brown, BR5-49, P.M. Dawn, Eddie Money, Taylor Dayne, Richie Havens

2001 – Little River Band, Lisa Lisa, Mark Schultz, Con Funk Shun, Darryl Worley, Blessed Union of Souls

2002 – The Nelsons, The Fixx, Jerry Reed, Loverboy, Dave Mason

2003 – Ray Parker Jr., The Outfield, Mark Farner, Terrance Simien, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Asleep at the Wheel

2004 – Presidents of the United States of America, Gin Blossoms, David Lee Murphy/Lee Roy Parnell, Big Nazo, Rondo’s Blues Deluxe

2005 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Boyz II Men, Jars of Clay, Village People, Nappy Roots, Terrance Simien, Cledus T. Judd

2006 – Avalon, BoDeans, Marshall Tucker Band, Jim and Dan Seals, Three Tenors of Pop, Bryan Lee, Young Turks (Rod Stewart tribute show), ABBA Gold, Catfight

2007 – Sheena Easton, Dennis DeYoung, The Tubes, Jeff Bates, Sugarhill Gang, WAR, Point of Grace, American English, Incendio

2008 – Vince Vance and The Valiants, The Smithereens, Plain White T’s, Band on the Run (Wings tribute show), Caedmon’s Call, Melvin Taylor, The Contours, Otis Day and the Knights, Bay City Rollers, Junior Walker’s All Star Band, Edgar Winter

2009 – Romantics, Richard Marx, Joe Diffie, Natalie Grant, The Miracles, The Spinners, ABBA Gold, Lil’ Brian and The Travelers, Larry Chance and The Earls, Dennis Jones Band

2010 – Charlie Daniels Band, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Tone Loc, Young MC, Exposé, Francesca Battistelli, Georgia Satellites, Ryan Cabrera, Phil Stacey

2011 – Night Ranger, Steel Magnolia, Patty Smyth and Scandal, Tiffany, Digital Underground, Rob Base, Fastball, Downhere, Rose Royce, Here Come The Mummies, Backyard Tire Fire, Space Capone, 33 Miles, Tizer

Special credit to Tim Cain, Entertainment Editor, Herald & Review for publishing this list in 2010.

Special thanks to Travis Lickey with AptFoto Photography for capturing the memories at “The Big Reunion”

PHOTO GALLERY

DECATUR — Decatur Celebration officials announced Tuesday there will definitely be a 27th annual street festival next summer.

“Preliminary numbers are encouraging,” board president Kevin Chapman said. “Band Together wristband sales remained strong this year and they are truly the turning point for the festival.”

The event’s finances have been at issue in recent years. Celebration has fallen short of its budget goals. Eight of the last 10 Celebrations ended in the red. Chapman and producer Lori Sturgill made no promises that this year’s event turned a profit, but early numbers are encouraging.

Sturgill said the organization is not yet prepared to release numbers because The Scream haunted house, which opens Oct. 1, is part of the 2011 budget, and the Celebration fiscal year runs Nov. 1-Oct. 31.

Sturgill acknowledged happiness with the numbers even though the weather wasn’t as favorable this year as it was last year.

“It was so hot leading up to it this year that I think mentally people just thought it was better weather,” she said. “But Sunday was pretty hot.”

Sturgill said the board is looking at making improvements with some of the changes implemented this year, specifically recycling, the wine garden and the craft beer area.

Next year’s show is set for Aug. 3-5.