Here are five activities to enjoy this weekend:
1. Easter Egg Hunts: If you missed the initial round of egg hunts, there are more opportunities on Saturday to participate in the festivities, collect prizes, and mingle with the Easter bunny. Egg hunts are scheduled at various locations and times including 10 a.m. at the park in Buda, Hopkins Park in Granville, and the Community Building in Neponset; 10:30 a.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Park in Princeton; 11 a.m. at Tiskilwa East Park and Carey Memorial Park in Utica; 1 p.m. at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton, Wyanet Memorial Park, and the United Methodist Church in Serena; 2 p.m. at New Hope Church in Princeton; and Ottawa will host the Hurray for Spring Egg Hunt and Scavenger Hunt from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Jordan block. The event will feature free treats, crafts, and the traditional egg hunt starting at 1:45 p.m. for ages 1 to 4, and 2:30 p.m. for ages 5 to 8. Additionally, a scavenger hunt for ages 9 and older will commence at 1 p.m. with check-in at 610 Court St.
2. STEAM Irish Quartet Performance: Experience the enchanting STEAM Irish Quartet presented by the Princeton Theater Group/Festival 56 at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Grace Theater, located at 316 S. Main St. Tickets are priced at $25 and can be purchased online at festival56.com, by contacting the box office at [email protected], or by leaving a message at 815-879-5656. Tickets will also be available at the venue’s entrance.
3. Adult Easter Egg Hunt at August Hill Winery: Embrace the spirit of Easter with an adult egg hunt at the tasting room of August Hill Winery situated at 106 Mill St., Utica. Discover an egg and present it to an AHW associate to claim a special prize. Each egg contains a unique surprise. This event is exclusively for individuals aged 21 and above. For further details, visit https://augusthillwinery.com/event/adult-egg-hunt/.
4. Steve Mobley Benefit Event: Show your support for Marine veteran and Peru store manager, Steve Mobley, from Princeton, who is battling cancer. A benefit event will be held in his honor from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at Senica’s Oak Ridge in La Salle. Admission is priced at $25. The event will feature various items donated by the community for raffle or auction. For additional information, refer to the “Steve Mobley Benefit” page on Facebook.
5. Jon Rian Concert: Enjoy an evening of music as singer-songwriter Jon Rian takes the stage at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Barrel Society located at 930 N. Main St., Princeton. Rian’s album “Midwest Boy” peaked at No. 2 on the alternative country LP chart for seven consecutive weeks in 2023. He will be accompanied by his AM drinker bandmate BC Carter on guitar. For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/barrelsociety/.
Would you like to feature your event in this weekly showcase? Start by submitting your events to the Illinois Valley’s community calendar at shawlocal.com/illinois-valley/local-events.
The annual Easter egg hunt in Utica on Saturday will showcase hard-boiled, dyed eggs prepared by the Utica Fire Department, a tradition dating back to the 1970s. (Scott Anderson)