Allerton is definitely one of the more beautiful places to spend your time in this area, and this particular weekend has a lot to offer. This will be the second year for the festival, and it will feature music, food trucks, local arts and crafts, and activities for kids. Stretched over two days, you can attend just one day of the festival or get a pass for the weekend. You will also have the opportunity to camp, though spots are limited so it’s a good idea to make your reservation soon. You can find out everything you need to know about the festival, as well as purchase passes — do this ahead of time to save a little money — on the website. Here’s some more info from the press release:
Allerton Park’s Second Annual Prairie Sky Music Festival presented by Lodgic Everyday Community will feature several musical acts, as well as a variety of activities, vendors, and camping on September 7-8, 2018. The family-friendly festival will be held at Allerton Park, 515 Old Timber Road, Monticello, IL.
For most, the Festival highlight will be the nationally-known headliner Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, who will take the stage Saturday evening at 7:45pm. Other notable acts include Friday’s headliner, Nashville-based bluegrass-pop collective The Barefoot Movement, and the modern-folk Americana group The Way Down Wanderers on Saturday evening. Event organizers note that there will be plenty of non-musical activities to keep attendees busy, too.
“We’re going to have a number of local arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and activities for festival-goers to enjoy, and of course the Allerton hiking trails and formal gardens will be open to explore,” said Allerton’s Event Coordinator Hannah Dole.
While guests are encouraged to enjoy all that Allerton has to offer between acts, planned activities will include Community Center for the Arts’ instrument petting zoo, wooden sign making with Krumtinger Design & Crafts, “Fort Hill”, yoga in the Sunken Garden, and more. Attendees are also encouraged to bring their own kites to fly in the 14-acre Meadow, where the Festival will be held. Several vendors will be on-site, selling handcrafted merchandise, food, and drinks.
“The festival experience is as important as the music,” explained Director Derek Peterson. “We are constantly keeping the experience in mind, and trying to build an event that will really be an outdoor celebration.”
Festival-goers will also have the rare chance to camp overnight in the Meadow. Tent and RV sites are primitive, and reservations are limited. Select food vendors – including Allerton’s new Greenhouse Café – will be open on Saturday morning for campers to enjoy fresh breakfast on site.
“As we expand the event we look at camping continuing to be an important part,” Peterson said. “We want to provide an experience where nature and music come together to create a lifelong memory.”
Festival passes are on sale now at allerton.illinois.edu. A ‘Sky’s the Limit’ group discount (buy 6, get 2 free) is also available. Guests should bring blankets or chairs, and there will be a space for tailgating and tents.
Photo provided by Allerton Park & Retreat Center