Vandalia Statehouse to host the Grande Levée this Saturday

      The annual period celebration at the Vandalia Statehouse this Saturday, June 14th will feature a variety of performances and activities.

      The annual Grande Levée runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the   Statehouse lawn, with some parts of the celebration inside the old state capitol.

      In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will be held inside the Statehouse, with the schedule subject to change.

    The Grande Levée schedule is as follows:

  – 8-11 a.m. – Vandalia’s Farmers’ Market.

  – 9 a.m.-4 p.m. – Tours of the Statehouse.

  – 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. – Tours of the Fayette County Museum, 301 W. Main St.

  – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Tours of National Road Interpretive Center, 106 S. Fifth St.

  -10 a.m.-4 p.m. – 1800’s period craft demonstrations & selling   of wares, children’s games and activities, Fayette County Art Connection painting & wood carving, Abraham Lincoln presenter (Randy Duncan), Ewington Chapter of ILSSAR historic flag display, period children’s games and butter-churning, and Bud’s Homemade Root Beer, cream soda and ginger ale.

  -10 a.m.-2 p.m. – Vandalia Historical Society historic home trolley ride tour. Trolley rides are free, with trolley pickup in front of the Statehouse. The Little Brick House will be open for tours.

  -10:30 a.m. – Bryan Dale Deadley, “The Singing Blacksmith” from Rural Heritage on RFD TV, will demonstrate the forging of an unfolded cross, which will be given to a member of the audience. Other smaller items will  be given away throughout the day.

  -11 a.m. – Pokorney kettle korn, pork rinds and lemon shake-ups.

  -11 a.m. – Storytelling with Brian “Fox” Ellis – “Lincoln the Lawyer, with Billy Herndon.”

  -11 a.m.-1 p.m. – World Bird Sanctuary display.

  -11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Dan Wild, a caricaturist artist.

  -11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Wild Foam Adventures with Giant Bubbles.

  -Noon-2 p.m. – Heritage Blues Band (local folk musicians); bring lawn chairs.

  -Noon-2 p.m. – Lucky R Mobile Petting Zoo.

  -1 p.m. – Trivia contest with Mr. Lincoln; signup is at 12:45 p.m. Teams of five of all ages will compete in three rounds of 10 questions each, featuring questions about Vandalia’s period time and Lincoln’s time in Vandalia.

The Grande Levée is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Old Capitol Foundation.