PRAIRIE SKY MUSIC FESTIVAL*
September 7, 6-9:30pm | September 8, 12:30-9:45pm | Gate House Lawn
$37 Festival Pass, in advance ($45 at the gate)|$15 Friday-only Pass, in advance ($20 at the gate) | GROUP DISCOUNT – Buy 6, Get 2 Free | Kids 12 & under free
It’s only two weeks away! The 2nd Annual Prairie Sky Music Festival presented by Lodgic Everyday Community will go beyond great music with food, drinks, outdoor activities, vendors, camping, yoga, and more! Featuring performances by Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, The Barefoot Movement, The Way Down Wanderers, Edward David Anderson, Sleeping Okami, Fox Crossing Stringband, and Mank & Sass, this Americana lineup will set the stage for a memorable weekend!
*Keep your eyes peeled in our next newsletter for our Festival Guide, which will include a map, lineup, lists of food trucks & vendors, and more!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE | View Facebook Event | Lineup | Camping Info | FAQs
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: LODGIC EVERYDAY COMMUNITY
A smart new nonprofit, Lodgic Everyday Community, is about to open it’s doors to C-U! This Champaign-based facility will offer shared workspace, flexible childcare, and craft food & drink – the first venue of its kind to open in the US! Lodgic’s support has been essential to making this year’s Prairie Sky Music Festival one for the books. We owe our thanks to Lodgic for its help in strengthening the community and families, as well as adding to the diverse cultural opportunities in the area. A HUGE thanks to Lodgic for being the presenting sponsor for Allerton Park’s 2018 Prairie Sky Music Festival!
September 1 | 1 – 3 PM | Visitor Center | $20
Joan Jach, from Old Town Flowers, will show participants how to create a flower crown step-by-step. Learn how and when to harvest flowers for a crown, and harvest some from Allerton’s own gardens! Materials and flowers will be provided and each participant will take home a gorgeous flower crown. Sign up early – space is limited for this event.
REGISTER HERE | View Facebook Event
August 18 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM | Mansion Library | FREE
How long have humans been living along the Sangamon River? What do we know about the people that called Allerton Park home long before Robert created his estate? Meet us in the Allerton Mansion Library, where Dr. Jacob Skousen will answer these questions and more! Light refreshments will also be served. This event is FREE and open to the public, but please consider visiting Eventbrite to reserve your seat – space is limited.
RESERVE YOUR FREE SEAT | View Facebook Event
September 12 | 6 – 7:30 PM | Mansion Library | $35
IT’S BACK! Due to popularity, Allerton will be hosting another Cacti & Succulent Container Workshop. Sign up now before it sells out!
There is almost no lower maintenance container garden than one filled with succulents. Learn with Horticulture Educator, Candice Hart how to plant your own water-wise, succulent and cacti container perfect for surviving those hot, dry, summer months. The workshop includes all supplies needed to create your own succulent container garden.
REGISTER HERE | View Facebook Event
Second Thursday of Each Month | 9 – 10 AM | Greenhouse Café | FREE
Enjoy your morning pick-me-up while getting up-to-speed on all things Allerton! Grab a coffee and join Allerton staff in the Greenhouse Café on the second Thursday of each month to hear about a blend of topics on the past, present, and future of the Park. All sessions will include an opportunity for Q&A; some will end with an optional walk/hike.
SEPTEMBER 13TH TOPIC: Event Planning 101 – Planning an upcoming meeting or personal party? Allerton is full of memorable spaces and a variety of catering options to fit your needs! Includes an optional short tour of the Mansion.
September 13 | 6:30 – 8:00 PM | Visitor Center | $5
Eliana Brown, Extension Stormwater Specialist, and Katy Kraszewska, from the U of I Department of Landscape Architecture, will lead you through the basics of rain garden design for your home. Rain gardens not only put your stormwater runoff to good use, but are also a wonderful way to plant and encourage native plant species in your own back (or front!) yard. Eliana and Katy will walk you through the design steps in this hands-on workshop: siting, sizing, and plant selection. You’ll learn common mistakes to avoid and see examples of successful rain gardens. Sign up early – space is limited for this event.
REGISTER HERE | View Facebook Event
September 16 | *5 PM | Mansion | $5
Have you ever wanted to see the inside of the historic Allerton Mansion? Or hear more about the unique history of Robert Allerton and how he created his estate? Here’s your chance! 3 tickets have opened up for the 5pm tour on September 16th! CLICK HEREto snatch them up, or call 217-333-3287!
The Allerton Mansion will be open for tours again on Saturday, December 15th, when holiday ornaments will deck the halls! Tours will include the first and second floors, and will be held at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm. Each tour lasts 45-60 minutes and is limited to 20 people. Tickets for the December tours go on sale October 1st.
REGISTER HERE | View Facebook Event
September 22-23 | 11:30 AM – 11:30 AM following day | Meadow | Child Ticket (9 & under) – $15; Adult Ticket (10 & older) – $20
Spend the weekend exploring Allerton’s Natural Areas with the whole family! Champaign Outdoors (formerly Champaign Surplus) presents this hassle-free camping experience, providing families the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and learn about nature.
Spend the day helping biologists (from the U of I Illinois Natural History Survey and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources) catch, identify, and release various wildlife; try out the newest camping gear and gadgets from Champaign Outdoors, and enjoy a live wildlife show by the Natural History Education Company of the MidSouth. After dinner (included with ticket purchase), relax by the campfire for stories, s’mores and sing along, or go on a stargazing night hike led by the U of I Astronomy Department. In the morning, sleep-in or get up early to help check wildlife traps, catch birds, or stretch your legs on a biologist-led hike. This event will be limited to 250 people.
REGISTER HERE | View Facebook Event | Campout Schedule | FAQs | Packing List
Allerton Park and Retreat Center
515 Old Timber Road
Monticello, Illinois 61856
