The 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regimental Band resting between sets at the Ball.
BLOOMINGTON — A chance to hob-nob with history, up close and personal, is one of the highlights of this summer’s edition of the annual Lincoln’s Festival.
Spread out over seven Bloomington locations, the history began living Friday night, 18 July, with an expansion of a new offering that debuted “under the radar” at last year’s fest. “Encounters with Lincoln’s Bloomington,” from 5 to 8 p.m., featured a dozen costumed performers from the local Historic Acting Troupe, an offshoot of Heartland Theatre Company’s senior acting program, Young at Heartland.
The actors returned to life by portraying storied figures from Bloomington-Normal’s past as Allen Withers, James Allin, Sarah Walker Davis and Hester Vernon Fell … all of whom are tied to the festival’s designated 1850-65 time frame.
Starting at the McLean County Museum of History, you could encounter period folks at Heritage Plaza, 115 W. Jefferson St. (formerly W.H. Roland’s Department Store); and Ensenberger Condominiums lobby, 212 N. Center St. (formerly Ensenberger’s furniture store). Capping the encounters was Abraham Lincoln interpreter Randy Duncan, from Southern Illinois, performing at 7:40 p.m. at Francois Associates, 118 W. Washington St., site of Lincoln’s 1858 third-floor lecture. Marcia Young, of the David Davis Foundation, says that the encounters were introduced in a “soft opening,” without ballyhoo, at last year’s fest and they were an immediate hit.
Though similar in concept to the Evergreen Cemetery Walk, the Lincoln’s Festival encounters involve the costumed actors following a general script that also left leeway for first-person interaction, in character, with the public.
“The actors know enough that they’re able to function as living history exhibits,” says Young. “They do a of preliminary research to allow that.” The encounters were modeled after Springfield’s popular “History Comes Alive” program, in which costumed actors routinely inhabit historic downtown locations all summer long, thanks to an accommodating grant.
Following those interactions, the festival proper expanded to Saturday and Sunday into its traditional wide-ranging offerings at the six other locales, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day (times may vary from locale to locale):
- David Davis Mansion: The mansion’s Civil War Days featured, on Saturday, portrayals of famous Civil War generals, Abe and Mary Lincoln passing through, demonstrations of Civil War surgical techniques, parade drilling and skirmish, carriage rides and a military ball lead by the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band of which I am a member. Sunday’s events, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., included a church service also with music by the 33rd Illinois Volunteer Regiment Band, more surgical unit demonstrations, another Lincoln visit and another skirmish with cannon.
- McLean County Museum of History: Saturday offerings included downtown walking tours (10 a.m.), storyteller Brian Fox Ellis (11 a.m.) and a daylong Looking for Lincoln Scavenger Hunt.
- Franklin Park: The historic heart of Bloomington hosted Illinois Shakespeare Festival performers, Lincoln interpreter Randy Duncan, local author Guy Fraker, games, activities and picnic food for purchase.
- Burr House Bed and Breakfast: The historic Franklin Park site offered tours, displays and period craft demonstrations.
- Bloomington Public Library: Lincoln-themed films, crafts, talks, songs and presentations were offered both days,
- Illinois Wesleyan University Ames Library lawn: The lawn featured an encampment by the 10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, troop skirmishes and cannon volleys, and period weapons and medical treatment displays.
It’s a great weekend and follow the 33rd Band’s website for next year’s event. The ball has instructors and everybody dances. My 6 and 4 year old granddaughters even learned two or three dances.
Bob