Community Center

Greenview Labor Day Celebration – September 2-4, 2023

The Annual Greenview Labor Day Celebration planning activities have begun! We will start the fun Saturday, September 2nd with the Mike Wilson Memorial 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. The On-Line Registration is available at www.Runsignup.com – Mike Wilson 5K or on-site at the Greenview School complex beginning at 8:00 a.m., with the race starting at 9:00 a.m. The entry fees for the race are $20 for Adults - and $10 for Youth (14 and under) for the 5K. The Fun Run registration is $5/single person or $10/family unit. The Finish Line will be at the WWI Memorial Arch in our Village Park where refreshments will be provided. There will be medals for the top female and male finishers in each category. There will be T-Shirts for the early registrars until we run out! If you are not a runner, how about a Jeep Run!! The Jeep Run registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. We will start at Indian Creek Farmstead with family friendly stops along the way and finish the day in Greenview at Taapers. The route will be announced at the time of registration. There will be refreshments and activities planned at each stop.

On Sunday morning, September 3rd , there will be a bake sale on the Community Building porch, cinnamon rolls, muffins, etc. If you would like to donate any baked goods, bring them to the Community Building by Saturday, September 2nd at 3:00 p.m. The multidenominational church service will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the park pavilion. Following church, The CIA will host a Quarter Auction that will start at Noon. There will be a food stand opening at noon, which will be serving burgers, brats, hotdogs, chips, drinks. Taaper’s will also be ready to serve additional refreshments and more.

The AMVETS Women’s Auxiliary will be hosting a bags tournament from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Engle Street. We will end the day with a Street Party. Our area businesses have sponsored Phat Kitti Band, an energetic, female fronted 80’s rock cover band, they will start playing at 7:00 p.m. and will continue to play until 10:00 p.m. The CIA food stand will be serving food until 9:00 p.m. to the late evening crowd.

Monday, September 4th , starts with the Vendor/Flea Market opening at 8:00 a.m. There will be lots of antiques, crafts, homemade goods, etc., which will be offered for sale by area vendors. The Route 97 Crusaders Car Club Show will be returning this year. This is one of the biggest cruiser clubs in central Illinois and brings some very nice vehicles to town every year, it is a spectacular sight. It has always been a huge highlight of our Labor Day Celebration. It seems it gets bigger every year.

There will be several food vendor trucks and area charity organizations on-site and ready to serve a wide variety of food items. At 10:00 a.m. the parade starts, we are hoping for a great turnout for the parade this year, there will be no fee to participate in the parade.

Monday, you will also enjoy Antique tractors, bounce houses, a balloon twister, the DUNK TANK will be back to make its long overdue debut, it has always been a fan favorite. This year we are also adding the largest tomato contest. We will have our annual pie contest; this activity has always been a huge part of our celebration. The antique tractors will be on display on the corner of Engle and Washington for the public to check out up close.

Ron Sanert is sponsoring the LARGEST TOMATO CONTEST. The entries to the contest are to be delivered to the Sanert Auction truck, which will be located by the pumphouse building (southwest corner of the square), between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. This is a friendly competition between our area gardeners, so get to growin’!!

The Annual Pie Contest is everyone’s favorite. The entries for the pie contest are to be delivered to the Community Building anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The judging will begin at 11:00 a.m. The categories are Soft Pies, Fruit and Nut Pies, Men’s Pies, Youth Soft Pies, Youth Fruit and Nut Pies. The winners will be announced at the Park Pavilion after the hypnotist (see below) followed by the Pie Auction. This will be your opportunity to donate to the CIA Organization and get a delicious pie that you didn’t have to bake yourself. These pies will be the winners of the competition as well as pies donated by some of the finest bakers in the county, we cannot rave enough about!

At Noon, on the Park Pavilion stage, Bill Mitchell the Hypnotist returns to the Greenview Labor Day Celebration. Mr. Mitchell delivers a clean comedy hypnosis show. His show generates audience participation, funny, fast-paced, and tasteful. You may see hypnotized volunteers dancing, singing, and smelling things, you may even be picked as a volunteer to participate in any of the performances. Mr. Mitchell’s show leaves a lasting impression on young and old, please make sure you make it part of your plans.

After we wake up from being hypnotized, the winners of the Pie Contest are announced at the Park Pavilion and the Pie Auction begins. Our local auctioneer, Ron Sanert will auction off the winning pies as well as pies donated for auction by some of the best bakers in the county, yes, I had to say it again!

We would like to acknowledge Winston Dunbar who will be performing wonderful music between activities on the Park Pavilion stage. Please be sure to just hang out and listen for a bit. Winston does take requests, start making your list now!

At 3:30 p.m., we have something new, we invite you to enjoy a performance of an original musical with Prairie Folklore Theatre storytellers Brian “Fox” Ellis and Barry Cloyd. they will present: ”Lincoln Tales Tall and True – A Musical Encounter with the Life of Lincoln”. This is a musical about Abraham Lincoln’s best friend, who was born in Kentucky in 1807 and how he was interviewed by a newspaper reporter seeking a different perspective on Lincoln’s life. These gentlemen have been performing together for over 40 years and have recorded more than 20 albums. This performance will be truly entertaining, you won’t want to miss it!

The Annual Greenview Labor Day Celebration is an excellent opportunity to come out and enjoy a summer day with your neighbors, have fun with the kids, eat some good food and relax.

If you would like to participate in the any of these activities as a flea market/food vendor, sponsor donor, administer a game booth, volunteer etc., please feel free to contact: Tristan Green at 217-638-0290, Tammy Bauser at 217-503-9889, or Deana Poe at 217-725-8363 by August 23, 2023. Thank you!