Athens, Illinois, a small town in the heart of the Land of Lincoln, comes alive each year for its annual fall festival, a three-day celebration that heralds the arrival of autumn with a parade, carnival and beauty pageant. For those who wish to stay overnight or longer and enjoy the entire weekend, the nearby cities of Petersburg and Springfield provide a variety of accommodation options, including hotels, bed-and-breakfast inns and campgrounds.
The Athens Fall Festival typically has been held on the last weekend in August at Athens Community Park. The carnival and other activities usually take place on Thursday and Friday evenings, followed by a full day of events and attractions on Saturday. There is no admission to the festival as a whole, but carnival rides and some recreational events normally require tickets or fees.
In past years, the Athens Fall Festival has kicked off on Thursday night with the carnival and the Miss Athens Beauty Pageant, which has several age divisions. Live entertainment and the carnival are held on Friday evening, and the festival starts Saturday's schedule with a morning parade that leaves from Athens High School and ends at Community Park. Other Saturday highlights include a flag-raising ceremony, a car cruise and several live musical performances. Additional attractions include a flea market, food vendors and a beer garden.
In addition to the beauty pageant, several athletic tournaments and other contests add a competitive flair to the Athens Fall Festival, including football games and softball, dodgeball and volleyball tournaments. Other events held at past festivals include a talent show and contest, as well as a frog-jumping competition organized by the Athens Fire Department.
While visiting Athens for its fall festival, you might want to plan visits to other nearby sights. Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, about seven miles west of Athens, is a reconstructed village portraying the community where Abraham Lincoln spent his early adult years as a store clerk, postmaster and Illinois assemblyman. Or, make the short drive to the capital city of Springfield, about 15 miles south. There, you can tour the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the Illinois governor's mansion and the state's current and historic capitol buildings.
