JUNE DATEBOOK

4-5, The 12th Annual "Bluegrass by the Lake" Bluegrass Festival at Rives Lake in Greenfield. Featuring Tunnel Hill, Bill Jones and The Bluegrass Travelers, Uptown String Band and many more talents. Weekend passes are $16, for tickets and camping information call (217) 368-2775.

6, Ralna English, the star of The Lawrence Welk Show, will perform with the Jacksonville Symphony and Chorale at Rammelkamp Chapel on the Illinois College Campus. $15 each or $25 per pair. Benefits go to the American Cancer Society/Relay for Life. (217) 368-2500.

6-7, Carthage Strawberry Festival in Carthage. City-wide garage sale, music contests, food and games, along with the famous strawberry strut race. (217) 357-3024.

12-13, Heritage Days in Okawville. The vanishing past comes to life on the grounds of the Heritage House Museum. Relive the days when you visited Grandma and experience the homemade food, the all-but-forgotten daily homemaking and craft activities that will be demonstrated in a setting of the years gone by. 10 a.m. -5 p.m. on both days. A wonderful family experience. (618) 243-5694, tokawville@earthlink.net, or www.okawvillecc.com.

17-20, 36th Annual Music and Craft Festival in Geneseo. Food and craft vendors fill the park with a wide display of handmade crafts and delicious foods. Call (309) 944-2686.

17-20, Sesquicenntenial Celebration in Hamilton. A kids and teen pageant, fish and chicken fry, fireworks, a car show, bands, food and more. Free. (217) 847-2546.

12, Garden Tour in Petersburg. Seven lovely gardens, including a water garden, perennial gardens and a restored native prairie will be on the tour from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Tickets are $7. (217) 632-5512.

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18, Jackson County Shriner's Rodeo at Grand Tower Fairgrounds in Grand Tower. This year's performance will be produced by the TNT Rodeo Company. Rodeo will include bull riding, bronco riding and barrel racing. 7 p.m., admission charged. (618) 687-1100.

18-19, Bluesfestival in Murphysboro. Enjoy two days of regional and national blues music acts, arts, crafts, food and fun in this unique park and band shell. Bring blankets or lawn chairs, coolers and grills allowed, but no kegs or glass bottles. (Donations of can goods or cash are accepted for the Southern Illinois Food Bank.) Friday: 5 p.m.-11 p.m. ($5), Saturday: 1 p.m.-11 p.m. ($10). More info at (618) 684-3333, mark@globaleyes.net, www.bluesfestivals.com or www. murphy sboro. corn.

19. Illinois Herb Association SummerFest at Rockome Gardens, west of Arcola. Amish ladies tend more than five acres of formal flower gardens, herb gardens, and cacti gardens, as well as the water gardens at the south end of the park. (217) 728-7808.

20. Annual Mississippi Valley Historic Auto Club Show at All America Park in Quincy. A variety of antique automobiles on display. Free. (217) 223-1000.

25, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater-"A Streetcar Named Expire," at Von Jakob Vineyard in Pomona. A perfect combination of "Mayberry, RFD," "Matlock," and every Tennessee Williams play ever written. Interactive murder mystery (participation optional). Wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Play and dinner to follow. $29.50 (618) 893-4500, vonjakobvineyard@earthlink.net or www.vonjakobvin eyard.com.

25-27, Midsummer Art Faire at Washington Park in Quincy. A festival celebrating fine arts. (217) 222-8444.

26, Grand Excursion in Genesea. The Grand Excursion 2004 celebrates the renaissance of the upper Mississippi region by recreating the 1854 steamboat expedition that brought worldwide attention to what was then America's wild, western frontier. (309) 944-2686.

27, Garden Tour in Farmersville. Tour five beautiful gardens. A burst of colorful annuals and perennials, along with unique features such as a potting shed, water fountain, gazebo, garden room and a taste of the tropics will be waiting for your enjoyment. 12-4 p.m. Tickets $5.

27, Saybrook Freedom Festival in downtown Saybrook. Dawn to dusk. Car and Tractor Shows, a parade, a flea and craft market, entertainment and fireworks, www.saybrook-il.com or (309) 475-6951.

Illinois Country Living publishes event listings as space allows, giving preference to events of regional or statewide interest. Event listings are provided by the event sponsors and the Illinois Bureau of Tourism. The magazine assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information submitted for publication and advises calling ahead to confirm dates and times. To be considered for inclusion, send listings and photographs (If sending photographs please include self-addressed stamped envelope) to Illinois Datebook, Illinois Country Living, PO Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708-3787. The deadline for submission is 45 days prior to the publication date.

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