TWO-DAY COLORFEST CELEBRATION KICKS OFF

WOLF LAKE, Ill. -- The first annual Mighty Duck Race will be held here Sunday.

This marks the fifth year for the annual Union County Colorfest, being held today and Sunday throughout the county. Events are scheduled in Alto Pass, Anna, Cobden, Dongola, Lick Creek, Jonesboro and Wolf Lake.

The duck races, a part of the celebration, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., said Mary Ann Boren, a spokesperson for the Colorfest event.

"These will be real live duck races," said Boren. "Duck trainers have spent days preparing ducks for the races, the lanes have been constructed, and everything is ready."

Ducks can be rented, or people can bring their own ducks, said Boren. Adult and children's classes are available.

It all starts with a 10 a.m. parade today at Anna.

Immediately following, two-hour tours will leave Anna at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. each day.

The county-wide festival is designed to showcase the beauty of Southern Illinois, said Boren.

"It offers arts and crafts shows, musical entertainment and food," said Boren.

One of the interesting highlights of the festival this year will be a visit to the Shawnee Hills Caprine Dairy Farm. Don and Bonnie Vines, who purchased two goats in 1970, now operate the only Grade-A goat dairy farm in Southern Illinois.

The Vines operated the Shawnee Hills Caprine Dairy as a hobby until a few years ago, when they converted the operation to a commercial dairy, with a pipeline milking system. Milk from the farm is processed at Murray, Ky., and distributed to stores throughout the Midwest.

The goat dairy operation is one of three farms on the Union County Colorfest tour this weekend. Milking demonstrations will be conducted from 8 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Also on the farm tour will be Walton Farms on Lick Creek Road and Holiday Farms Christmas tree farm on Kratzinger Hollow Road alongside the Shawnee National Forest.

One of the highlights of the annual event is Pumpkin Town USA on the grounds of the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna.

An historic home tour also will be offered from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and from noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available at various Colorfest booths throughout the county.

Homes included on the tour are those of Greg and Christy Lonergan, 613 South Main Street in Anna; the Darrell and Bonny Porter home at 103 Ash Street in Dongola, and the Mike and Cathy Coad home at 535 N. Main St. in Jonesboro.

Town and county horseshoe tournaments will be held in each town, with winning singles and doubles teams to compete for the county championships at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Black Diamond Ranch northwest of Anna-Jonesboro on Illinois Route 127.

The Schedule

Alto Pass -- Alto Pass Vineyard Festival, 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday; noon-5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Anna -- Guided bus tours 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; "Colors on Parade," 10 a.m. Saturday; Merchants' Marathon, 10 a.m. Saturday; Hootenanny, 7 p.m. Saturday; Surrey rides, Fabulous '50s Elvis Presley Contest.

Cobden -- Craft fair, art displays, black powder encampment, Owl Creek vineyards open house, food, demonstrations, children's activities.

Dongola -- Pet contest, 11 a.m. Saturday; antique tractor pull, 1 p.m. Saturday; chili supper, 4:30 p.m. Saturday; '50s sock hop, 6:30 p.m. Saturday; gospel music on Sunday.

Lick Creek -- Great Pumpkin Push Contest, Cajun cooking, local bands, antique cars and Harley Davidsons.

Jonesboro -- Arts and crafts booths, car show, children's activities, live music and dancing Friday and Saturday night on the square.

Wolf Lake -- Old fashioned barbecue, children's activities, bingo, gospel sing, duck races.

Pumpkin Town, USA -- 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.