Houston's Hen House Special Events

• Candle Light Walk
• Autumn on Parade
• Midwest Antique Show
• Wine Festival
• Ogle County Fair
• Oregon, Illinois Annual Garage Sale Days
• Blackhawk Fest & Oregon Trail Days
• Local Fest Season

Candlelight Walk

Ushers in the holiday season with special celebrations.  Join Candlelight Walk as Luminary candles light up the town as you and your family enjoy an evening of good old fashioned fun, refreshments, shopping, horse drawn carriage rides, Santa’s arrival by fire truck, a festival of trees, Scrooge the comedy, and live musical entertainment. This is always a special night to say “Thanks” to all our customers and friends. Candlelight Walk is held annually the first Saturday after Thanksgiving in November.  This is "Black Saturday", which is the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 24, 2012, from 4pm - 8pm.

Crafters and antiquers are welcome and encouraged to set up and display their wares during this event.  Please call and reserve your space now as space is on a first come first serve basis. Thousands of people come to this event yearly. Visit www.oregonil.com for more information.

Autumn on Parade
Each year, during the first weekend of October, thousands of visitors flock to the beautiful Rock River Valley and Oregon, Illinois to enjoy the Autumn on Parade Festival... an event rich in the traditions of Northern Illinois. This year's event takes place on October 6 - 7, 2012.

The historic Ogle County Courthouse provides the backdrop for the festival's major attractions. In addition, you won't want to miss the special events at Stronghold Conference Center, Oregon Park East, the Oregon Coliseum and on the Riverfront. You'll enjoy free entertainment and a variety of family-oriented events and activities. Most of all you'll enjoy the warm hospitality that our community extends to each and every guest!

The Autumn on Parade Festival was initialed in 1970 as a means of attracting visitors to the beautiful Rock River Valley and Oregon, Illinois. Seven exhibitors participated in the first Festival, which has grown to be one of the area's largest and finest. The Autumn on Parade Festival showcases the best of Ogle County - Our People, Our Place, and Our Products.  For more information go to http://www.autumnonparade.org/index.htm or www.oregonil.com.

Crafters and antiquers are welcome to set up and display their wares during this event.  Please call and reserve your space now as space is on a first come first serve basis.

Midwest Antique Show
This antique show is held annually the last weekend of March.  Hundreds of dealers from the State of Illinois and the surrounding states of Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin come to Oregon, Illinois to set up for this annual event.  Don't miss this yearly event the third weekend of March.  March 17 & 18, 2012

Ogle County Fair, Oregon, Illinois
Held each year the first weekend of August 3 - 6, 2012.  This event has been a tradition since 1853.  There are carnival rides, craters and commercial exhibits along with animal barns, including petting zoos, wagon rides, rodeo clowns & cowboys.  The fairgrounds are located at  Route 64 and Limekiln Road, just west of Oregon.  For more information visit:  www.oglecountyfair.com

Oregon, Illinois Annual Garage Sale Days
You will find residents thru out the city of Oregon opening their garages and homes to help you find treasures galore. Held annually on the 2nd weekend of June.

Houston's Hen House Show Space

During the Midwest Antique Show in March, Autumn on Parade in October and Candlelight Walk in November vendors are encouraged to reserve space show off their wares and talents for the thousands of visitors that come to Houston's Hen House and Oregon, Illinois.  Crafters and antiquers will enjoy these busy times of the year .  Reserve your space early as space is on a first come first serve basis.  Call 815-713-7730 for more information.

Blackhawk Fest/Oregon Trail Days
In 2009 Oregon, Illinois faced the possibility of the closure of two of the state parks located on the outskirts of our community. The Blackhawk Festival invites you to attend this unique and exciting celebration of Oregon’s heritage.  Enjoy Native American dancing, drumming, flutist, a Wildwest Cowboy Show, cultural demonstrations in flint making, beading and leather work.  The Olde Time Wild West Show dazzles  visitors with trick roping, gunslinging, singing country music and much more. The cowboys and indians come fully decked out in period regailia including beads, and leather chaps.  The costumes are magnificent.  We are sure that you and your family will have rip-roaring, foot stomping, knee slapping gosh darn good time.

Visitors at Lowden State Park are met with a sea of life-size painted Tipis.  The natural setting of the State Park adds to the historic nature and authenticity of the event.  This year's evening entertainment will again feature local country music as well as a tribute to Johnny Cash by Terry Lee Goffee.  He not only sounds like Johnny Cash, but looks like him too!

For camping (you can camp in a painted tipi during the festival), canoing and hoop and holler good time come to Oregon Trail Days (Blackhawk Festival).  This year it's held on the third weekend in July. This year it will be held on July 20, 21, & 22nd, 2012. For more information go to info@oregontraildays.org

Local Fests

Byron Fest:  www.byronfest.org  July 13, 14 & 15, 2012

Leaf River Summer Daze:  June 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2012

German Valley Days:  June 8, 9, & 10, 2012

Polo Town & Country Days:  June 21, 22, 23 & 24, 2012

Davis Junction Fest:  June 21 - 24, 2012

Mt. Morris Let Freedom Ring Fest:  June 27 - July 1, 2012

Illinois Re newable Energy & Lifestyle Fair:  Aug. 11 - 12, 2012.  Info: www:ilinoisrenew.org

Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival:  August 17 - 19, 2012

Stillman Valley Fall Festival:  September 28 - 30, 2012

Sweet Corn Festival:  August 9 - 12, 2012  (www.sweetcornfestival.com) Crafts & Flea Market

 Movies In The Park:

Every Friday Night June 2nd to August 17th.  Movies start at dusk.  Held in the Louise D. Quick Park located on the corner of Franklin Ave and Mason St. in Polo, Illinois.  Movies are posted on the Polo Calendar at www.pololt.org

For more information to any and all of the above event send for your free copy of the 2012 Rock River Getaway Guide.  Published by the Ogle County Life Newspaper.  815-732-2156 or 815-561-2151 or go to Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce at www.oregonil.com

Make and Impression on Your Group

Houston's Hen House will make all the arrangements and conduct a tour of flea markets, antique stores and local thrift stores in an area of your choice for your next group outing.  Please call us with all the details of your group and we will make it an enjoyable day for all member. 815-732-3250.

***Houston's Hen House is a multi-dealer, consignment shop located in Oregon, IL. with over 18,000 square feet available for your shopping pleasure.  Come check us out!!