Dixon has its Petunia Festival. Morton celebrates pumpkins, Aledo serves everything rhubarb and, of course, Kewanee has Hog Days.
Almost every town has a festival celebrating one thing or another.
But Kewanee also has a festival that celebrates something entirely different — public art.
This year ’s Prairie Chicken Art Festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19 in the 200 and 300 blocks of West Third Street.
The idea began in 2013 when a group of artists called Walldogs came to Kewanee and spent a week here painting 15 murals highlighting local history on the sides of downtown buildings.
That event inspired more murals, and the annual summer festival dubbed “Prairie Chicken,” referring to the translation of the Winnebago word “Kewanee.”
The Walldogs are all about promoting public art. You don’t need an exhibit hall. They were, of course, professionals, but you don’t need to be. All you need is an itch to paint, draw or photograph something that inspires you.
Of course one of the main attractions is the chalk art competition with amateur, professional and youth artists sprawled out on the old go kart track west of Tres Cafe creating colorful images with chalk on concrete. Entries are judged and prizes awarded in several categories.
Another popular event is the Annual Art Show and Competition which has been moved from the former New View Furniture location to the Hog Capital Building at 306 N. Main St.
Entries will be accepted in four categories: Photography, Painting, Graphic Art/Drawing, and 3 Dimensional Art. Ribbons and Visa gift cards will be presented to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, and honorable mention in each category. In addition to the ribbons and gift cards, the entrant of the 1st place oil painting will receive an additional $100 and the 2nd place winner will receive a basket of art supplies, all donated by Tom Washburn as a tribute to his father, the late Dave Washburn, a well known local artist.
The artwork of hundreds of students from local schools will also be on display again this year in downtown store windows for all to see all week from July 15-22.
Visitors can also see the more than 20 Walldogs murals in a self-guided walking tour of the downtown area.
Brochures with a map and information on each mural will be available at the Kewanee Historical Society Museum open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
The Prairie Chicken Festival Committee stresses that this event is designed to be something that “doesn’t cost an arm and a leg” with plenty of free entertainment and things for the whole family to do including the giant sandpile, balloon artist, duck pond, magic show, chainsaw artist, face painting and other activities both days.
Funds are raised each March by holding Quarter Madness with the proceeds divided between the Prairie Chicken Festival and the Rotary Club of Kewanee which uses their share to support numerous community organizations, as well as the art festival.
Something for the pre-teen and teen crowd will be the kid’s party in the Rotary Tent, back this year from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Last year “Swifties” took over the tent to celebrate Taylor Swift with costumes and music.
This year the theme will be an Hawaiian Beach Party Luau featuring the Disney character “Moana.” Attendees can dance, enjoy refreshments, make seashell bracelets, receive a silk lei and pose for photos with “Moana-themed” backdrops made by the art department at the Kewanee Life Skills Re-entry Center on loan from the Northeast Park Christmas display. Those attending are encouraged to wear a Hawaiian shirt or grass skirt. Kids ages 7-12 can attend without an adult as long as they are signed in and out by a parent or guardian. Those under 7 will need to be accompanied by an adult. Teens 13 and above, as well as adults are also welcome.
And, for those who wish to practice the art of eating pancakes with maple syrup and butter with a side of sausage — The Kewanee Police Department and Kewanee Fire Department will be holding their annual “Guns & Hoses” Pancake Breakfast on the Johnson Heating & Air Conditioning parking lot at the corner of Chestnut and First streets from 7 to 10 a.m.
Several downtown stores will also be holding Sidewalk Day sales beginning Thursday, July 17.
A vendor show featuring crafts, flea market and small businesses will be set up along the fence north of the chalk art competition from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m both days.
The Kewanee Farmer’s Market will be set up from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Berrien Park.
Food vendors will be set up in Berrien Park from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and pedal karts will be running out of Berrien Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
***Originally published in The Kewanee Voice Summer Adventure Guide 2025
