Families and history enthusiasts are invited to step back in time and experience a unique celebration of Independence Day, the way it would have been celebrated in 1860. The event will take place on Saturday, June 28th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Homestead Prairie Farm, located at the Rock Springs Conservation Area. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome to attend with no registration required.

During the event, visitors will have the chance to explore the historic Homestead Prairie Farm, which features a farmhouse restored to reflect life in the 1860s. Guides dressed in period clothing will be offering tours and sharing information into the daily life from that era. Attendees can also visit the heirloom garden, where gardening experts from the University of Illinois Extension will be available to answer questions and offer tips based on traditional practices.

Children will have the opportunity to try out toys and games that would have been popular at that time. These simple activities offer a fun way to connect with the past and discover how families entertained themselves long ago.

That evening, a live performance by the group ‘Wild Columbine’ will begin at 6:30 p.m. They’ll focus in on traditional folk music from the Seventeenth Century to the early Twentieth Century. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner and enjoy it outdoors. Shaded picnic tables are available throughout the site, and there is plenty of space on the lawn for those who prefer to bring a blanket or lawn chairs.

This event will take place rain or shine. If the weather does not cooperate, live music for that night will be moved indoors to the auditorium at the Rock Springs Nature Center, ensuring that all planned activities can continue regardless of the forecast.

For more information, visit www.maconccd.org.