SHELBYVILLE, IL. — The Windsor Harvest Picnic Committee has worked very hard all year long to be able to provide a tradition that was started 114 years ago.

“It is with a sense of pride that we continue with what our forefathers started so many years ago,” is the opening statement in the welcoming address of the committee. 

The 114 Windsor Harvest Picnic will kick off on Thursday, August 19 and continue Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21.  This year’s theme is “Small Towns-Where Friends Meet”.

This festival has something for just about everybody.  Whether you are looking for good food, a parade, amusement rides and concessions, first class entertainment, or flea markets, you can find it at the Windsor Harvest Picnic.

Betsy Stilabower is one of the organizers and she said this event started as a small affair and has grown over the years.

“We started out as a one day event with family picnics many years ago and this has mushroomed into a three-day event with good entertainment and great food,” said Stilabower.  It used to be like a homecoming event to bring people back and it still does that.”

Stilabower said many plans are made to coincide with the date of the Harvest Picnic. 

“Vacations, class reunions, and family reunions are scheduled close to the end of August so that people will be in Windsor to meet up with old friends and reminisce about good old days,” continued Stilabower.

The Windsor Harvest Picnic is one of the few festivals in the state with free entertainment.  Donations are accepted and go towards next year’s event.

“We work all year long on this, as soon as it is done, we start on next year,” Stilabower said.  “We do fundraisers throughout the year.”

This year’s schedule of events is as follows:

Thursday, August 19

4:00 p.m. - Pork Chop Dinners by Windsor Harvest Picnic  Homemade pies served by Windsor Booster Club

5:00 p.m. - Methodist Church Ice Cream Social

5:00 p.m. - Patriotic Opening by Windsor American Legion

5:45 p.m. - Welcome

6:00 p.m. - Entertainment by House of Zacc

7:30 p.m. - Battle Creek Band

 Battle Creek performs "Family-Friendly" performances that contain elements of a Branson Theater, The Grand Ole Opry and a Texas Dance Hall. They connect with audiences of all ages with a mixture of Country Music (Old & New), clever original songs, and Oldies Rock n' Roll. Each show is filled with down-home humor, fun and lots of great Country Music.



Friday, August 20

4:15 p.m. - Welcome

4:30 p.m. - Jim Easter 7 The Artistics (First Show)

5:00 p.m. - Fish or Rib Eye Dinner served by Harvest Picnic

Homemade Pies by Windsor Booster Club

6:00 p.m.- Dance Exhibition by Dance, Etc.

7:15 p.m. - Welcome

7:30 p.m.- Jim Easter & The Artistics



Saturday, August 21

6:00 a.m. - Breakfast served by Windsor FFA

7:00 a.m. Check in for Harvest Run: 5K run or 1 mile walk

7:30 - 5K run or walk begins

9:00 a.m. - Pedal Tractor Pull (Bring your own tractor or you can use furnished tractors.)  There are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies in each class.  The classes begin as young as 0-4 and goes up to 11 and 12 years old.)

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Windsor Masonic Lodge “Child Identification Program” at Windsor City Hall

Noon - Sandwiches served by Windsor Harvest Picnic

2:00 p.m. - Parade forms at Windsor High School

3:00 p.m. Parade

“Parade starts forming at the high school and travels around the park Stopping at the park,” said Stilabower..  “All clubs, organizations, and individuals are invited to participate in the 2010 Windsor Harvest Picnic Parade.”

4:30 p.m. - Aaron Tippin (First Show)

4:30 p.m. - Chicken Dinners served by Windsor Harvest Picnic with homemade pies served by the Windsor Civic Improvement Group

5:30 p.m. Kris’ Power Tumbling & Dance Exhibition

6:00 p.m. - Bessie Bingo

7:15 p.m. - Welcome by State Representative Bob Flider

7:30 p.m. -Aaron Tippin ( Second Show)

9:45 p.m. Raffle Drawing  The list of raffle prizes is in the Harvest Picnic Booklet and are numerous.

Aaron Tippin was born July 3, 1958, in Pensacola, FL., and raised in Traveler’s Rest, SC.  He performed in local honky-tonks in the 1970s, and when his teenage marriage fizzled, he pursued music with a vengeance.  He competed on TNN’s You Can Be a Star talent contest in 1986, landed a song-publishing contract and moved to Music City in 1987.

Tippin performed his first Nashville nightclub show in 1990, and it earned him a contact with RCA.  His ambitious first single You’ve Got to Stand for Something cracked the Top 10 in 1991, and 1992’s There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With the Radio stayed at number 1 for three weeks.

Tippin scored a total of six Top 10 hits for RCA.  (In all, he charted  19 songs for the label.)  He moved to Lyric Street in 1998 and charted a number 1 with Kiss This (co-written with wife Thea) in 2000.  In the wake of 9/11, his patriotic anthem Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly peaked at number 2.

In 2006, Tippin formed his own record label, Nippit Records.  His first release for the album, Aaron Tippin: Now & Then, produced the singles Ready to Rock (In a Country Kind of Way) and He Believed, the latter of which peaked at number 55 on the country charts.

Tippin signed to Country Crossing Records in 2008.  His first album for the label, In Overdrive, was released in February 2009.  This album comprises covers of country songs that have truck driving themes.

Windsor Chief of Police Sean McQueen said he always staffs extra officers during the festival.

“There have been a few problems in the past but in general nothing serious,” said McQueen.  “We do want to remind folks alcohol is not allowed in the park.”

Plan to pack up the family and come to Windsor during the Windsor Harvest Picnic for plenty of good food and great entertainment.