ROCHELLE –– Rain or shine shoppers flock downtown once a year to scoop up a wide variety of goodies and enjoy fair eats. The Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival is home to the craft and vendor sale located in the 400 block of north Main Street.
This year, as Rochelle celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival the arts and crafts sale will be bigger and better.
Craft and vendor event organizer, Beth Kvool has 40 vendors signed up to participate and will continue to accept businesses, nonprofits and crafters until Saturday morning.
Kvool explained that despite rain last August, vendors all had successful sales and shoppers were happy to take home a wide variety of items. With a month to go to reserve booth space, Kvool already has more business, nonprofits and crafters signed up than in past summers.
The craft and vendor sale will be held Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Last Aug. 29 vendors filled the street, Kvool currently has 40 booths reserved and unlimited space of the street to add more. Her goal for August is to fill the street.

Prices for a booth are $40 for crafters, $25 for a non-profit, $80 for a business or direct sales, $100 for a booth with electricity and $500 for a booth with electricity selling raffle tickets.
Security and lighting will be provided for items at booths Saturday night to Sunday morning.
For more information or to reserve your spot contact Kvool at 815-979-2621.
Food
The 20th annual festival proves to be bigger and better with food selection this year as well. So far 13 vendors have signed up to serve food during the festival.
Food booths will be serving Friday, Aug. 18 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 20 from noon to 6 p.m.
Food vendors are allowed to sell one to two exclusive items and no booths will serve the same items.
Vendors are currently registered to sell heart attack on a plate, gyros, tacos, burritos, funnel cakes, lemon shakeups, Culver’s custard, and BBQ.
To register a food booth or for more information contact Lisa Schwarz at 815-766-0212. “I am looking forward to a fun weekend and hope to see everyone there,” stated Schwarz.
Saturday and Sunday morning pancakes will be sold in the park from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Flagg Township Museum will host an ice cream social on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. The Rochelle Fire Department will also be grilling and serving pork chop sandwiches during the festival.
On Sunday, Aug. 20 the Ladies of the Moose will hold an ice cream social in the gazebo from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.