Canasta at 2011 Kankakee Merchant Street Music Festival

Photos from the 2011 Kankakee Merchant Street MusicFest at the historic Train Depot in Downtown Kankakee:

2011 Merchant Street Music Festival in Kankakee, Shapiro Clock Tower in Background

Container train rumbles through during the 2011 Merchant Street Music Festival in Kankakee, Illinois

Chicago-based band Canasta at the Merchant Street Music Fest in Kankakee

Canasta at the Kankakee Merchant Street MusicFest

Canasta plays as night falls on the 2011 Kankakee Merchant Street MusicFest

Canasta at the Kankakee Merchant Street MusicFest

2011 Kankakee Merchant Street MusicFest

After a windy and rainy start to Friday morning, the skies cleared in time for the Merchant Street MusicFest 5p.m. opening.

The Merchant Street MusicFest continues tomorrow, Saturday, July 30th from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. near the historic railroad depot in Downtown Kankakee.  Admission to the fest is free.

2011 Kankakee Merchant Street MusicFest 

2011 Kankakee Merchant Street MusicFest at the Historic Downtown Depot

 

Gazebo at the Merchant Street MusicFest

Wind 'N Oaks Farm offers fresh fruit and vegetables at the Merchant Street MusicFest

2011 Kankakee Merchant Street MusicFest

AFSCME Members Picket outside Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee

The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees took to the picket line today in Kankakee to "to stand up against Gov. Quinn's efforts to cancel state employee pay raises," according to AFSCME Council 31's website.


Furthermore, AFSCME Council 31 stated on their  website "Governor Quinn's attempt to wipe out negotiated pay increases is a flat-out assault on the union contract.  AFSCME local unions all across the state will be holding informational pickets on Tuesday, July 12 to stand up against this attack on collective bargaining in Illinois.
"We've seen the attacks on collective bargaining rights around the country," said Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer, "and we don't want to let that happen in Illinois. If the Governor can get away with blatantly violating the union contract, you can be sure that other employers will follow suit.""


Here is a video of the picket line outside of Kankakee's Shapiro Developmental Center:

Thee Olde Time Farm Show at Perry Farm in Bourbonnais

Perry Farm in Bourbonnais hosted the 2011 Thee Olde Time Farm Show.

The Show featured antique tractors, especially David Bradley equipment.  David Bradley owned David Bradley Manufacturing Company, which moved in 1895 to what was then "North Kankakee" and what is now known as Bradley, Illinois.   In 1910 the Bradley family sold to Sears, which operated the factory in Bradley until 1962.

Photos from Thee Olde Time Farm Show:

Vintage David Bradley check at Thee Old Time Farm Show in Bourbonnais, Illinois

Furst and Bradley Manufacturing Tractor Seat at Thee Olde Time Farm Show at Perry Farm

Visitors can also view a large collection of vintage John Deere tractors.  On display are a John Deere 60, a John Deere 80, a John Deere Model A, and many more.

Vintage John Deere tractors at Thee Olde Time Farm Show at Perry Farm

A newspaper for David Bradley employees published during the late 1940s and early 1950s.  There was a large display of these newspapers that described life for David Bradley employees.

A steam engine and vintage threshing machine thresh wheat at Thee Olde Time Farm Show at Perry Farm

David Bradley equipment at Thee Olde Time Farm Show at Perry Farm



Wheat Threshing Demonstration


Here is a John Deere Small Engine running an ice-cream making machine: