‘Fun Days’ weekend coming to Tolono

TOLONO, Ill. (WCIA) — Tolono is in for a weekend of family-friendly fun.

Starting at 5 p.m. this Friday, both West and East Side Parks will host food and craft vendors, inflatables, a golf cart parade, live music, a zipline, rock wall, and more.

There will be events more exclusive to adults too, like the 7 p.m. bar crawl. Participants will meet at the Tolono Police Department and make their way through seven local bars. They are encouraged to wear their best red, white, and blue attire for a chance to win a small prize.

The “Fun Days” will continue into Saturday, starting with a couple 7 a.m. events to choose from. There will be a flag-raising ceremony at West Side Park’s Military Memorial and an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Tolono Masonic Lodge 391 AF & AM until 10:30 a.m.

A parade will then begin at 11 a.m. This year’s Grand Marshall will be Alicia Monical, daughter-in-law to Walter and Ada Monical, who were the founders of Monical’s Pizza. Monical’s got its start in Tolono in 1959 and has since expanded into Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, and several other Illinois locations. It still stands as Tolono’s longest-running restaurant.

The parade will start at East Side Park, travel past St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the Tolono Methodist Church, then towards Main Street and downtown Tolono, until finally making its way to West Side Park.

There, the community can enjoy a tractor and kiddie tractor pull, a petting zoo, classic cars, a “cow drop,” bingo, live entertainment, delicious food and even helicopter rides. The weekend’s grand finale will be a colorful fireworks extravaganza.

Food and select experiences will be for-purchase only. For prices and more information about Tolono Fun Days, visit their website at tolonofundays.org .

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