VW Welcome Fest Set for May 31

The City of Effingham’s Tourism Office will be hosting a Downtown Party from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Friday May 31st, and residents are invited to join in welcoming Volkswagen enthusiasts to Effingham.

Mid America Motorworks’ Fun Run Road Tour will end in downtown Effingham, with Volkswagens set to park in the spaces surrounding the historic Effingham County Courthouse Museum. Volkswagens are set to come down the parade route at approximately 5:30 p.m. With Mid America Motorworks’ Annual Funfest for Air-Cooled Volkswagens expected to bring thousands of people to Effingham over the weekend, the Tourism Office is excited to kick off the event with a Welcome Fest.

“We are expecting over 100 Volkswagens to participate in this year’s event,” said Effingham Tourism Director Jodi Jackson.  “The Downtown Welcome Fest is a great opportunity for us to welcome visitors to our community, but also, for residents to come and check out some one-of-a-kind Volkswagens. And we have some great additions to the party this year.”

Activities will include food from the Gabby Goat American Pub & Grill, frozen custard from Culver’s, Tropical Sno, live musical entertainment from Jed Adam and Michael Antrim, giveaways, a chance to win an iPad Mini and a chance to see a variety of Volkswagens!

There are also fun activities planned for the kids too, including bubbles, coloring, and sidewalk chalk.

“We are really excited about some of the additions to the Welcome Fest this year,” said Jackson. Leading Mid America Motorworks Road Tour will be “Big Red,” a 10,000-pound Volkswagen Baja Beetle. This VW is considered the world’s largest off-road beetle. O’Brien Volkswagen will also be downtown offering free test drives of the new water-cooled VWs. You will also be able to purchase tickets to the Saturday night concert, “The Return,” at Mid America Motorworks’ campus on site. This year's theme is "Magical Mystery".

While you’re downtown, make sure to stop by Helen Matthes Library’s Summer Reading Program Kickoff across the street at the new library site. "It’s great to collaborate with the library and bring even more fun downtown,” said Jackson.

For more information on the Friday night event, contact the Effingham Tourism Department at 217-342-5310 or visit www.VisitEffinghamIL.com.  For more information about events at Mid America Motorworks, visit www.FunfestEvents.com.