Petunia Festival

The Petunia Festival parade rolled down Dixon's streets Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Riverdale grad Tommy Murray said the renewed competition with Sterling’s Dale Johnson helped push him to a win in Saturday’s Reagan Run 5K in Dixon. Ari De La Cerda repeated as women's champion.

Lots of fun was happening at Petunia Fest on Saturday, July 6, 2024. The Reagan Run kicked off the day followed by a fishing derby and art show at John Dixon Park and music in the entertainment area.

A few dozen cars were put on display Friday, July 5, 2024 for the Petunia Fest Cruise-In style car show held at John Dixon park.

A Petunia Fest Family Fun Night held Friday, July 5, 2024, on the grounds of the Old Lee County Courthouse in Dixon featured games, music and ice cream and a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Dixon's Petunia Fest got the party started Thursday, July 4, 2024, with a variety of rock musicians taking the stage in the entertainment area.

Check out the scene for day two of Dixon's Petunia Fest on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

There’s still time to sign up for the annual run on July 6.

Petunia Fest is off and running Wednesday, July 3, 2024, with several events, including crafts with royalty, the carnival and Dixon Dish.

The Sterling Municipal Band will celebrate the Independence Day holiday with a July 3 concert. Petunia Fest runs from July 3-7 in Dixon.

The Dixon Municipal Band will present its annual patriotic concert in conjunction with the Petunia Festival at 7 p.m. Friday, July 5, on the Old Lee County Courthouse lawn.

With Petunia Fest right around the corner, workers started to set up the rides and attractions Monday, July 1, 2024, along the riverfront in Dixon.

The Dixon Petunia Festival blooms July 3-7 in downtown Dixon.

Join Discover Dixon for a beautiful morning of painting, fun and making memories together and share your creative vision on a sidewalk square from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 4, at the Old Lee County Courthouse.

Bellson Music Festival is Saturday in Rock Falls.

AJ Schmall and Jonathan Rivera, both 23, became friends in the first grade while attending Dixon Public Schools. In 2020, they formed the band BAJA, whose newest single, “Hometown Whiskey,” is now streaming on all major platforms.

Whether you’re a race enthusiast, casual runner or even a fast-paced walker, you are invited to take part in the upcoming Reagan Run 5K.

Local groups work to prepare the petunias for the streets of Dixon. A total of 306 baskets will be going up around the city early next month.

Dixon High School senior Molly Oliver has appeared in many plays and musicals since her fifth grade debut and was chosen to Petunia royalty this last summer as Pinky Petunia.

Alternative rock band Everclear performed on the G&M Stella main stage at the Petunia Festival on July 3. The performance started at 10 p.m., immediately following fireworks.

In case you missed it, check out pix of Fourth of July weekend fun in the Sauk Valley.

The 2023 Petunia Fest wrapped up a weekend of fun with their annual fireworks show and a packed concert from 90's pop band Everclear Monday, July 3, 2023.

Budding artists decorated the sidewalks around the Old Lee County Courthouse Monday, July 3, 2023 for the popular Petunia Fest Brush and Bloom.

The Next Picture Show's annual art show Nuts About Art once again brought in artists and art lovers to John Dixon Park for Petunia Fest.

The annual Petunia Fest car show was moved to John Dixon park this year to the delight of car enthusiasts who found a bit of cool shade among the hot cars.

The Elk's Club Fishing Derby at Petunia Fest had 50 kids signed up to compete for trophies and fishing gear Saturday, July 1, 2023.

The 23rd annual Reagan Run saw a familiar face cross the finish line first Saturday, July 1, 2023. Jacob Gebhardt of Sterling has won the race four times now.

Petunia Fest, Dixon's annual celebration of summer, kicked of Friday, June 30, 2023 with Family Fun Night which featured an ice cream social, kid's games and music from the Dixon Municipal Band.

The Petunia fest royalty visited the Dixon library Wednesday, June 28, 2023 to help young artists work on crafts to start off their week of Petunia fun in Dixon.

Building of the rides, games and vendors for Dixon's Petunia Fest carnival was in full swing Monday, June 26, 2023 ahead of the Friday opening date for the fun.

The festival will run from June 30 to July 4, and the lineup ranges from the headliners and tribute bands to local talent and acts with ties to the Sauk Valley.

Check out the latest photos from the Sauk Valley for July 3 through July 9, 2022

Smiles, togetherness and a tight community spirit was on full display last weekend during Dixon's Petunia Fest. Take a look at the smiling faces of the community members who make the Sauk Valley such a great place.

Sunday marked Grobe’s 58th performance in the annual Dixon festival.

Fireworks and the popular hip-hop group Too Hype Crew capped off the fun for the most part in Dixon.

Petunia Fest is in full gear Friday with lots of activities for visitors.

A trio of bands, including local act Class Field Trip, rocked a big crowd at Petunia Fest Saturday, July 2, 2022.

The annual Petunia parade stepped off at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 3, 2022. After moving through residential neighborhoods, it turned onto Peoria Avenue and crossed the Rock River, ending at Dixon High School.

Lots of activities happening at Petunia Fest Saturday. Visitors could check out the glossy fins on some classic autos, peruse some fine art at Nuts About Art or take part in a fishing derby between the bridges.

A heaping of patriotism and family activities makes gathering at Old Lee County Courthouse one of the Petunia Festival's best-attended events.

Singer-songwriter sticks with her Nashville journey, releasing the autobiographical "Nora Jane"

Petunia Fest is in full gear Friday, July 1, 2022 with lots of activities for visitors.

Lots of activities happening at Petunia Fest Saturday, July 2, 2022. Visitors could check out the glossy fins on some classic autos, peruse some fine art at Nuts About Art or take part in a fishing derby between the bridges.

Parade and fireworks scheduled for Sunday.

Artists decorate the sidewalk of the old Lee County Courthouse as part of Dixon's Petunia Fest.

With the first fried dough and spinning rides, the Petunia Festival in Dixon kicks off with the opening of the carnival and first musical acts of the weekend.

The entertainment is a mix of a national country music headliner, tribute bands, local talent and acts with ties to the region.

President of organizing board wants to expand family night activities

410 runners and walkers participate in return of the Petunia Festival's signature sporting event

Brush and Bloom takes place at Old Lee County Courthouse during Petunia Festival