Market Weekend on Route 66 and Christmas in July at Atlanta, Illinois July 23, 24
The City of Atlanta, IL will celebrate Christmas in July in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Market Weekend on Route 66 on July 23 and July 24. The festivities will kick off at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning with the market opening. Market Weekend on Route 66 will be located on Arch Street between Race and Vine Street an inside Union Hall and the Welcome Center, located at 112 SW Arch Street. The market will be open and free to attend Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 pm. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
At the market, there will be 38 vendors selling a variety of items from baked goods to dog bandanas to knitted goods to candles to t-shirts. There will also be the Cheesed OUT food truck and Top Hat Creamery’s mobile cart at the market.
The Atlanta Public Library will be running lawn games Saturday during market hours. During the Market Weekend on Route 66, Atlanta will also have Christmas in July, a new city event celebrating the 6 month mark until Christmas. Downtown Atlanta, the 1926 alignment of Route 66, now Arch Street, will be decorated for Christmas. Visitors can enjoy the Christmas lights without worrying about the cold and snow.
During Christmas in July, two Downton businesses will be donating a portion of their proceeds to the Atlanta Community Christmas Celebration held annually in November. Missy’s Sweet Shoppe inside the Palms Grill Café will be selling a speciality Christmas cookie in which a portion of proceeds will be donated to the Atlanta Community Christmas Celebration committee. Chubby’s Bar & Grill will sell their famous cheeseburger special during the weekend, $1 of each special purchased will be donated to the Atlanta Community Christmas Celebration committee. A limited number of specialty Route 66 shields with Christmas theme stickers will be available for $1 and benefit the Atlanta Community Christmas Celebration committee.
It is recommended that visitors coming for the market and Christmas festivities park in the lots available in front of the U.S. Post Office and at the Atlanta Public Library. For additional information, contact Whitney Ortiz, Tourism Development Director, at tourismatlantail@ gmail.com or call 217-871-7557.
