Hello Fellow Toyota RVers,
If you haven't heard yet, this year the 17th Annual Fall Mid-West Toyota RV Rally will take place on the third weekend in October: Thursday, October 17th through Sunday, October 20th. ?(That's in just 2 weeks). ?We will be at the “Springfield Area Highland Games and Celtic Festival” in New Berlin, Illinois. ?This is a Scottish-themed Festival with Scottish Dancers, Scottish Food, Bagpipes, and unusual athletic competitions.?
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We have only a limited number of campsites for this Rally, so if you are interested in reserving a site, we suggest you call us soon to avoid being disappointed. ?Call 626-798-4510 -- Leave a message if you get our business voicemail, and we will call you back.
Tika and Tom, Rally coordinators
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Now here is the complete invitation -- please study it carefully as it will answer most all of your questions:- - - - - - - - -
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17th ANNUAL FALL MID-WEST TOYOTA RV RALLYLocation:? Springfield Area Highland Games and Celtic Festival at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds in New Berlin, Illinois, 30 miles west of Springfield, Illinois.?
Dates:? Thursday, October 17th through Sunday, October 20th — three nights.
Reservations are now being taken; please note that this is not a rally where you can just show up. ?
The RV Park where we will be staying is actually a part of the Sangamon County Fairgrounds where the festival will be taking place. ?(See the map links below.) ?This RV Park will have other festival-goers, but the staff is reserving one particular section for our group.?
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The address is: ?
? ? Sangamon County Fair
? ? 316 W Birch St
? ? New Berlin, IL 62670
Please don’t re-post or share this location online without also saying that advance reservations by phone are required.
The cost per night for a campsite with electricity is $40 (including tax), plus there is a one-time “rally participation fee” of $8 to cover the costs of putting on the Rally. ?Sites have electricity included, but if you want to hook up to the water spigot, add $5 more per day (honor system). ?The Fairgrounds have restrooms available in the main building, with one shower stall in each side. ?Free use of the dump station is included. ?For optimum positioning of your RV, you might want to bring a heavy-duty RV extension cord to be able to conveniently access the electric hook-up posts.
Now here is the Rally Schedule:
THURSDAY - Oct 17th
Anytime after 3:00p - Arrive at the RV Park and check in with the Rally co-ordinators to be assigned a specific spot.
6:00p - We gather for a get-acquainted “Community Meal” around our fire circle (bring lawn chairs). ?Bring your own dinner but we’ll all eat together. ?(If the weather is rainy, we will have the community meal in one of the fairground buildings.)
7:30p - Campfire with s’mores, if enough folks are so inclined. ?Please bring some firewood if you can.
FRIDAY - Oct 18th
9:00a - 11:00a - “Open House” for those that want to tour each other’s RVs to see what folks have done to personalize them. ?This usually lasts for a couple hours and is always a highlight of our Rallies.
11:30p - Group Tour of Historic Springfield, IL. ?Our “RV-Pool” leaves for a?pre-arranged tour to visit several historic attractions: ?the Route 66 Museum, and President Lincoln's Historic Home and burial site
4:15p - The “RV-Pool” returns to the RV Park
6:00p - Friday evening we will have a true Potluck Dinner at the RV Park around our fire circle. Bring a dish to share (and your own table service and drink) -- we eat whatever food shows up. ?(As before, if the weather is rainy, we will have the potluck in one of the fairground buildings.)
7:30p - Campfire again if folks are so inclined. ?And again bring more firewood if you can.
SATURDAY - Oct 19th
The Scottish Festival takes place all day. ?(See the link below for the schedule.)
All events are at the Fairgrounds:
9:00a - 10:00p -- Visit the Festival ?(Scottish attire is welcome!)
-- Highland Games: various competitions
-- Scottish and Celtic vendors
-- Live music and entertainment (Scottish Dancers and Bagpipes)
-- Clan tents
-- Scottish Food vendors
Online Early-Bird Festival Pricing, from now until the day of the Games
Adults: $15 (+ $1.80 online processing fee)
Seniors $8 (+ $1.44 online processing fee)
Kids, Veterans, Military: FREE
**Kids must have purchase of a minimum of ONE adult ticket
On the day of the Games, the prices increase:
Adult $20?(+ $2.05 online processing fee)
Senior $10?(+ $1.54 online processing fee)
6:00p - Group Dinner - For those who wish, we will convene at the Food?Vendors'?area and eat Scottish (and other) food as a group.
7:30p - Optional campfire again?
SUNDAY - Oct 20th
9:00a -10:30a - “How-to" Session about Toyota RVs for anyone (new to RVing or otherwise), to answer questions about RV operation or maintenance or anything else. ?Especially if you have been RVing for a while, please come to share your expertise with others.
11:00a - Pack up to check out; visit the on-site dump station by noon if needed.
12:00p - We will line up our RVs after check-out to drive in a caravan to downtown to Shepps Diner for a group brunch. ?(Click the link below for their menu.) ?We’ll order and pay separately for our food. ?After lunch we’ll say our good-byes until next year.
2:00p - 5:00p - For those who still wish to stay a bit longer, we can go shopping for a while at an antique mall in the area.
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If all of this sounds like lots of fun, please call us (not the RV Park) to say you are interested and want to be put on the list of attendees. ?Then send us a payment (PayPal, Zelle, or check) for the rally fee and the number of nights you will be camping with us. ?(We will give you the payment address when you call to reserve.) ?We will be collecting payments in advance from everyone, and then paying for our group all at once.
The total payment for 3 nights of camping with electric hook-up (and water nearby) is $128, including the rally participation fee. ?Subtract $40 if you will be arriving one day late, or leaving early (= $88 total). ?Add $5 per night if you plan to hook up to the onsite water. ?The reservation deadline for early-bird reservations is Friday, October 11th. ?After that there is an additional late-registration fee of $10.
Cancellation Policy: Refunds are available if another Toyota RVer takes over your campsite after you cancel.
As usual we expect about a dozen Toyota RVs. ?We can only take that number of RVs and that’s it. ?(If you wait to call until after we are full up, you will be put on a waiting list for last-minute cancellations.)
If you are new to Toyota RV Rallies, don't be shy — we always have some first-time attendees. ?Please call us directly (not the RV Park) to have your questions answered.
Yes, it's gonna be fun!
Tika and Tom (Rally co-ordinators)
626-798-4510
Please leave a message if you get our business voicemail (health center) and we will call you back.
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Now for the links section:
Directions and Maps of the RV Park:
1) ?RV Park Location: ? From Interstate 72 take Exit 82 (Pleasant Plains Rd); go south to Old Highway 54; turn left (east) towards New Berlin. Continue onto Birch St (straight ahead when the road curves). ?The Sangamon County Fairgrounds are on the north (left) side of the street west of the town center. (Open the following link.)
2) ?Closer satellite view: ?We will be camping on the gravel area where there are electric hook-up poles. (Zoom image to see them.)
3) ?Link to Festival Page with Slide Show: ?BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN THIS PAGE TO SEE MULTIPLE PHOTOS OF PAST FESTIVALS!
4) ?Link to Festival Schedule of Events:
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5) ?Link to Sunday Brunch?Menu at Shepps Diner-- scroll down:(Their menu items called "Shoes" are combo plates smothered in gravy or cheese sauce!)Now please PRINT this invitation if you can, or bookmark it for easy access; that's so that you can have the Rally Schedule and these directions with you when you come.See you soon!
