A free night at a hotel, elegant dinner for two, indulging in chocolate at the Monticello Main Street Chocolate Fantasy, complete with many souvenirs to make the weekend memorable.

Or perhaps a family weekend with tickets to the ever-popular (and always sold out) “Lunch with Santa on the Train.”  Receive gift certificates to the local toy store and warm up with Hot Chocolate after watching the Monticello Christmas Parade.

These are brief descriptions of two of the four weekend getaway packages Monticello will be giving away in a drawing at the “Monticello Day” event August 12, at the Illinois State Fair.  Monticello businesses and organizations have generously donated towards these packages, promoting the community to Illinois State Fairgoers.

Indulge your sweetheart with the “Romance Package for 2,” February 6^th & 7^th.  This package includes tickets to the Chocolate Fantasy, compliments of Monticello Main Street; One night’s stay (February 6, 2009) at the Monticello Best Western; Dinner for 2 at Montgomery’s on the Square; A floral arrangement from the Bokā Shoppe; A basket of goodies from County Market;  A gift certificate for fuel from Piatt County FS; A gift certificate for jewelry from Pearls & More; A “Single Red Rose Says I Love You” personalized picture from Ziemer Art Gallery; A gift certificate for breakfast at Jittrs; And an Invitation to “Monticello Covered in Chocolate” at Allerton Park.  This package has an estimated value of $400.

If you are feeling like a family weekend is in order, register to win the “Santa on the Train Package for 4,” for the weekend of December 6^th, 2008.  Your family will get to enjoy lunch with Santa on the Train (4 tickets), compliments of the Monticello Railway Museum; A 5 x 7 picture with Santa by Julie Adcock; A gift certificate for fuel; Free hot chocolate or coffee at Steeple Gallery (which can be enjoyed after the Monticello Christmas Parade); 2 gift certificates from Pamida; 2 gift certificates from Bee Active Toys; 2 savings bonds from First State Bank of Monticello; A gift certificate from Prairie Fire Glass; And holiday note cards from Fasprint.  The estimated value of this package is $275.

If town festivals are your pleasure, then the “Monticello Celebration Package for 4” may be your getaway of choice.  The Monticello Celebration will be held on October 4^th, 2008, and the estimated value of this package is $200.  On top of going to the popular Monticello Celebration, this package winner will receive a gift certificate for lunch, compliments of the Brown Bag; Chamber Bucks for a shopping tour of Monticello; 4 train tickets from the Monticello Railway Museum; A gift certificate for fuel; Free Driving Range passes from the City of Monticello; A guided tour of the Allerton Park grounds, compliments of Allerton Park; A picture from Gary Ingersoll Photography; And 4 t-shirts from B & A Screenprinting to remember the weekend by!

And to all you cowboys, you are not forgotten:  The “Rodeo Package for 4” is for the 2009 rodeo event held next June in Monticello and has an estimated value of $200.  This package includes 4 tickets to the Annual Rodeo, compliments of the Piatt County Trail Blazers; A Gift Certificate for concessions at the rodeo; A gift basket and gift certificate for fuel; Chamber Bucks for lunch; 4 Train tickets, compliments of the Monticello Railway Museum; 4 t-shirts from the Spirit of Monticello; and 4 pool passes for the day to the Monticello Aquatic Center.

As with anything, certain rules do apply.  Anyone over 18 is invited and encouraged to enter to win.  Entries will be taken at the Monticello Day tent at the Illinois State Fair on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, from 10:00am until 7:30pm.  The drawings will take place at 7:30pm.  Participants need not be present during the drawing to be eligible for prizes, but will be contacted by event staff following the event.  Volunteers for the Monticello Day tent are ineligible to apply.  Participants may mark their package of preference on the entry form.  One entry per person, please.   

“Monticello Day” at the Illinois State Fair is a part of the Hometown Pride event in which a different community gets the opportunity to spotlight their assets to state fairgoers.  From the hours of 10:00am until 8:00pm, Monticello organizations will be presenting themselves to fairgoers, complete with information and freebies.  Monticello entertainment will fill the stage adjacent to the tent from the hours of 11:00am until 8:00pm.  Residents are invited and encouraged to “take the bus for 16 bucks” to the fair.  The bus will depart from the Municipal Building at 10:00am and return at 5:00pm.  Registration in advance is required and can be done by calling 762.2583 or stopping by the Municipal Building, 210 N. Hamilton.  Space is limited so register early!

For more information on this event, visit www.monticelloEnews.com or contact Callie Jo McFarland at 762.2583.