Gin Blossoms, Fireworks & Family Fun at the 2026 Petunia Festival

Season 3, Episode 114Join host Emma Watts on this episode of Along the Rock as she sits down with Rob Bates and Leah Nelson from the Dixon Petunia Festival to discuss everything happening during the 62nd annual celebration.Learn about the history of one of the Sauk Valley’s biggest summer traditions, the return of the carnival, parade, live entertainment, fireworks, family activities, and the community support that keeps the festival going year after year.The guests also discuss newer additions to the festival, including the popular dog parade, sensory-friendly carnival hours, volunteer opportunities, and this year’s connection to America’s 250th anniversary celebration.Plus, hear about this year’s entertainment lineup featuring Gin Blossoms, Grand Barham, Two Hyped Crew, and more.For festival schedules, volunteer opportunities, and additional information, visit:https://petuniafestival.org👉 Don’t forget to like, share, comment and subscribe for more local stories from the Sauk Valley and beyond.🎧 Listen to the full podcast and explore more at https://theradar.online🎤 Highlights:0:00 Intro00:34 What is the Petunia Festival?00:59 Celebrating the 62nd Annual Festival01:36 Family fun, entertainment, and community traditions01:59 What's new for 2026?02:07 America's 250th Birthday celebrations in Dixon02:25 The Dog Parade returns02:51 Sports tournaments and new festival activities03:18 Quiet Hours at the Carnival for sensory-sensitive children03:47 Where to find festival information online04:04 Festival schedule breakdown: Wednesday through Sunday04:37 Parade, entertainment, and fireworks highlights04:55 America-themed fireworks show with synchronized music05:11 Best places to watch the fireworks06:18 New pedestrian bridge viewing opportunities06:51 Official festival dates and community events08:00 How to volunteer at the Petunia Festival09:03 2026 Concert Lineup Announcement09:08 Louder Now kicks off Thursday night09:21 Gin Blossoms headline Friday night09:27 Country Night featuring Graham Barham09:34 Two Hype Crew before the fireworks finale09:56 The community effort behind the festival10:19 Sponsors, volunteers, and local partnerships10:50 What makes the Petunia Festival special11:12 Final thoughts and invitation to attend11:22 Closing remarksFollow us on all social media platforms below:https://www.facebook.com/radarfreepresshttps://www.youtube.com/@radarfreepresshttps://open.spotify.com/show/0dOeaVg1JI0ump4iD0rIHkhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/along-the-rock/id1773156790https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-along-the-rock-245007958/https://rumble.com/radarfreepresshttps://www.tiktok.com/@radarfreepresshttps://x.com/radarfreepresshttps://www.instagram.com/radarfreepress/https://www.threads.net/@radarfreepress#PetuniaFestival #DixonIllinois #AlongTheRock #GinBlossoms #GrahamBarham #FireworksShow #SummerFestival #IllinoisEvents #FamilyFun #VisitDixon #FourthOfJuly #LiveMusic #Carnival #DogParade #CommunityEvents #SaukValley #RadarFreePress #FestivalSeason #America250 #ThingsToDoIllinois