LaSalle County launches summer marketing push, highlights festivals and new Route 66 souvenir shop
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Summary
Committee members heard details of the county’s summer marketing campaign, local Memorial Day–to–Labor Day promotions, upcoming festivals and a May 22 ribbon cutting for a new Route 66 souvenir shop in Wilmington.
Kurt, speaking for the county coalition, and Bob, a Heritage Corridor representative, briefed the LaSalle County Tourism Committee on summer marketing plans and a slate of upcoming events.
The nut graf: committee members were asked to support a summer campaign, called Appetite for Adventure, running from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, and were told about several large local events that bring visitors to the county.
Kurt said the committee’s next meeting will be June 3 at Gaetano’s Vault in Streator and listed a busy upcoming weekend in the county: “the TBM Avenger starting today, Strayer Food Truck Fest tomorrow, and Kites and Flights in Ottawa on Sunday,” he said. He thanked county staff and local media for advertising support.
Bob reviewed two printed travel guides produced by the Heritage Corridor: the Starbuck Country/Canal Town guide and a “First Hundred Miles” Route 66 guide (covering Chicago to Pontiac). He also announced a Route 66 souvenir shop ribbon cutting in Wilmington set for Thursday, May 22 at 11 a.m. at 110 South Park Street.
Committee members discussed how the Appetite for Adventure campaign will pair activities with restaurants and food businesses; Bob said new ads and collateral will begin rolling out at the start of the campaign. Committee members encouraged promotion of local sports and special promotion nights, and asked staff to circulate campaign materials where possible.
Background: members noted that targeted campaigns—state and local—are part of broader efforts to sustain leisure and group travel to LaSalle County. No formal funding decisions were made at the meeting; tourism funding requests had been due the previous day and will be reviewed next month.