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10th Annual Fall Mid-West Rally at the BalloonFest in Shelbyville, IL - Oct. 5 - 8, 2017


Tika

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The 10th Annual Fall Mid-West Toyota RV Rally is coming up soon -- October 5 - 8, 2017, at the BalloonFest in Shelbyville, Illinois.  We have only 16 campsites available for this rally.  Most of them have already been reserved by attendees of our previous rallies, but if you haven't seen the invitation yet, we still have a few sites left.  New folks are always welcome.  If you are interested in being on the list, we suggest you call us right away this week to avoid being disappointed.  626-798-4510 — leave a message if you get our business voicemail, and we will call you back.  
 
Tika and Tom (Rally co-ordinators)
626-798-4510
PLEASE CALL US, RATHER THAN THE RV PARK, to be put on the list.
Now here is the complete invitation:
- - - - - - - - -
 
The Fall Mid-West Toyota RV Rally this year will be held at Robin Hood Woods RV Campground in the town Shelbyville, Illinois (southeast of Springfield).  This Rally location is reasonably central for most Mid-West folks.  If that is you, consider yourself invited!  
 
The Rally dates are Thursday, October 5 to Sunday, October 8, but you can arrive on Friday or even Saturday if you like. 
 
This weekend of the annual Balloon Festival and Scarecrow Daze, and there are several activities of interest:
-  Balloon rides for our group (Friday late afternoon)
-  Downtown Parade (Saturday morning)
-  Arts and Crafts Festival (Saturday)
-  Farmhouse Restaurant Buffet Lunch (Sunday)
For more details on each of these events, see the "Links" section below.
 
In addition, Friday morning (not Saturday) we will have our usual "Open House" — a time to tour each other's RVs, and then Friday evening (not Saturday) we will have our group potluck dinner.
 
Robin Hood Woods RV campground is on the south side of Lake Shelbyville about 3 miles from town.  (See their website and the map links below.)  This RV campground is reasonably quiet, Wi-Fi near the RV Campground office, decent restrooms, and located close to the BalloonFest and Scarecrow Daze activities.  The address is:  2151 Highway 16, Shelbyville, IL 62565
 
Sites for this rally are $32.00 per night, for water and electric hookups.  Free use of the dump station is included.  If you have a GoodSam Membership card, the discounted rate is $3 less per night.  In addition we are suggesting a one time payment of $8 per RV, which is to help cover the costs of putting on the rally.  
 
Now here is the Rally schedule:
 
Thursday evening at 6:30 pm we will have a get-acquainted “Community Meal” — meaning everybody brings their own dinner, but we'll all eat together.  
 
Friday morning starting at 9:30 am we will have "Open House" for those that want to tour each other's RVs, and see what owners have done to personalize them.  This is always a highlight of our Rallies.
 
Friday afternoon about 3:30 pm we will gather to go to the BalloonFest “Kick-off Fun Flight.”  Balloons will inflate and launch at about 5pm.  (See links to their websites which follows.)  We suggest "car-pooling” (“RV-pooling”) to the site for less parking hassle.  If the weather is good, we have tentatively arranged for private tethered balloon rides for our group ($15 per person, donation goes to charity).  After the balloon rides we will return to the RV campground, where we have the use their Pavilion for our group potluck dinner at 7:00 pm.  (We'll eat whatever food shows up.)  We will also light a campfire for marshmallows afterwards (weather permitting).
 
Saturday morning at 6:30 am, any earlybirds can meet up for “RV pooling” to the airport for the Community Breakfast (fundraiser) and to watch the early Balloon “Sunrise Fun Flight.”  At 9:00 am others will meet up to “RV Pool” into town for the Scarecrow Daze Parade at 10 am.  After the Parade those who like can stay in town for an outdoor comedy show downtown, and the Arts and Crafts Festival on Main Street (goes ’til 3pm), and even a Pokeman GO hunt.  (See the links to their websites which follow.)
 
At 5 pm we will meet up at the RV Campground to “RV pool” to the airport for the “Balloon Glow” at sunset.  About 14 Balloons will light up (but not take off).  The local Fire Department is having a fundraiser Cookout Dinner with entrees of either rope sausage or pork tenderloin.  There will be other food vendors too.  At about 8 pm we’ll return to the RV Campground for another campfire if folks want.
 
Sunday morning at 7:00 am for those that would like to go see it, there will be a second Sunrise Fun Flight, and contests for the balloon pilots (dropping items from the balloons to a target).
 
At 9:00 am we'll have a "How-to" Session for anyone (new to RVing or otherwise), to answer questions about RV operation or maintenance or anything else.  If you have been RVing for a while, come to share your expertise with others. 
 
Sunday at about 11:00 am, we plan to caravan with our RVs about 2 miles to the Farmhouse Family Restaurant for a buffet lunch.  The price is $7.99 for adults and $2 less for kids.  (See the link to their website which follows.)
 
After lunch we will all say our goodbyes until next year.
 
If all this sounds like lots of fun, please call us (not the RV Campground) to say you are interested and want to be put on the list.  Then send us a payment (PayPal or check) for the number of nights you will be camping with us along with the $8 rally participation fee.  We will give you the payment address when you call to reserve.  The RV Campground would like us to collect all the payments from everyone, and then pay their office all at once.
 
As usual we expect about 16 Toyota RVs.  The RV Campground is full for the weekend, so we can only take that many RVs, and that’s it!  (If you wait to call 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 campground) to have your questions answered. 
 
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.
 
Now for the links section:
 
Robin Hood Woods RV Campground website:
 
Map location of the RV Campground (three versions):
 
 
(Closer satellite view) https://goo.gl/maps/ycWQKZ2nHTz 
 
(Campground - close up view) http://www.robinhoodwoods.com/sat-big.jpg 
(We will be in the center of the long loop at the lower right, sites 230 - 246.)
 
BalloonFest Events page:
 
Balloon Pictures:
 
BalloonFest Facebook page:
 
Scarecrow Daze Events pages:
 
Farmhouse Family Restaurant page:
 
Other related Facebook pages for the town of Shelbyville,IL:
(This includes a video of the balloons last year) https://www.facebook.com/lakeshelbyvilleinfo/ 

lake_balloon_pic.JPG

Edited by Tika
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  • 1 month later...

Thanks for the correction Dennis.  We'll get it right next year.  it's because of you that this annual rally got started.  We had a fun time as always, especially seeing the balloons up close and talking to the pilots.  Maybe we will see you again next year.

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