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Now in its third year, the spring Cairo Magnolia Celebration fundraiser creates awareness and support for the priceless architectural buildings and sites found within Historical Cairo. This year’s theme “Home is Where the Heart is—Love Covers All” speaks of the acts of service we can do together that exemplify our love for our hometown.
The event will again be held on the grounds of one of Cairo's most treasured buildings, the 1869 Magnolia Manor (2700 Washington Avenue) on Saturday, May 4 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
As you register beginning at 11:00, our neighbors at Riverlore Mansion will treat us once again with complementary mimosas as we mingle. The itinerary includes an inspirational keynote address, followed by an informative program on the progress TCHPP is making for Historical Cairo and ways to help with our mission. Immediately following will be a delicious catered lunch and live entertainment.
KEY NOTE SPEAKER — CHRIS GARDNER
This year's special program guest will be author and entrepreneur Chris Gardner, whose NY Times best selling book The Pursuit of Happyness was made into a movie of the same name starring Will Smith. Chris’ brand of motivational humor and wisdom is sure to encourage us to never give up — and inspire service in action!
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
We are thrilled to welcome classic Hammond organ jazz ensemble The Leonard Small Situation from Nashville, TN as our featured entertainment. Members include Cairo natives Ralph Thomas and Kyle Lehning, Curt Morrison (son of Judy and grandson of Dr. Lewis Ent), Casey Wood, and Steve Williams. With original musical titles like Confluence, Barbeque and Buttertops, and Party at the Point, there’s no denying their Cairo roots!
NEW THIS YEAR!
PRE-CELEBRATION HISTORICAL TOURS
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Optional opportunities will be given to tour Cairo’s historical buildings and points of interest on both Friday, May 3, and Saturday morning, May 4, before the Magnolia Celebration. While encouraged, it is not necessary to attend the Saturday celebration to take part in these Friday events.
Free drive-by bus tours will be given of Cairo’s historical points of interest including a newly established National Parks Service National Network to Freedom location (related to the Civil War and the Underground Railroad). Courtesy of Shawnee Mass Transit, these tours will begin at 1:00 pm on Friday and again on Saturday at 9:00 am before the Celebration event.
While not required, it will help us assist with planning if you let us know if you want to take this free tour! Email us what day and how many are in your party at support@historicalcairo.com or send a message via FB Messenger to TCHPP, Inc., Cairo Magnolia Celebration, or The Cairo Historical Preservation Project, Inc. pages.
Please meet in front of Magnolia Manor on both days, where loading will begin at 12:30 on Friday, and at 8:30 am on Saturday.
FREE PHOTOS ON FRIDAY!
COME BY FOR FREE FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS BY OUR OFFICIAL CAIRO MAGNOLIA CELEBRATION PHOTOGRAPHER Tavares Dixon Photography!
A special “LOVE COVERS ALL” prayer gathering will be held in front of the Cairo Public Library on Friday from 4:30 to 5:00 pm. The public is invited to come for a time of information and prayer.
Individual building tours will also be available this weekend. The Custom House Museum and Cairo Public Library will be open for individual tours during normal business hours (9:00 - 4:00), as well as Magnolia Manor from 12:00-4:00, on Friday, as well as the Harold Jones Fine Arts Center (former Khourie Brothers building) on 10th and Commercial.
Some of Cairo’s oldest churches in our downtown historic district will hold free open houses, too, including the Cairo Presbyterian Church, First Missionary Baptist Church, Mighty Rivers/Cairo Baptist, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, and Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. Take advantage of this chance to tour these historic structures as well!
On Saturday morning, most of the buildings will again be open for bus and individual tours from 9:00 - 11:00 am, before the beginning of the Cairo Magnolia Celebration.
LOCAL EVENT TRANSPORTATION
Comfortable transportation to and from historical district locations will once again be provided free of charge by our friends at Shawnee Mass Transit.
NEED ACCOMMODATIONS? A special “Historical Cairo” room block has been set up for May 3-5 at the Drury Inn in Marion,IL near Veteran’s Airport. To take advantage of this special block rate, please call 1-800-325-0720 by April 17, and use the group reference number 10106814 to complete the reservation.
PROGRAM AD SPACE AVAILABLE!
Ad space — full 8 x 10 page, half 8 x 5 page, quarter 4 x 5 page, and business card size — is on sale now for our program booklet. Be sure and have your family legacy or local business represented in this full-color program. It’s a great way to advertise AND support Historical Cairo at the same time!
Click on last year’s event program for advertising layout and examples!
More questions? Check out our frequently asked questions about program ad space on our FAQs page!
DEADLINE FOR ONLINE PROGRAM AD PURCHASES:
MIDNIGHT - SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2024
Plan on coming to Cairo on May 4, and meet up with your family and friends for this awesome day of celebration! Or come a day early on Friday, May 3, and tour our project buildings at your leisure, take a FREE drive-by bus tour of our historical interest sights, and join in a special prayer gathering at Ward Chapel AME Church at 5:00 pm.
All profits raised from this rain-or-shine TCHPP event will go towards the mission of protecting, preserving, and promoting Cairo’s unique historic legacy for future generations to come!
