Andover, Illinois - a hidden treasure you must see, where Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale, left a lasting legacy
Welcome
Andover, which celebrated its 185th+One birthday on June 5-6, 2021, is strategically located between the Quad-Cities (22 miles), Galesburg (28 miles), Geneseo (18 miles), and Kewanee (22 miles). Within this western Illinois area of over 400,000 persons, you will find the amenities usually only offered in large cities: shopping, educational opportunities, recreation, art, museums, healthcare facilities, and restaurants.
Served by Interstate 74 and IL Route 81, Andover is a community where some 600 persons live, work, raise a family, and retire. Old historic homes are blended with new homes and historic buildings as you travel in all four directions from the former colony square - now the beautiful ten-acre Andover Lake Park.
This brief video and these photos highlight Andover's tourist attractions.
Andover Adventures 2022 - Details
Many exciting events are planned for this year.
Apr. 9 Annual Easter Egg Hunt (rain date April 16)
May 14 Fishing Derby
Breakfast
Boy Scout Rope Course
Toddler Playground Dedication
Children's Activies
June 4 Andover Days - Past and Present
1k & 5k Bicycle Ride
Concessions
OHS Robotics Team Demonstration
Photo Scavenger Hunt & Open Houses
Outlaws Round-Robin Baseball Tournament
June 11 Pork Chop Supper
Ice Cream Social
Miracle Bluegrass Band
Orion Coummunity Band
July 10 Biscuit & Gravy Breakfast
Community-wide Worship Service
Salute to Veterans
Aug. 13 Water Games
Races and Relays
Mo's Garage Band
Sep. 17 Movie Night
Popcorn, pop, water, candy
Pre-movie Children's Activities
Oct. 29 Trick or Treat
or 30 Trunk or Treat
Hot Dog Supper & Costume Judging
Dec. 3 Annual Christmas Walk
Hot Cocoa & Cookies with Santa Claus
Vendors/Silent Auction/Crafts
Tractor-pulled wagons rides
Christmas Tree Lighting with Sing-a-Long
Special Music at Jenny Lind Chapel
Monthly events April though December
For over 35 years, Andover has held a festival the first weekend in June. After celebrating its 185th anniversary last year, with scores of visitors joining the festivities, it has been decided that this year a series of events will be held monthly from April through December. With the ten-acre Andover Lake Park being the center of activities, these events are being planned by the Andover Tourism Council and Andover Village Board, with strong support from area corporate sponsors.
Tourists Coming Back to Andover after Pandemic
This photo was taken on the front porch of the Jenny Lind Chapel on Saturday, March 5, 2022, when 15 students from Jönköping, Sweden and 20 students from Augustana College visited the Chapel and Augustana Church. Mark Safstrom, Associate Professor of Scandinavian Studies, was the leader of the group.