Union County is set to host its annual Colorfest activities this weekend, and the communities and businesses have planned a smorgasbord of events for all ages and tastes.

The Anna home in which Lincoln stayed during his visit for the Lincoln-Douglas Debate in Jonesboro is one of three featured on this year's home tour sponsored by PAST of Union County. The tour will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 for all three homes or $5 for one home; they are available at the home sites, at the Lincoln-Douglas Center on the Square in Jonesboro, and at historic St. Anne's Church, 507 S. Main St. in Anna. Proceeds from the tour will help PAST with its mission of preserving historic structures in the county.

The Tripp Home on Anna's Main Street, now owned by Jim and Pat Tripp, was owned by D.W. Phillips in 1858 when Lincoln visited. Tour participants will get to see the room where Lincoln slept.

Timber Ridge Inn log cabin in Jonesboro is owned by Carl and Joyce Rendleman. Carl recovered a log barn from a farm south of Jonesboro to reconstruct the three-bedroom retreat set into a wooded area. The Rendlemans' antiques and eclectic collections will be featured.

The Brown-Casper-Hankla Homestead was built in 1904 on land that was owned by Millicent Hankla's great-grandfather, Winstead Davie. Hankla's grandfather Brown built the residence, which has been in the family for 104 years. The home is furnished with vintage and reproduction pieces and original paintings by Hankla's late husband, Don Hankla. The homestead uses extensive conservation practices on the lawns, fields and landscape. Much of the landscape, as well as the home, dates back 100-plus years.

PAST also will play host to a special Trail of Tears exhibit Saturday and Sunday at St. Anne's Church, 507 S. Main St. in Anna, which PAST is restoring. Admission is free.

Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. A reception with cookies and coffee will be Sunday, and at 2 p.m., a guest speaker will talk about the Trail of Tears and its role in local history.

The exhibit, a product of research by Karen Frailey and Harvey Henson of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is on display first at the church and later will be displayed at other area museum sites.

Collaborating on the project are the National Park Service, SIUC Museum and other departments, the Illinois Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association, the Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society and Southern Illinois Association of Museums.

The Stinson Memorial Library, 409 S. Main St. (Illinois 146) in Anna will have activities from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. There will be food, music, a flea market, book sale and crafts.

The Lincoln-Douglas Center on the Jonesboro Square will open at 10 a.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, featuring historical exhibits.

From 5 to 7 p.m. today, PAST will host a book signing for Darrel Dexter's new book, "A Trot Down to Egypt," describing the Lincoln-Douglas Debate in Jonesboro and the contrast between the two candidates.

Dexter, a teacher and regional historian who has received the Delta Award from the Friends of Morris Library, is the author of many local history books and articles.

His new book examines the debaters, but also puts the events in context, describing the region's politicians and communities, even down to census listings for each resident, listed by occupations. Illustrations include portraits, pictures of prominent buildings, and a map of Anna in 1881.

The 132-page book also contains a foreword by the late John Y. Simon of Carbondale, renowned Civil War historian.

The Union County Museum on South Appleknocker in downtown Cobden will be open Colorfest weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum's General Store also will be open featuring fall and Halloween items and other antiques and collectibles for sale.

Two exhibits are currently featured, "Hankies, Hats, and Handbags," a display of vintage women's accessories from several local collections, and an exhibit of presidential political memorabilia.

A variety show, "Union County Has Talent," will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School Auditorium. The show features singers, bands, comedy acts and a magician. A pre-show featuring Alto Pass Grass begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children 12 and younger.

An exhibit of quilts by Barbara Walters Jahn will be on display today through Sunday, 3 to 5 p.m. each day, between Postal Pal and KFC on Illinois 146 in Anna.

PAWS, a nonprofit animal shelter, will be holding its annual sale of mums at its headquarters, PAWS Place, 139 E. Vienna (Illinois 146). The hardy, field-grown mums are a popular fundraiser for the organization.

Colorfest will have a high, lonesome sound in Alto Pass, where a free bluegrass festival in the park will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Featured performers include Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin (from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday), as well as Old Fishskins, Breezeway, the Bankester Family, Breezeway, Etherton Switch and Alto Pass Grass. A jam session will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday

Organizers also are planning a Hillbilly Olympics, with games and fun for children, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Kids also will have a chance to explore the unique playground created by sculptor Dan Johnson. Instead of routine climbing apparatus, kids can climb over giant dinosaurs.

The Alto Pass Fire Department will sell food at a tent; other vendors and booths will be showing their wares.

The Pumpkin Patch on the grounds of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center, off U.S. 51 north of its intersection with Illinois 146, is a Colorfest must-see. It's now open and will stay open until Oct. 17. Visitors can drive through any time; the display is lighted at night. As of Friday, there were at least 27 scenes featuring pumpkin characters. All were done by local businesses, churches and other organizations.

Dongola will be packed with Colorfest activities both Saturday and Sunday. Food vendors will be on hand both days, and 4-H members will be selling pumpkins and flowering mums.

A petting zoo, surrey rides and a kids' tram will be featured both days. Other Saturday features are a kids' "bounce house," a parade starting at 11 a.m., garden tractor pull at 1 p.m., Little Miss Dongola pageant at 1 p.m., a rooster crowing contest at 2, Gospel Crusaders at 2 p.m. and Pee Wee Showmanship at 3 p.m.

On Sunday, MCML 4-H Club will have a variety of games all day. There will also be a car show will begin with registration from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and trophy presentation at 4 p.m.

Cow patty bingo will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday.

linda.rush@thesouthern.com

351-5079