The oldest festival in Illinois proves that lots can happen in a small town. Some say that life runs a little slower and a little more simple. Yet small towns in Illinois are rich in tradition, forging their own cultures that are unique to each place. Oftentimes, these traditions culminate in an annual celebration in the form of a festival, which showcases the very best of the town's foods, arts, music, and community spirit. And for over a century, Windsor Harvest Picnic has been an excellent example. So let's take a look.
The 127th Windsor Harvest Picnic takes place this year from Thursday, Aug. 15 to Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
A major draw for attendees is the live music and entertainment. This year look forward to the beats from the Family Worship Center Band on Thursday and the Bellamy Brothers on Saturday.
The Headliner this year on the Windsor Harvest Festival schedule is The Lovin' Spoonful, an American folk-rock band. Do the songs "Summer in the City" and "Do You Believe in Magic" ring a bell?
Of course, no picnic would be complete without incredible local foods.
Coming from a small town myself, I live for the savory, juicy crunch of a butterfly barbecue pork chop sandwich — and there are plenty of them here on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Classic sides, such as baked beans and potato chips, are also available at the Windsor Harvest Picnic, and the local Methodist church hosts an ice cream social.
A unique go-to food here is the fried fish dinner — crisped to perfection in a golden crust — on Friday night. After dinner, grab one of the mouthwatering desserts created by the area's fifth and sixth graders.
Keep your appetite up for Saturday too, because the Windsor FFA serves an amazing breakfast followed by the picnic's 5K run/1 mile walk, a tractor pull, and a parade. The evening caps off with a pork chop dinner, a raffle drawing, and live music.
In addition to the great eats and family atmosphere, a small carnival offers rides and games for kiddos to enjoy.
The oldest festival in Illinois offers more information on the Windsor Harvest Picnic web page. Have you attended this exciting festival? What's your favorite festival in the Prairie State? Do you have a favorite festival tradition? Tell us in the comments below!
Fall is the best time in Illinois, but blink and you'll miss it. Illinoisans know it's essential to enjoy every last golden leaf while the state's foliage peaks and to soak up as much of the autumnal vibe as possible. One of my favorite ways to do that is by spending time outdoors at a lovely fall festival. To make sure you're getting the most out of the season, we've rounded up a list of seven of the best fall festivals in Illinois for you to check out. If you're wondering "is there a fall festival near me?" look no further!
Considered the "Pumpkin Capital of the World," it should be no surprise that the small town of Morton has had one of the best fall festivals in Illinois for more than 55 years. Annually, the Central Illinois town hosts three days' worth of pumpkin-themed events, such as a parade, a pumpkin weigh-off, a pumpkin decorating contest, a recipe challenge, a pie eating contest, a craft market, live entertainment, and much, much more. The event attracts tens of thousands from across the Midwest and further afield who can't wait to dive head-first into this wondrous fall land.
Found where the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers meet, Grafton is one of Illinois' most historic and charming riverside towns. That makes it the perfect place for a fall festival, and this gorgeous town doesn't disappoint. Its annual Apple Festival, held at the Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Center in Pere Marquette State Park, the one-day event packs in plenty of autumnal fun. Visitors can expect apple wine tasting, samplings from local restaurants, scores of fun kids' activities, an apple pie walk, and a Pumpkin Roll, which sees contestants rolling pumpkins down a hill. How fun is that! The first-place winner even gets a night's stay at the lodge.
Of course, it wouldn't quite be a fall celebration in Illinois without paying homage to our agricultural roots. In the Land of Lincoln, that means tractor and steam shows! Fortunately, the Prairie Land Heritage Museum has us covered with its annual Steam Show & Fall Festival Days, which features an antique tractor pull, steam engine and tractor displays, farming demonstrations, a flea market and craft show, musical entertainment, steam engine-cooked ham and beans, and raffles. There's a lot to do, so be sure to bring a big group of friends or the family (or both!) for this awesome annual festival!
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This year's event will be held September 27-29. Follow along at the https://prairielandheritage.com/ website for all the details!
The Apple 'N Pork Festival, held each year in the picturesque fall town of Clinton, combines two of our state's favorite foods (you guessed it, apples and pork!) for a cozy and delicious event that draws visitors from across the state. It's impressive how many mouthwatering creations can come from just two categories — everything from apple cider, apple floats, apple pies, and apple butter, to pork ribs, pork sandwiches, smoked ham, bratwurst, and so much more can be devoured during the two-day fest. So be sure to bring your appetite (and wear loose stretchy pants, too!) There will also be tons of vendors, crafts, and fun activities that put this celebration in a league of its own.
The stunning countryside town of Galena is home to one of the state's most unique takes on the Bavarian tradition of Oktoberfest. This German-style celebration includes wiener dog racing, live polka music and dancing lessons, and the fan-favorite Beer Stein Endurance Contest, where participants see who can hold a full mug of beer straight out in front of them for the longest. There is also plenty of beer and incredible food, as well as dogs available for adoption.
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This year's festival will be held October 5 and boy, are there some really fun things in store for you! Start planning your visit by checking out the Galena Lions Club website and the Galena Oktoberfest Facebook page.
Heading into October, Illinoisans know to head over to Scarecrow Weekend in St. Charles. This adorable event gets the whole city involved with a display of more than 85 handmade scarecrows found throughout town. The family-friendly event has lots to do for kids, such as live entertainment, activities, and crafts, plus fall-inspired photo ops, pumpkin carvings, a craft show, and local vendors.
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This year's festival will take place October 11-13 in Downtown St. Charles and Pottawatomie Park. For more info, visit the Scarecrow Weekend website and the St. Charles Business Alliance Facebook page.
Last, but certainly not least, is my favorite fall festival in Illinois: the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. I have a sweet spot for this more than 60-plus year tradition because I grew up attending the fest and have family in the quaint small town of Sycamore. The festival features a pumpkin decorating contest and display on the lawn of the county courthouse, a parade, pork chop sandwiches and cider, a carnival, a craft show, a run, and much more. There's even a statue of the man who founded the festival, Wally Thurow.
Have you ever been to any of these exciting events? If so, which ones were your favorites? What are some of your other favorite Illinois fall festivals? How do you like to spend fall in Illinois? We'd love to read about your experiences in the comments section below!
And while you're checking out the best fall festivals in Illinois, make sure you have some comfy fall gear to wear! I'm currently obsessed with this Halloween town sweatshirt and this best-selling knitted pumpkin beret — both from Etsy! And if you plan to hit a few of these festivals, make sure to pack everything you need with our handy road trip packing guide!
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Thinking about taking an Illinois vacay soon? Then consider booking your flight via the Dollar Flight Club.
If you’re still in the mood for more Illinois adventures, take a look at this video about the historic river town of Galena:
If you're looking for an inspiring local fair to attend this summer, check out the hot air balloon glow at Centralia Balloon Fest in Illinois this August. This magical event is a true night to remember. After learning more about this magical festival you'll be ready to pack your bags and join it yourself.
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Bring the whole family or all your friends to this marvelous event. Scroll on for more details.
Mark your calendars for August 16-18, 2024 for the annual Centralia Balloon Fest in southern Illinois. This popular event has been going on since 1990 in this moderate-sized town, and locals from all around the area look forward to it each and every summer.
There's almost nothing more magical than watching a flurry of balloons fly into the sky, floating gracefully among the clouds. And this town gets to see it every single year.
In addition to a great deal of exciting fair activities, the most exciting thing that happens at the Balloon Fest is the Balloon Glow. Guests certainly don't want to miss this most popular and exciting part of the whole event.
It's an opportunity to see the balloons lit up at night in the most magnificent way.
Taking place both Friday and Saturday nights of this magical festival, the hot air balloon glow features the same fun and colorful floating globes from during the day.
It's fun to spot the colors, patterns, and characters that you just saw in the sky, now lit up on the grounds of the festival.
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At night, they are lit up and transformed into lantern-like orbs that are a true sight to see. It is especially lovely to watch them reflect in the pond.
Whether you're a long-time attendee of the festival or coming for the first time, this is sure to inspire you.
In total, there are often around 35 hot air balloons to see throughout the event. Some come in special shapes and sizes and all are painted in fun colors and designs.
If you're the adventurous type, take a tethered balloon right yourself for $20. And on Sunday you can enjoy family free day with a jam packed schedule of kid-friendly activities.
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Other activities scheduled for the weekend include cardboard boat races, a classic car show, Friday night fireworks, craft booths, food vendors, and live entertainment all day long. There will also be kids' activities like bounce houses, games, and more.
There's something for everyone at this dynamic festival, so bring all your friends and family to join in on the fun.
For more details about the August 16-18, 2024 Centralia Balloon Fest, check out its webpage on the Centralia Chamber of Commerce website and the official Facebook page of this unique balloon festival.
Address: 130 South Locust Street, Centralia, IL, 62801
If you've ever been to this hot air balloon glow, we'd love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments. We love to hear your firsthand accounts of these unique experiences!
