Summer is coming closer to an end, but the festivals aren't over yet! Festivals are great for checking out crafts, entertainment and food. Festival food is always good -- the pulled pork sandwiches, gyros, ribeyes, anything on a stick (I have even seen fried butter on a stick!) , and of course the delicious thirst-quenching shake-ups. If you are looking to eat your way through a couple festivals, you might head on over to some areas near Champaign, Illinois.
The first festival is beginning over Labor Day weekend. Arthur, IL is known for its annual Cheese Festival each year. There used to be a cheese factory that made fresh cheese every day in the rural town. Cheese is celebrated with free cheese 3 days in a row! (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) Make sure you visit the local cheese store in town to buy some flavorful cheese too! Try the tomato basil cheese, swiss cheese, taco cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, buffalo cheese and more. Make sure you get some crackers too! There will be plenty of entertainment, lots of food and crafts to look at too. Entertainment will include music that is country, gospel, bluegrass and '50s/'60s. Runners can also particpate in the 5K Rat Race and extreme cheese lovers can join in the national cheese eating competition! You can see more about the Arthur, IL Cheese Festival at http://www.arthurcheesefestival.com.
The next festival will be located in Arcola, IL (which is only about 15 minutes away from Arthur). The Arcola Broomcorn Festival will be the weekend after the Cheese Festival. Get a chance to devour more festival food, see crafts, listen to live entertainment and watch the Arcola Broomcorn Festival parade on Saturday, Sept 9., 2011. The parade is one of the longest ones you will see along with a chance to see the famous Arcola Lawn Rangers! Festival goers can also see live demonstrations of broom making and take their children to the mini carnival. Read more about the Arcola Broomcorn Festival at http://arcolatourism.com/festivals.html.
Get two weekends in a row to chow down on festival food -- and don't forget the delicious fries with vinegar! At every festival or fair that I attend, I have to have the fries!
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