Not Your Typical Festival

“There will be fun all over Big Rock.”

Mary Hauge, Resident of Big Rock, Illinois

It’s the beginning of a new month (can you believe it?), so that means it’s time for a new Not Your Typical Festival list. Click on the link, or the tab at the top of this page, and check out the latest offbeat celebrations. To mark the occasion, I’m sharing a few celebrations that were held this last month but didn’t make the June list.

Zippy Birthday Bash
Big Rock, Illinois (population 2,118) made a big deal out of celebrating the town’s zip code birthday last month. And what’s a zip code birthday? It’s the date that matches a town’s zip code. In this case, 60511: June 5, 2011 (6/05/11). When one of the town’s residents realized their zip code would be an actual date this year, she and a bunch of volunteers threw together a birthday bash. It included a truck and tractor show, train rides, a BBQ chicken and pork dinner, and let’s hope cake. The zip code for my town is 52054, so I’d have to wait until 2054 to celebrate. I’m not holding my breath.
Read the Article ® Big Rock prepares to put some ZIP in village anniversary


What’s in a Name
The festival in Elizabeth, Illinois (population 644) is an exclusive kind of thing—you have to be named Elizabeth to attend. Okay, the festival allows the families, too, but it’s really all about the Elizabeths. The town, named after Elizabeth Armstrong, who spearheaded efforts to defend Apple River Fort during the Black Hawk War in 1832, sets aside time each year to celebrate that spirit, and namesake. One hundred and seventy-five Elizabeths showed up this year, donning matching purple shirts and a spirit for fun. A portion of the money raised during the Elizabeth Festival goes to support the Apple River Fort, still standing today, thanks to an Elizabeth.
Read the Article ® Elizabeths elicit excitement


Priceless Festival
The Strawberry Festival held by The Brethren Church in Linwood, Maryland (population 5,149) might look like a typical festival—good times and good eats—but unlike most festivals, it doesn’t cost a dime to partake. The church, which has held the festival for 100 years, decided three years ago to practice what it preaches and make the festival available to everyone without regard to income. The church does accept free-will donations during the dinner, and it uses that money to feed the needy. The funny is, since the festival stopped charging for the dinner three years ago, the amount raised for charity has nearly doubled.
Read the Article ® Donation-only festival helps those in need in the community