Celebrate The 39th Annual Heritage Days In Okawville

Discover The Heritage Of Okawville

Come join us on June 12^th and 13^th in celebrating 39 years of this annual event. Heritage Days, hosted by the Heritage House Museum Association of Okawville, Illinois, will be sure to take you back to a quitter time and give visitors a glimpse of the past. This family event will delight folks of all ages and there is no admission. Many of these festival’s time-honored activities will be repeated. Younger folks will enjoy learning how to churn butter, knead bread or make hand cranked ice cream. These are just a few hand-on crafts everyone can enjoy. Best of all, you can sample eat all of it! “Children” of all ages can try their luck at a variety of games from the past including “backyard bowling”. This festival is held at the Schlosser Museum property at 114 W. Walnut St., in Okawville, Illinois. Times are 10:00 to 4:00 both days.

            The 5^th Annual Okawville Soda Festival will be back this year. The Okawville soda festival will help recall the era not that long ago when not only Okawville, but nearly every small town had its own “Sodie Factory”! The Okawville Soda Festival will be featuring several new varieties of old-fashioned glass bottle sodas made with pure cane sugar like in the past.

            We will feature again this year – a farmer’s market, country store, flea market, vendor and craft shows and town wide yard and rummage sales at residences and the festival sites. Come and browse the items that will be displayed. Kids love the crafts and games – including “Turtle Races” held on both afternoons. Yard sales will begin on Thursday (Call for details – 618-322-7998)

Good Times – Good Food – Good entertainment are all parts of this weekend!

If you prefer a little less action, sit back, and enjoy the outdoor entertainment.

• Beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 12^th – The popular crowd pleasing “Don James & The Music Makers” band will begin a lively afternoon performance of popular music including country, rock, soul, Rhythm and Blues, oldies and easy listening – “Blended to Perfection”.
• Sunday morning, June 13^th, at 10:30 – a new group called “Heart Strings” takes the stage. Just fine spiritual and gospel songs for summer Sunday listening.
• Following at 11:30 on Sunday – The Venedy Band will play till 1:30 p.m. This is a lively town band with los of great music that all festival folks will truly enjoy.

Be sure to bring along your appetite as you will want to sample the wonderful homemade food. Tasty items include – apple wood smoked pulled pork, smoked turkey breast, bratwurst, corn-on-the-cob, German style potato salad, buttered noodles (spätzle) and homemade pies and cakes – just to name a few! A smoked pork chop dinner will be served on Sunday along with traditional German style potato pancakes and home cooked apple-butter. Also featured are warm German style pretzels with dipping sauce. The food stand will be open for outside dining or carry-outs beginning Friday afternoon and evening. A breakfast will be served beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. The luncheon menu will be available beginning at 9:30 on both Saturday and Sunday, until 4:00 p.m.

Have lunch after church and don’t forget to stay for the “Heritage House Action Auction”. Dan Schuette will get the bidding under way at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. These attractions promise to be an afternoon of entertainment at its best. Plan now to come out and help support the Heritage House Museum organization and maintain these historic area attractions. Tour of the historic buildings will be available both days.

For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce office at – 618-243-5694 or mail to – myokawville.com.