Small Town Fun. Big City Shows.
Plan your visit around a performance at The Dixon Historic Theatre. Located in downtown Dixon, steps from shops, dining, and riverfront charm. See what’s on stage at dixontheatre.com.
Sun., July 13 @ 4:30 pm
Puppy Pals Live
Adorable dogs perform amazing tricks! ‘Puppy Pals Live’ is a tail-wagging, high-energy show perfect for animal lovers of all ages!
The Four C Notes
The Four C Notes, created by Jersey Boys star John Michael Coppola, pay tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons with authentic performances of classic hits. Sat., July 19 @ 7:30 pm
July 26 - August 3rd
You’re A good Man Charlie Brown
Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang for a heartwarming, family-friendly musical full of joy.
Friday, Aug. 8 @ 7:30 pm
Double Vision
Double Vision recreates Foreigner's sound, delivering an unforgettable experience with hit songs like "Juke Box Hero," "Hot Blooded," and more.
Sat., Aug. 30 @ 7:30 pm
Billy The Kid
Sing along to Billy Joel classics in BILLY THE KID—an all-live tribute packed with hits and fan favorites.
Sat., Sept. 13 @ 7:30 pm
Steely Dane
Steely Dane delivers a high-energy tribute to Steely Dan with 15 top musicians, big hits, deep cuts, and a full live sound.
Some exclusions apply To
SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO AND SHOWS!
Fun for the whole family ... Whether they’re dippin’ their toes in the creek, blowing bubbles or just sitting back and relaxing to the sounds of music in the fresh country air, festival-goers will find a warm and welcoming vibe.
“It was always the weekend just before school started. I always had fun there when I was a kid and met a lot of people. I really enjoyed it and was disappointed when the church stopped it. I had a lot of people tell me that they really missed Willow, and I’m like, ‘You know what, I’m just going to put it all together and see what happens.’”
For now, the event and its board are just trying to offset operating costs, but plan to make it a fundraiser for local organizations, Derrick said. While maintaining its dedicated flock of “Willow brothers,” attendance in recent years hasn’t been its best. Last year’s festival was simply “a trial run,” Derrick said, to see if it still mattered to people. It turns out that it did.
“It’s a very friendly atmosphere,” Derrick said. “I never had any problems last year with anyone
getting out of hand or rowdy. Everybody was very happy to have it back and a lot of them were grateful.”
Many attendees come from large urban areas, Derrick said, and the festival is music to their ears, as they look forward to trading the noise of the city for music in the country, surrounded by picturesque scenery of rural America.
“There’s a lot of people who have come here from the suburbs of Chicago who don’t get to go out into the countryside,” Derrick said. “There have been some who’ve told me: ‘You don’t have any idea how refreshing it was to get out of the city for the Willow vibe.’ For a lot of people, it’s refreshing for them.”
Guests have also be mindful of the fact that the event took place on private property, cleaning up after themselves and not leaving any trash on the Schlafers’ pasture, which is something Stewart greatly appreciates.
Today, the tiny community of Willow has just a few homes and a church, but it was a bit bigger once, back when it had a Post Office, store, school, and church, as seen in this detail from an 1893 map of Bereman Township in Jo Daviess County. The Schlafer Family has lived in Willow since 1910. (location of the Schlafer farm circled in red)
A Willow family tree
The Schlafer family has deep roots in the Willow community, reaching back to the early part of the 20th century. The family barn also has an interesting back story, too — one that’s been written about in a 1989 issue of Time magazine, and immortalized in porcelain in 1996, as a model for one of the Ertl Company’s
“I’ll tell them that you have to clean this pasture up to just like how it was when you came, or else you aren’t going to come here anymore, and they do,” Stewart said. “Respect the property, respect the people, and if you don’t, we’re not going to have it.”
Stewart and Derrick represent the third and fourth-generations, respectively, of the family that’s owned the farm for more than a century, since 1910, and they’re proud of their family’s place in local history. The farm has even had its 15 minutes of fame — twice.
The barn was featured in a 1989 Time magazine story on refurbishing old barns, and it was also used as a model for the Ertl Toy Company’s American Country cold-cast porcelain barn series in 1996.
Established in 1893 “Over
It’s a good thing, then, that Stewart’s dad didn’t take his son’s advice.
Stewart tells the story about how he once wanted to have his dad, Pete, raze the barn and build a new one, but how he later came to appreciate its history and distinctive design, telling Time in 1989 that the barn “is the character and soul of our farm.”
Gather ‘round
so groovy now, that people are finally getting together. I think it’s wonderful and how, that people are finally getting together … ”
Post lived in Galena before his death in 2022. His appearance, and sets by others through the years, are kept alive in the memories of devout attendees who’ve returned to the festival year after year.
The Willow Folk Fest runs all day from Aug. 8-10 at the Schlafer Farm, 6250 Willow Road. Admission is $5 per day or $25 per camper for the weekend; children 8 and younger are free. Go to facebook.com/groups/willowfolkfestival for more information.
These days, the barn is one of the attractions that have helped keep the community of Willow on the map, the other being the festival itself, which through the years has hosted acts who’ve started out there and went on to find their place on a national stage — as well as one performer who found his place on the national stage first and then played the festival.
Jim Post, who performed at Willow, was one half of the duo Friend and Lover, who recorded “Reach out of the Darkness,” which hit No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. You may know the song, with its upbeat intro and message of hope and friendship: “I think it’s
Willow has attracted performers and fans from all over the country throughout the years, and the Schlafers and their friends on the festival’s board are looking to make this new chapter in the event’s songbook as good as it was during its heyday.
“It’s enjoyable for all of the people who come,” Stewart said. “I hope it’s going to be a success like it’s been in other years.”
If it’s anything like the song that put one of the event’s musical acts on the chart back in the day, getting people to come to the festival shouldn’t be a problem. After all, like the song says: “It’s so groovy now, that people are finally getting together … ”
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
The Lake Carroll Recreation Club’s Beanbag Baseball event — a cross between bag toss and baseball — drew around 60 participants May 26 at the Lodge.
ome couples just have a to-do list. Mitch and Sue Manden have a something-to-do list, and they’re always adding to it, helping find something to do for themselves and their friends and neighbors in Lake Carroll.
The couple head up the Lake Carroll Recreation Club, a group that aims to offer fun and interesting activities for members of the community.
The idea started when the retired couple decided they didn’t want to just let their hands fill up with free time; they’d rather use them to do things like toss beanbags, play a card game, hand out cash, and share a hearty handshake with people in their community.
It turns out they’re not alone.
“A lot of our friends at the Lake were looking for new, interesting and exciting things to do,” said Mitch, who is the club’s president.
The club is separate from the Association’s Recreation Department — the goal wasn’t to replace the department or outdo it, Mitch said — but they both have the same goal: make life on the Lake even better.
PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
LEFT: Dorothy Schrems shows off the $90 jackpot she won in a game of Show Me the Money. She then proceeded to win the next pot of $91. CENTER & RIGHT: Tom Wienecke watches his toss fly toward the Beanbag Baseball board, and celebrates after getting a “home run.”
When Lake Carroll’s Mitch and Sue Manden saw a need in the community to expand recreational offerings in the community, they decided to fill that need, by staring the Lake Carroll Recreation Club. “A lot of our friends at the Lake were looking for new, interesting and exciting things to do,” said Mitch.
“Our rec department does a great job here,” Mitch said. “But they’re limited on what they can offer. We saw a need in the community to enhance recreation, not to replace our rec department, but to supplement it. We thought, ‘Hey, we can help out.’” And help they did. Since forming the club last year, they’ve hosted games and gettogethers, making new friends in the process and helping others do the same.
There’s been beanbags and baseball, beaches and buggies, banter and bragging rights — and most important: camaraderie.
It doesn’t take much to be a member of the club: If one’s a Lake Carroll member, they’re a Recreation Club member as well, Mitch said. No dues are collected.
The club hosted its first event, Show Me the Money, in April 2024, a game similar to Bingo but with playing cards and more chances to win. This summer saw the launch of three new events: Beanbag Baseball, which is a combination of bag toss and America’s national pastime; a four-day Beaches and Buggies trip throughout scenic Grant County, Wisconsin; and just for the ladies, Wine Bingo, where the popular game can be played while enjoying some wine.
The couple could have just hosted some gettogethers on their own, but by having a club they can promote their events on Lake Carroll Association platforms such as the members area of its website and through newsletters.
After a little more than a year since that first event, the Mandens have enjoyed seeing people at Lake Carroll come together and get to know other people — expanding upon Lake Carroll’s metaphoric melting pot, where people of all different backgrounds come together to be a part of the community.
“I love the friendships that have formed,” Sue said. “That’s what’s been important to me and for the new people who come out. One couple told us that they lived here for a year and hadn’t met anybody, and they were people who we pulled over for on the side of the road to meet, and they were thrilled.”
Show Me the Money is played at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month at the Lodge. Thirteen games are played, at a $1 a play or $5 for the final play at the end of each night. Each player selects a laminated set of three playing cards from a table. Players can purchase as many sets as they wish.
Cards, jokers included, are drawn at random, one at a time via computer software that Mitch coordinates. When a person has the card, they place a chip on it, with the goal of getting chips on all three. Excitement builds when a player gets chips on two cards — they
yell “Holding!” to let other players know they’ve only got one card left to put a chip on — “It gets everyone riled up and excited if they know you need one more number,” Sue said.
When a player gets a chip on all three cards, that’s when they get to yell “Show me the money!” — a phrase made famous by Tom Cruise in the 1996 film “Jerry Maguire.”
The winning prize for each game comes from the money players pay for the cards, minus $2 which is set aside for a progressive bonus pot. For example: If 90 sets are being played, the prize is $88. The bonus pot is won when a player hits all three cards in succession at the start of each game; it recently grew to three figures by the time it was hit on June 2. Multiple players can hit all three cards on one draw, and the prize money is split when this happens
Each winner gets to proudly fan out their winnings for a picture that Sue takes and posts on social media.
The game has proven a popular draw, with around 70 people playing each night — and while it’s called Show Me the Money, Mitch said he doesn’t believe people play just for the cash.
“Everyone has their table, they all sit together and have their little group, and some are more concerned about talking among themselves rather than what’s going on. Once we get people holding, they’ll get more interested in the game. They like winning the money, too, but it’s not like you’re alone at the slots and pushing a button; you get to have conversation, eat and drink and have a good time.”
Who doesn’t like a gob of greenbacks? The Recreation Club’s Show Me the Money game has been a big hit with players. Left: Jan Young shows off her $92 pot after winning a game.
Below: Steve Rasmussen (left) and Dana Haze receive their winnings from Sue Manden.
PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
CARROLL COUNTY HAS SEEN A 54.7% DECREASE IN UNDERAGE DRINKING SINCE WE STARTED WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS IN 2006! ***Illnois youth survey***
Dorothy Schrems had a rare pair of wins when she shouted “Show me the money!” twice in a row. The wins, which she played on separate three-card sets, netted her $90 and $91.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Schrems said. “I love all of the socialization and the camaraderie, and everybody’s always a good sport about everything. It’s fun! I like winning money.”
The second and fourth Mondays during the summer are for Beanbag Baseball, at 6 p.m. on the Lodge’s back lawn (or moved inside if it rains). The game is played like bags — where players toss a bag at a board with holes set up 16 feet away — but also incorporates baseball concepts such as having holes for outs, singles, doubles, triples and home runs. Bases are located near the board, and score is kept as if an actual game of baseball was played.
Games are played in a season-like structure: a 10-week season with six teams began on May 12 with champions determined July 14, and a five-week one will follow. The cost is $10 per season, with the money going toward supplies and prizes — $250 for league-winning teams and $150 for runners-up. Some of the players even have fun with team names — like the Dirt Bags, Old Bags, Hole Enchiladas, Last Bag Standing, Baggin’ and Braggin’ and the Hole Baggers — and some step up their game with their own team shirts.
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What’s in the bag? Fun!
Another popular Lake Carroll Recreation Club activity is Beanbag Baseball, a game that incorporates elements of bag toss and baseball. Nearly 60 people showed up to play on May 26, including Janet Holtschult (above, center) and her husband Mark, who played for the Hole Enchiladas team. Above right: Tim Michaels keeps score for his Baggin’ and Braggin’ team.
If you’re a fan of quick baseball games and pitching duels, Beanbag Baseball may not be your bag, but if you like a little suspense and friendly competition, the game should be a hit.
The more the scoring is done like an offensive slugfest, the more fun and excitement there is for players. Some games have ended in exciting walk-off fashion, where players were down to their final chances and came from behind to win.
“The only complaints we’ve had are that the games may not last long enough,” Mitch said. “[I’ll tell them] you got to make some hits! When you go three up, three down it doesn’t last long. The more runs you score, the longer it’s going to be.”
Several teams had couples playing together, including Janet and Mark Holtschuldt on the Hole Enchiladas.
“We’re just having a good time,” Janet said. “The people make it fun, and it’s something new. There’s a lot of camaraderie. They bring all of us together.”
Wine Bingo began June 19, at Trailside’s outdoor deck. The event’s $20 cost includes a 375ml bottle of wine from the store and a Bingo card (Trailside Wine Club members get a $5 discount). Six games were played, and appetizers and ice cream drinks were available. Prizes included more wine, gift baskets and Trailside gift certificates.
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More nights of Wine Bingo are being considered. Spaces for the four-day Beaches and Buggies trip in Grant County filled up fast when it was announced this spring, and its waiting list has grown since then. The trip is Aug. 4-7, in Lancaster, Wisc., and includes scenic drives through the Driftless Area landscapes on UTVs, floating on tubes down the Grant River, enjoying an afternoon on a private beach with lunch and games, visits to historical sites and museums, catching the Cassville Ferry across the Mississippi River into Iowa, and games and puzzles. Call Mitch at 630-525-1925 for more details.
Ideas for an event similar to Let’s Make a Deal, as well as a ghost-themed sightseeing trip to Galena are being ironed out for later this summer. “We look for stuff out of the ordinary,” Mitch said. “We’re looking for that new, innovative, exciting, ‘oh-my-gosh-that-soundsgreat’ event. We’re constantly looking for different things to do.”
Each activity brings in adults of all ages, from those in their 80s tossing bean bags to those in their 20s hoping for lucky card draws. “We’re all-inclusive and we like to draw from all demographics,” Mitch said. “We’re not just about seniors.”
Another goal of the club: Giving people something to do during the down time, like Mondays.
“Mondays were dull out here, restaurants aren’t open and there was nothing to do,” Mitch said. “We picked Monday because nothing else was going on. The members really got into it, and it gives them an opportunity to get out of the house.”
When the club formed, the Mandens were the only ones running it, but now are part of a five-person board that helps coordinate everything and may fill in for them overseeing events when they’re off on their next vacation. They’ve also taken some suggestions from members, such as a bonus
pot for Show Me the Money.
The Mandens spend all but about two months each year at Lake Carroll, going on vacation during the winter. When they went on their 2023 trip to Florida, they were introduced to a version of Show Me the Money that they enjoyed enough to spark the idea to bring it home with them. They’ve also picked up ideas from other trips they’ve taken.
“We’re giving back to a community that we love to be in,” Sue said. “It’s a great opportunity for people to meet new people. I’m amazed at how many people actually come. People have told us that they would have never made the friends that they made if we didn’t have these things.”
Bringing joy to someone’s day is what the Recreation Club strives to do, helping its members enjoy their community even more.
“When we walk into Candlelight and see people we know, or some we don’t know — and they don’t see us — we’ll walk in behind them and they’re talking about Beanbag Baseball, or they’re talking about Show Me the Money. It just warms my heart to see our members having something fun to talk about,” Mitch said. “I love to hear members saying what a good time they had.”
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
t’s nice to see new neighbors come to Lake Carroll, some for the same reasons current residents decided to make it their home and others for reasons of their own.
At the same time, it can be bittersweet to see old friends decide to leave the community.
But whether someone is coming or going, it takes a real estate agent to help get them there, and Lake Carroll has a trio of agencies — Barnes Realty, Fawn Ridge Real Estate, and Re/Max Town Lake and Country— that have put up and taken down a lot of For Sale signs through the years. They’ve seen changes in the market, tracked trends, and watched people come and go and the community grow during their time, but one thing that hasn’t changed is their commitment to finding the right home at the right price for buyers and helping sellers get the best price for their listing.
Turning two words, “home” and “owner,” into one is no small task. For most people, buying a home is the biggest investment they’ll make, so having someone who’s up to that task is important — and the same goes when selling a home. Experience counts, and agents have seen housing busts and booms, interest rates go up and down, and even had to navigate a global pandemic that affected every corner of the economy.
At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020-21, more people were looking to get away from busy urban areas to Lake Carroll, while others who owned lots there that they had planned to build on “one day down the road” found that “one day” came sooner rather than later. Still others who had second homes at the Lake decided to make them their new primary residences.
That all led to an uptick in demand and a shortage of houses. Real estate agencies were struggling to find new listings. A look at ads in Lake Lifestyle at the time show listings that were full of “SOLD” and “PENDING” banners slapped across photos.
These days, things have settled down a bit and people are finding it a easier to settle in at Lake Carroll, though housing inventory remains a challenge.
So what is the market like today? Lake Lifestyle reached out to Lake Carroll real estate leaders for a Q&A. So turn the page and see what Julie Wenzel of Re/Max Town Lake and Country, Amy Barnes of Barnes Realty and Nick Block of Fawn Ridge Real Estate had to say
How has the number of listings changed over the past 6 to 12 months? Do you know any reason that may be?
Based on my research, there were 34 new listings over the past 6 months, compared to 38 in the previous 6-month period. While this represents a slight decrease, the Lake Carroll market historically maintains stable listing and sales activity year over year.
Are you seeing more buyer activity or seller activity right now?
We are seeing the typical seasonal trend: an increase in seller activity during the spring, while buyer interest has remained consistently strong.
Year-to-date through May, listings are up 15% and homes sold are up 78%. We have had 2 years of historically low inventory with continued buyer demand. The result of the increase in listings, more negotiation on pricing, and continued buyer demand has led to an increase in sales compared to last year to date.
There are more homes for sale this year. Interest rates are probably the biggest factor.
Sellers are currently outnumbering buyers as we continue to see homes come on the market. This has created an opportunity for buyers to have some negotiation on list prices, but sellers are still in a great position if they price their properties appropriately. Well priced homes with a good location and condition are selling quickly. Interest rates have remained around 7% for some time and buyers have decided to enter the market when previously they may have been on the fence waiting for rates to decline.
A bit more seller activity right now.
Are homes generally selling above, below or at asking price?
Over the past 6 months, the average sale-to-list price ratio was 94.93%. This reflects the fact that Lake Carroll is a desirable market where appropriately priced homes are attracting offers close to asking price.
What price ranges are moving the fastest or slowest?
It’s challenging to generalize by price range alone, as multiple factors — such as property condition, location, and pricing strategy — can impact how quickly a home sells. For instance, two similarly priced homes may have very different timelines based on their presentation and positioning.
Homes have been selling for 95 to 96% of list price for the last few years. Certain properties may get full price offers, but on average, we still see some negotiation off of list prices.
Homes below $300,000 sell the quickest, 24 days on average the last 12 months. Homes above $500,000 sell slower, 50 days on average the last 12 months.
The 2025 percentage of sales price to list price so far is 95%.
Lakefront and homes with deeded slips are moving the fastest.
Water Damage & Mold
Leaks lead to rot, mildew, health risks, and costly interior repairs.
Higher Energy Bills
Poor insulation & ventilation let heat & AC escape, raising costs.
Structural & Safety Risks
Weak spots invite pests, cause collapses, and even fire hazards.
Decreased Home Value
A damaged roof scares buyers and tanks property value.
Are there any emerging hot sections or areas cooling off?
Not at this time. Buyer preferences tend to be highly individualized, depending on lifestyle, intended use of the property and personal interests.
Homes on waterfronts with good shorelines and water depth continue to be in high demand. Homes and lots with deeded slips are also desirable due to the waiting list to get a boat slip in one of the two marinas. Buyers also like homes and lots with lake views as well as larger acreage.
Are there a lot of price reductions happening right now?
Of the 25 active listings currently on the market [as of June 1], seven – or approximately 28% — have had price reductions since their initial listing.
Lots are moving slowly and have seen price reductions to attract buyers, particularly off-water lots without deeded slips. Homes are also seeing price reductions to attract buyers as inventory increases competition for sellers.
Just that buyers want lake access over homes that do not have direct lake access.
Price is becoming an important factor when listing.
Have you noticed any other changes in buyer or seller behavior over the past year?
Overall, buyer and seller behavior has remained steady with no notable shifts in patterns or expectations.
There are more sellers entering the market after 2 to 3 years of limited inventory. Buyers have accepted that rates will remain 6 to 7% and are also active in the market. Buyers are more patient due to the increase in inventory and looking for the right property. Interest rates have made a change in both behaviors.
How have recent interest rate changes affected buyer behavior?
While interest rates are certainly a consideration for buyers, they do not appear to be significantly affecting purchase decisions at Lake Carroll. Demand remains steady, likely due to the unique appeal of the community.
This is definitely a factor, but as previously mentioned, with rates being stable around 7% buyers have determined waiting won’t necessarily bring lower rates in the near term while home appreciation continues to occur.
It’s everything.
LandscapeDesign&Installation
Seeding*Sodding
LocallyGrownNurseryStock
Evergreens*Shade Trees *Perennials
HardscapeInstallation*Stone Walks
RetainingWalls*Fireplaces
Sea Walls*RipRap
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What do you expect to happen in the market over the next six months to a year?
I expect the Lake Carroll market to continue its stable trajectory, with listing and sales activity comparable to what we’ve seen over the past 6 to 12 months.
We expect the market to continue to work its way back to a more normal volume as inventory continues to improve. The Lake Carroll market historically sold around 50 homes annually and those numbers have been 30-40 the past 2 years.
It is hard to say.
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Are you noticing any trends that aren’t yet visible in market reports?
At this time, I have not observed any emerging trends outside of what is already reflected in current data.
Nothing unique to note
Interest rates are suppressing prices.
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Is there anything else you’d like to add about the current market pulse?
Real estate remains a sound investment, and Lake Carroll continues to be an attractive destination –whether you’re looking for a year-round residence, a weekend retreat, or a vacation property.
Demand for lake property, especially for a community like Lake Carroll that also offers other quality amenities like our golf course, recreation center, and overall community continues to be strong as people consider a place to live full time, or for a vacation property.
There is still a strong desire to own a lake home at Lake Carroll and our inventory remains historically low.
Listings for properties and homes appear in real estate ads in each issue of Lake Lifestyle. Buyers and sellers can also reach out to the real estate agencies ...
BARNES REALTY
110 W. Carroll St., Lanark
Contact: 866-493-2300 or info@barnesrealtyinc.com
Online: or barnesrealtyinc.com/ or facebook.com/BarnesRealtyInc
FAWN RIDGE REAL ESTATE CO.
3-203 Association Drive, Lake Carroll
Contact: 815-493-2829 or info@fawnridgerealty.com
Online: fawnridgerealty.com/ or facebook.com/FawnRidgeRealEstate
RE/MAX: TOWN LAKE & COUNTRY
21-78 Lake Carroll Blvd. Contact: 815-493-7653 or go to buylakecarroll.com/contact/ Online: buylakecarroll.com/ or find “Re/ max Town Lake & Country” on Facebook
hen July ends and August begins, a northwest Ogle County community comes alive with the sights and sounds of food, fun and games filling the air along with the smell of sauerkraut.
Forreston’s Sauerkraut Days is a fourday annual celebration of that oh-soodorous dish that turns the community into Sauerkraut Central, where hundreds of locals and visitors gather for family-friendly activities, races, contests, music, a parade and more.
And, of course, cabbage.
This year’s event runs from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, Aug. 3, with the majority of the activities taking place Friday and Saturday.
Organizers strive to bring something new to the annual even each year, and 2025 is no different, with
Scenes from past Sauerkraut Days in Forreston. To see when these events will return this year, check out the schedule on page 35.
PHOTOS: SHAW MEDIA, AND PROVIDED BY JANE KOELLER
two new events on the schedule: an opportunity to sing your favorite tunes as DJ Switchback hosts karaoke at the festival’s Event Tent from 9 to 11 p.m. Aug. 1; and a “foam party” for the kids from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Aug 2.
The intersection of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue on the southeast edge of downtown is the site of the Event Tent on Aug. 1-2, where most of the outdoor events will take place.
The fun begins Thursday at the Forreston High School track with the Cabbage Patch Kids Fun Run at 6:30 p.m. and the Kraut Days 5K Run/Walk at 7 p.m., with registration for both from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Both runs were moved to Thursday this year, after being on Saturday in past events. A fireworks show concludes the evening starting at 9 p.m.
Keeping the event fun and fresh each year is the job of a committee of local residents and business owners who meet each month from February to December to line up entertainment, set up activities and bring new attractions to the fold. Jane Koeller, co-owner of Koeller Hardware in downtown Forreston, chairs the committee and leads a dedicated team to make the festival a top-notch attraction in this village of about 1,500.
“We are always looking for ways to help improve the festival or bring new things,” Koeller said. “This year our biggest change is moving the Kids Fun Run and 5K to Thursday night as this will keep the congestion down on Saturday morning with the car show and vendor and craft show. The committee is proud of this festival as we try really hard to consider all ages when planning the different events. Now we just need Mother Nature to bring us a rain-free, low humidity, and comfortable temps weekend.”
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JANE KOELLER
JULY 31
5 p.m. — Forreston Boosters Club concession stand open; Forreston High School football field
5:30-6:30 p.m. — Cabbage Patch Kids Fun Run and Kraut Days 5k Run/Walk registration; Forreston High School football field
6:30 p.m. — Cabbage Patch Kids Fun Run; Forreston High School track
7 p.m. — Kraut Days 5k Run/Walk; Forreston High School track
9 p.m. — Fireworks; Forreston High School
AUG. 1
5-10 p.m. — Food trucks Fri-Yay; corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
AUG. 2
8 a.m.-4 p.m. — Forreston American Legion Car and Bike Show; Forreston Grade School
8 a.m.— Drew Crase Memorial Basketball Tournament; outdoor courts at Forreston High School
9 a.m.-3 p.m. — Craft and vendor Show; Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
9 a.m.-noon — Faith Lutheran bake sale; Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
10 a.m. -10 p.m. — Bingo, Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
10 a.m. - 10 p.m. — Dunk Tank, corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
10 a.m.-7 p.m. — Jumping Into Kraut Days: Teens and kids inflatables; Memorial Park
5-10 p.m. — Mechanical bull rides; corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
5-10 p.m. — Jumping Into Kraut Days; teens and kids inflatables; Memorial Park
5-11:30 p.m. — Biergarten (beer garden); event tent at the corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
5:30-7 p.m. — Family Fun Night; event tent at the corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
5:30-7:30 p.m. — Face painting; Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
6-8 p.m. — Paint the Park: Sidewalk Painting; information booth at the corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
6-10 p.m. — Bingo; Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
6-10 p.m. — Dunk Tank; corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
6:30-8:30 p.m. — Ice cream bar; Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
7-9 p.m. — Trivia Night; event tent at the corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
8:45 p.m. — Outdoor movie: “Despicable Me 4”; concession stand on site; Forreston Grade School, east side
9-11 p.m. — DJ and Karaoke, with OJ Switchback; event tent at the corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
10 a.m.-3 p.m. — American Legion Sauerkraut Lunch; Memorial Park
11 a.m. -11:30 p.m. — Food Trucks Satur-Yay; corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. — Biergarten ( beer garden); event tent at the corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
11 a.m. — Bags tournament; event tent at the corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue; registration begins at 10 a.m. at the event tent
Noon-10 p.m. — Mechanical bull rides; corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
12:30-1:30 p.m. — Foam party; Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
2 p.m. — Watermelon Eating Contest; Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
4 p.m. — Parade; from Forreston Grade School to Locust Avenue
4:30-7 p.m. — Forreston Lions pork chop dinner; Memorial Park, behind Forreston Grade School
8 -11 p.m. — Live music: Killer B’s; event tent at the Corner of East Cherry Street and South Walnut Avenue
AUG. 3
7:30-11:30 a.m. — Forreston Firefighter community breakfast, Forreston Fire Station
9:30 a.m. — Community Church Service; Memorial Park
Lake Lifestyle introduced readers to Sauerkraut Days in Forreston in the July 2024 edition, along with some sauerkraut recipes. Go to issuu.com/shawmedia/ docs/svm_ll_070324 to read more about it.
Go to krautdays.com or facebook.com/forrestonhometowndays for more information on the event.
The festival’s flagship event, the Sauerkraut Lunch, is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2 at Memorial Park. Members of American Legion Post No. 308 of Forreston will handle the big spoons and man the crocks filled with Frank’s Kraut — a name that’s become ubiquitous with sauerkraut, in its familiar green cans since 1905 — to serve eager eaters, whether they’re diehard sauerkraut lovers or those trying it for the first time.
There’s even more fun in store: Enjoy a parade, mount a mechanical bull, play Bingo, show off your trivia knowledge, gaze at classic cars and motorcycles, shoot hoops, put your melon munching skills up against others, enjoy live music, check out the crafts and other items at the vendor show, let your kids work out some of their excess energy in a bounce house, best your buddies at bags, get creative with sidewalk painting, and more.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JANE KOELLER
Rounding out the festival’s events, the fire department will host breakfast at the fire station from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, and a church service will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Park. The first Sauerkraut Days took place in 1913, and aside from two World War intermissions, ran every year until 1960, when it went on a nearly 50-year hiatus. During its absence, Forreston’s sauerkraut traditions were kept alive through lunch events organized by the Legion. The event was resurrected in 2018 and has continued each year
The Cabbage Patch Kids Fun Run will be at 6:30 p.m. July 31, at the Forreston High School track
Although known as part of German cuisine, the first dishes of sauerkraut — translated as “sour cabbage” in English — have been traced back to eastern Europe, to the 13th or 14th centuries. Dutch immigrants to Pennsylvania during the American Revolution brought sauerkraut to the New World and made a tradition of having sauerkraut and pork dinners on New Year’s Eve with the belief that it would bring them good luck in the coming year — and it turns out sauerkraut has been pretty good luck for Forreston, too.
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Janice and John Schell of Chadwick grow a wide variety of vegetables and fruits on their farm that they sell both at local farmers markets and their shop on their farm . CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@ SHAWMEDIA.COM
here’s a lot of color in John and Janice Schells’ lives. Reds, greens, purples, yellows, oranges, browns — there’s a whole a palette of produce on their family farm that are as rich in nutrients as they are in nature’s hues, and the Chadwick couple invite you to taste the rainbow.
For around 25 years, the Schells have made a business out of selling what they coax from the soil on their rural Chadwick, at Schell Farm Produce. The couple grows a wide variety of vegetables and fruits on 3.5 acres that they sell at the small shop on their farm and at farmers markets in Lanark, Milledgeville and Sterling.
When they aren’t taking their climate-controlled storage and sales trailer on the road to the markets, you can usually find the Schells outside, tending to their collection of crops and helping nature nurture their produce, taking a hands-on approach to bringing farm-fresh goods to their customers just not too many hands, though.
“You don’t know who handled it in a grocery store at all,”
