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 The 25th anniversary of Collinsville's International Horseradish festival is only a few weeks away featuring a new schedule and plenty of food, music, demonstrations, games and contests for all ages.
This year’s festivities in Woodland Park are June 1 – 3.
“The biggest change this year is adding Friday night to the schedule for the first time,” said Mike Pamatot, who co-chairs the event with his wife, Kim.
The expanded schedule features the classic Horseradish Festival attractions and events - with horseradish in the limelight: food booths, root toss, root golf, root sacking contests, craft fair, Bloody Mary contest, Little Miss Horseradish Festival Pageant, horseradish recipe contest, children's area, the annual Horseradish Root Derby and much more.
This year’s festival also features the return of the Horseradish Festival 5k on June 3 and a newly revised Horseradish Festival Cookbook that includes 300 new recipes in addition to recipes from the previous edition.
As usual, visitors who want to savor the root’s distinctive aroma and flavor can buy it freshly grated and processed without preservatives at the festival from a secret recipe made once a year for the festival.
On Saturday, Smash Band joins the live-music lineup that begins Friday night and continues through Sunday. That list also includes Quarter Draw Band, Buried Clocks, C’est la vie, Chris Belden and Jack’s High Band.
Pamatot, who has watched the festival from a one-day event in Listemann Park uptown said the festival now draws from across the United States and even international visitors.
“No one thought when it started it would last 25 years,” he said.
Admission, musical entertainment and parking are free. Madison County Transit district provides free shuttle service from Dorris Intermediate school parking lot to the main entrance of the festival grounds at Woodland Park.
The festival opens Friday at 6 p.m. For information on events, hours and directions, visit www.horseradishfestival.com. or call 618-344-2884.
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