People from Collinsville and around the world will be at Woodland Park June 6-8 to put their best root forward at the International Horseradish Festival.
The event is returning for its 27th year, with hot air balloon rides, a recipe and a Bloody Mary contest, bounce houses for kids, live bands, it’s own variation of a soapbox derby, bags and washers tournaments, root toss, root golf, food and beer stands and more. The three-day festival culminates with the coronation of Little Miss Horseradish Festival Sunday afternoon.
Entrants in the recipe and Bloody Mary contests can’t just show up with grandma or uncle Charlie’s family recipe, they have to incorporate horseradish as an ingredient. According to festival Chairman Mike Pamatot, the recipe competition has yielded some peculiar results through the years.
“We’ve had horseradish ice cream, horseradish apple pie and horseradish deviled eggs,” Pamatot said. “People come up with some interesting recipes.”
The recipe contest is open to any U.S. resident of any age, but the Bloody Mary contest is restricted to people 21 and over. Registration for the recipe contest is open until May 30 at 4 p.m. To register for an event, see Contests & Games on the International Horseradish Festival’s website: http://www.horseradishfestival.net/.
The competitions, live entertainment and the many food vendors add up to a good family festival, Pamatot said.
“We have people come back every year,” Pamatot said. “If you’re a first timer, it’s something I think if you come one time, you’ll be back next year.”
The Children’s Area is the only area at the festival that is not free, Pamatot said.
“It’s a very nominal fee,” Pamatot said. “[The Children’s Area] has laser tag in it. It has inflatables, and things like that.”
Horseradish may seem an odd thing to center a festival around, especially for those first timers, but there is a reason for the event, Pamatot said.
“Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties grow about 80 percent of the horseradish in the world,” Pamatot said. “It’s why we celebrate the horseradish.”
In fact, the festival’s website says Collinsville itself produces approximately 60 percent of the world’s horseradish.
The local availability means there will be plenty of fresh horseradish at the festival, including, Pamatot said, a special horseradish made just for the annual celebration.
“There’s no preservatives in it and it’s the hottest horseradish you can buy, ever,” Pamatot said. “It’s only sold once a year, at the festival.”
Pamatot said the best way to get to the festival is to ride the free shuttle from the Dorris Intermediate School parking lot. Dorris is located at 1841 Vandalia St.
“It runs on Saturday and Sunday,” Pamatot said. “It drops you right at the doorstep of the festival.”
Schedule for the 27th International Horseradish Festival
Friday, June 6:
Festival, Children’s Area and Craft Village open from 6-10 p.m.
6 p.m. – Opening ceremonies and root grinding demonstration
6-10 p.m. – Hot air balloon rides, weather permitting
6:30-9 p.m. – 5K run packet pickup (Registration can be done at the Festival from 6-8:30 p.m. Pre-registration ends May 28.)
6:30-10 p.m. – The Avery Hill Band (root grinding demonstration during band break)
Saturday, June 7:
Festival, Children’s Area and Craft Village open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.
8 a.m. – 5K rac. Beer and souvenir stands open
11:30 a.m. – Root grinding demonstration on Entertainment Stage
Noon-4 p.m. – Black Diamond Band on Entertainment Stage
Noon – Martial Arts demonstration from BMF Dojo on Festival Stage
1 p.m. – Washer tournament in the ball field
1:30 p.m. – Root sacking contest in front of the Festival Stage
2 p.m. – Root derby on Festival Stage
2:45 p.m. – Root sacking contest in front of the Festival Stage
2-4 p.m. – Root toss and root golf in the ball field
3 p.m. – McArthur’s Tae Kwon Do demonstration on the Festival Stage
4 p.m. – Christian the Magician on the Festival Stage
5 p.m. – Entertainment by Elizabeth on the Festival Stage
5:30 p.m. – Root grinding demonstration on the Entertainment Stage
6-10 p.m. – Blue Steel Band on the Entertainment Stage
Sunday, June 8:
Festival, Children’s Area and Craft Village open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Kevin Bulchik Duo on Entertainment Stage
Noon – Bloody Mary contest on Festival Stage
12:45 p.m. – Root sacking contest in front of the Festival Stage
1 p.m. – Bags tournament in the ball field
1 p.m. – Horseradish Recipe Contest on Festival Stage
2-4 p.m. – Root Toss and root golf in the Ball Field
2:30 p.m. – Root grinding demonstration in front of Entertainment Stage
2:45 p.m. – Root sacking contest in front of the Festival Stage
3 p.m. – Abra-Kid-Abra on Festival Stage
3-6 p.m. – Tough Love Band on Entertainment Stage
4 p.m. – Little Miss Horseradish Festival Pageant
To register for an event, see Contests & Games on the International Horseradish Festival’s website: http://www.horseradishfestival.net/.
