The 2014 edition of the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival will celebrate the 65th birthday of Collinsville’s iconic water tower turned roadside attraction.
2013 Princess Tomato Kassidy Gray (6) of Collinsville and 2013 Sir Catsup Freddie Dean Garris III (3) of Jerseyville, Ill. / Submitted photo
The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 13. In its 16th year, the event, also dubbed a birthday party and car show, will welcome the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile for the first time. The Catsup Bottle ® received the Great Big Idaho® Potato for a second time on July 1.
Erika Nelson’s World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things traveling art museum will set up shop at the Collinsville American Legion Post 365, located at 1022 Vandalia Street, on Sunday as a star returning guest of the festival. Another quirky attraction, Ronald McDonald, will be on hand to perform a magic show.
The average festival is content with only one eating contest, but The Big Tomato, Mike Gassman has arranged two for the Catsup Bottle festival. The tater tot eating contest begins at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, followed by the watermelon eating contest at 11:45 a.m. One wonders how Joey Chestnut would perform in the watermelon eating contest after cramming hundreds of tater tots into his body.
The Little Princess Tomato and Sir Catsup contest begins at 10:30 a.m. A hula hoop contest, water balloon toss and the St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders will highlight the afternoon. The CIA, Cruisin’ in Antiques Car Show will take place throughout the day, with the trophy presented at 3 p.m.
Before the festival begins, bike rides and walks will have kicked off. The rides begin at Woodland Park with routes of 24, 37 or 55 miles. Information about the Big Bottle Bicycle Ride can be obtained at Trailnet.
For the avid walker, Illinois Trekkers is organizing three walking routes for the festival. A 5k, 10k and 20k route can be chosen by participants who will start between 8-11 a.m. and walk at their own pace. More information can be found at the Illinois Trekker’s website
The full list 2014 Catsup Bottle Festival Schedule of Events.
| 10 a.m. | Oscar Mayer Wienermobile |
| 10 a.m. | World’s Largest Things – Erika Nelson’s World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things traveling art museum. |
| 10 a.m. | Brooks Tangy Catsup Taste Test – The free ketchup tasting booth is open for everyone to see if they can choose the Brooks brand of rich & tangy ketchup. |
| 10 a.m. | The C.I.A. Car, Truck, & Motorcycle Show registration. Registration is from 10:00 am to 1:00 p.m. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Opening Ceremony – American Legion Post 365 Color Guard with Jesse Hoskin singing the National Anthem at the Laura Buick GMC Big Tomato Main Stage. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Little Princess Tomato and Sir Catsup Contest |
| 11:15 a.m. | Tater Tots (smothered in ketchup) Eating Contest. A kids age group and an adult age group. (Restrictions may apply.) |
| 11:45 a.m. | Watermelon (smothered in ketchup?) Eating Contest. A kids age group and an adult age group. (Restrictions may apply.) |
| 12 p.m. | St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders. Members will be on hand for free photos and autographs from noon-3:00 p.m. |
| 12 p.m. | Singing of Happy Birthday & Cutting of the Cake. Everyone will sing “Happy Birthday” to the Catsup Bottle and blow out the candles. Free Birthday cupcakes for everyone (while supplies last) |
| 12:30 p.m. | Ronald McDonald Magic Show – Ronald will perform on the Laura Buick GMC Big Tomato Main Stage and be available for photos and autographs afterward. |
| 1 p.m. | Old-fashioned Birthday Party Games. Free children’s games at the Laura Buick GMC Big Tomato Main Stage. Beginning with “Musical Chairs”, followed by “Please Pass The Catsup.” (Age restrictions may apply.) |
| 2:00 p.m. | Hula Hoop Contest. Hula Hoop competition at the Laura Buick GMC Big Tomato Main Stage for kids of all ages. Multiple age categories. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Water Balloon Toss. At the Laura Buick GMC Big Tomato Main Stage. All ages encouraged to join. |
| 3:00 pm | The C.I.A. Car, Truck, & Motorcycle Show Trophy Presentation. The trophy presentation and the 50/50 drawing to be held inside the American Legion Hall. |
| 3:00 p.m. | The Quarter Draw Band. Americana alt-country roots rock music from local band “The Quarter Draw Band” at the Laura Buick GMC Big Tomato Main Stage. |
| 4:30 p.m. | Grand Prize Drawing. The grand prize drawing will be made sometime between 4:30-5 p.m. The winner need not be present to win. |
| 5:00 pm | Wrap up of the festival |
