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But
one of the best things about fall in central Illinois — besides
the pumpkins — is the abundance of activities, festivals and
special events. Nearly every local community has a festival of some
kind, and some of the area’s largest, like the Spoon River and
Knox County scenic drives, draw 100,000 people each year in October.
The
season for fall festivals has already begun, but there are still a
ton of festivals on the calendar well worth taking a drive in the
country to explore, including the Clinton Apple and Pork Festival
this weekend. The town of Clinton rolls out the red carpet in
celebration of pork and apples for this favorite local event.
Although in recent years the event has become very crowded, it’s
still a fun way to spend the day in DeWitt County.
This
annual event, always held the last weekend of September, celebrates
harvest time on the grounds of the C.H. Moore Homestead (DeWitt
County Museum). The event, which draws more than 70,000 people to
the city, serves up a variety of food, but taking center stage is
pork in all its forms — cutlet sandwiches, pork chili, pickles and
pork sandwiches, pork sausage sandwiches, BBQ pork ribs, hog legs
and even pig ears. There's also a big emphasis on apples — taffy
apples, apple cake, apple and corn fritters, apple Danish rolls,
fried apples, caramel apple wedges, apple pie, apple cider and apple
butter.
There
is also a juried craft show, with artists making everything from
dulcimers to carousel horses; a flea market; scarecrow contest; art
show; and antique tractor exhibit.
More
information is available by calling 217/935-6066.
And,
just when you think you’ve had your fill of pumpkins, gourds and
Indian corn during all the fall festivals in September and October,
another local event comes along the first weekend in November and
wins the prize for the most unique — the annual Persimmon Party in
Taylorville. The historic fruit is celebrated in a big way at the
Christian County Historical Museum.
What
has now become a popular annual event all started when Taylorville
resident Mary Anne Durbin decided to put to good use all that messy
fruit falling off the old persimmon trees on the grounds of the
historical society. Her friend had brought back some frozen
persimmon pulp, which was quite expensive, from a festival in
Indiana, and it gave her the idea. Durbin, a member and past
president of the Christian County Historical Society, said the event
has turned into a fun fund-raiser for the museum and a way to spread
the joy of the native American fruit. Members of the historical
society pick the fruit, process the pulp and freeze it. The frozen
pulp, which resembles pumpkin when spices are added, she said, is
then made in a variety of foods, including bread, pudding, cake,
cookies, fudge and even ice cream.
"It’s
a good fruit. But only pick them when they’re ripe," Durbin
said. "If they’re not ripe, you don’t want to touch them.
People pucker up when they try one that isn’t ripe. I think that’s
why a lot of people don’t like them — because they had a bad
experience with one that wasn’t ripe. You have to wait until they
fall off the tree."
Area
residents bake a variety of food items using the fruit, and it’s
all available for sampling during a tasting party. "People have
a lot of fun with these persimmons and tasting all the different
foods," Durbin said.
The
native fruit was used by pioneers and Native Americans, according to
Durbin, and not only do people enjoy eating the native American
fruit, but during the party they also learn how to use the fruit to
forecast the weather. "People come year after year, buy cups of
frozen pulp, taste samples and really have a good time," she
said. "We also have persimmon seeds. If you split the seeds
open, you see a little white sprout in the shape of a spoon, knife
or fork. If you see a spoon, which is the most common, it means
there is a lot of snow in the winter ahead. A fork shape means the
winter will hold light, powdery snow, and a knife shape means cold,
winter winds."
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The
event draws about 800 people each year, from Illinois, Missouri,
Indiana and Kansas. A recipe book, first published during the city’s
150th birthday celebration in 1989, features 147 persimmon recipes
and is also for sale during the event.
This
year’s event will be Nov. 4 and 5, from noon to 4 p.m. each day.
More information is available by calling 217/824-6922.
Other
local events include the following:
Sept.
22-24
Springfield
Septoberfest
Fifth
and Washington streets, Springfield
This
second-annual event offers crafts, antiques, entertainment,
scarecrow building and a children’s area. Food from local
restaurants and farmers market produce will be available.
217/544-1723.
Sept.
23
Petersburg
Harvest Fest
Downtown
Petersburg
A
parade, craft sale, talent show, soapbox derby, carnival rides,
antiques and crafts, food and entertainment. 217/632-7363.
Peoria
Octoberfest
Festival
Park, Peoria
This
annual festival is full of German food, music and culture. Polka
dancing, crafts and food and beer catered by Jumer’s Castle Lodge
are on the menu. There is an admission fee.
Sept.
23-24
Beardstown
Fall Fun Festival
City
square, Beardstown
A
combination homecoming and festival, with parades, flea markets,
arts and crafts booths and entertainment. 217/323-3273.
Steam
Show and Fall Festival Days
Prairie
Land Heritage Museum, Lincoln and Michigan streets, Jacksonville
Equipment,
flea market and crafters present three days of activities.
217/243-7262; 800/593-5678.
Fort
Crevecoeur Rendezvous
Creve
Coeur
Experience
life in 1680 to 1835 at this 86-acre historic park with a 30-acre
nature preserve. French voyageurs, trappers, buckskinners and
traders re-enact a fall rendezvous in the woods, between French
settlers and the area’s Native Americans. Silversmithing, beading,
fife and drum music and dancing. 309/694-3193.
Jordbruksdagarna
(Agricultural Days)
Bishop
Hill
Traditional
harvest festival featuring 19th-century crop-processing
demonstrations, traditional music, children’s games, farm produce
and colony stew served throughout the historic village.
309/927-3345.
Annual
Taste of Illinois food and
beverage fair
Apple
Basket Farms, Barry
Snack
on apples, wine and cheese, among other food items, while learning
all about herbs, during Herbfest 2000. The Illinois Herb Association
convenes its annual fall meeting at the apple business, so seminars
and other educational features on how to cook and make crafts with
herbs are on tap.
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
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