June 7 & 8, 2024
This unique festival, feature homemade Rhubarb Pies, Rhubarb Sampling, 12,000 free Rhubarb seeds given away, crafts, music, entertainment and more all set in our historic downtown. We’re so serious about our Rhubarb that former Governor Pat Quinn officially named Aledo the Rhubarb Capital of Illinois!
Pictured is Rhubarb Festival Founder Darlene Johnson at her “Thank You/Retirement Party” held in August of 2016. Johnson founded the festival in 1990 as a way to draw people to the area and to her cousin’s shop, the House of Burgess in Aledo. It started off as a simple idea. That first year Mrs. Johnson and her cousin, Barbara McWhorter offered samples of 13 Rhubarb dishes on the front lawn of the House of Burgess. That first Rhubarb Festival drew 67 people. Darlene felt she was on to something so she gathered volunteers and together, under Johnson’s leadership, the Rhubarb Festival has blossomed into a 2 day event that draws 8,000-10,000 people to our little charming town. The Festival has become so well known, former governor Pat Quinn declared Aledo the Rhubarb Capital of Illinois and visitors have been known to say they plan their summer vacation around the little town’s festival! Mrs. Johnson said they’ve had visitors from about 20 states, including California, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska and Missouri. The Rhubarb Festival Committee and the City of Aledo are very grateful for the tremendous impact Darlene has had on our community. In 2016, Darlene retired as Chairperson of the committee but still plays an active role in volunteering.