Aledo Rhubarb Fest will be celebrating 32 years in 2024! Mark your calendar so you don’t miss out on the fun June 7 & 8, 2024 in beautiful, historic Aledo, Illinois!
Rhubarb Festival is a celebration of all things rhubarb – from pie to ice cream to soda pop. If it’s rhubarb, it’s here! Aledo’s affinity for rhubarb became official when the town of 3,600 was named the “Rhubarb Capital of Illinois” in 2007 by the State of Illinois’ 95th General Assembly House of Representatives. The unique festival draws thousands of visitors to the Mercer County seat. The festival is easy to find – at the crossroads of Illinois Highways 17 and 94 – at Aledo’s Central Park and the Mercer County Courthouse lawn, and it spills into the streets of historic downtown Aledo.
Since the festival began in 1991, the centerpiece attractions have always been the rhubarb tasting tent and, of course, that famous rhubarb pie! On Friday and Saturday in the tasting tent festival goers may sample a variety of rhubarb treats. Local churches and non-profit organizations will be selling homemade rhubarb pies and other rhubarb baked goods. Aledo Main Street will distribute 12,000 free seeds to festival visitors so they can grow their own rhubarb. There will be live music, bring your lawn chair so you can sit and enjoy, and of course there will be lots of great food from our local restaurants as well as from the Fest Food Vendors in Food Vendor Row.
“We encourage everyone to avoid “Rhubarb Regret,” a condition caused by arriving too late to purchase one of our delicious rhubarb pies,” said Darlene Johnson, Rhubarb Festival founder. Visitors should plan to arrive before noon each day for the best selection, she recommended.
Antique, craft and flea market vendors will share their offerings at the Central Park Market both days from 9am-4pm. On Saturday, another 100 art and craft vendors will set up shop at Crafts In the Courtyard featuring their unique wares on the lawn of the beautiful Mercer County Courthouse from 9am-4pm.
Historic downtown Aledo will also offer shopping and dining opportunities with a free trolley tour sharing the town’s sites and history. Additionally, there will be children’s activities in the Kid Zone FREE for all the kids to enjoy.
