This Weird Festival In Illinois Is A Celebration Of The Horseradish

Do you march to the beat of your own drum? If so, you’ll love the International Horseradish Festival in Collinsville. This horseradish extravaganza is a true community event, becoming a fixture of the town’s annual calendar with its quirky and family-friendly events. Learn more about this wonderful and totally weird festival in Illinois!

Thirty-five years ago, when Collinsville founded the horseradish festival, few predicted its future scale. The celebration has since put this small Illinois town on the map as the world's horseradish capital, attracting almost 200,000 horseradish tourists since its debut.

Self-mythologizing as Earth's premiere horseradish hot spot isn't all hot air. On the contrary, *60 percent* of the world's horseradishes are grown in the Collinsville area. No wonder local vendors clamor for space at this event— it's an expression of state pride.

Have a brood? The International Horseradish Festival has lots to keep kids busy. Not only is the festival free, but it's scheduled for June 7 and 8 this year, making it the perfect destination for a weekend of sunshine fun!

Some tried-and-true traditions include Root Toss, a sport akin to cornhole but with horseradishes in lieu of bags. Bragging rights are on the line, as is your place in history. To date, an estimated 6,000 roots have been tossed at the festival, so get your name on the leaderboard.

Other bizarre attractions include Root Derby. Here, participants create, decorate, and race horseradishes to glory! You'll be astounded at the creativity of the contestants.

Stay energized for the festivities with a bite of something that pairs well with horseradish. As an event honoring produce, food is central to the International Horseradish Festival's mission.

And don't leave before you catch some live music, performed by talented local artists.

If you want to attend an off-beat, family-friendly event this summer, check out the International Horseradish Festival in Collinsville. At first glance, it might just seem this is a weird festival in Illinois, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find an earnest celebration of community. No wonder this strange and heartfelt extravaganza has been kept alive since its inception in 1988!

If you’re from out of town, make this a weekend to remember and stay overnight! There’s more to see in Collinsville than horseradishes, although— for at least this one June weekend— they’re the stars of the show.

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221 W Main St, Collinsville, IL 62234, USA

The World’s Largest Horseradish Festival, The International Horseradish Festival, Happens Right Here In Illinois

Andrea Verschuyl

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