CHESTER – The City of Chester announces Popeye’s Fall Festival 2022.
That’s right!
Popeye and Friends invite you to enjoy a fun-filled weekend of events planned for October 14-16, in Chester.
The weekend offers an event, activity or competition that is sure to be of interest to everyone. A weekend of family, friends and fun await you!
American Banner Amusements are back
The city is pleased to announce that American Banner Amusements will be returning with their wonderful carnival rides! Pre-Sell tickets, $1 each or 24 tickets for $18, are available at City Hall beginning October 3 and until noon, October, 14.
Ticket Booth prices are $1 each or 24 tickets for $20. Rides will require 1-3 tickets depending on the ride. We will be able to offer wristbands again this year. The wristbands will be available Friday, October 14, 5-10 pm, Saturday, October 15, 12-5 pm and 5-10 pm, and Sunday, October 16, 2-7 pm.
Wristbands must be purchased at the ticket booth the day of use and are $25 per session. Hours of operation for the rides: Friday, 5 pm-? Saturday, 12pm-? Sunday, 2-7 p.m.
Visitors will want to stop by Sea Hag’s Street Market where shoppers can expect to find handmade and homemade crafts, wood crafts, candles, soaps, signs, antiques, porch-boards, flags, jewelry, knives, bath products, art and more.
Market hours for Friday are 5-9 pm, Saturday, 10 am-6 pm and Sunday, 12-6 pm.
Make sure to come hungry.
Local food vendors will be offering nachos, pulled pork, Italian beef, funnel cakes, fried pretzels, cotton candy, hamburgers, chili burgers, picnic fish sandwich, crispy chicken breast sandwich, grilled pork sandwich, kettle corn, pork rinds, salads, baked goods, pork steaks, philly cheese steak, philly cheese steak fries and more!
If you are thirsty you’ll find lemon-shake ups, frozen lemonade, coffee, shakes, soda, water, tea, Gatorade and beer on the festival grounds.
Food stand hours are: Friday hours are 4-10 pm, Saturday, 11 am-9 pm and Sunday, 12 -6 pm.
Music! Music! Music!
Recording Artist Jesse Woodson James, from White’s Creek, Tennessee will offer a live performance, Friday, 5:30-6:30 pm on the House Stage.
Friday evening’s main stage performers, 8 pm- midnight, are the OG’s Band and DB Productions, LLC. A five man band playing classic rock and electric blues with a few surprises along the way!
Along with the music you can expect a magnificent sound and light show for this event. These band members are all from the area and super excited to be returning to perform at the Popeye’s Fall Festival 2022.
This is an event you don’t want to miss! Call your friends! Come visit your family! The perfect opportunity to check in with friends from near and far! Saturday morning kicks off the competitions!
Friendly Competition
Individuals and families are invited to participate in our friendly competitions. Create a sidewalk chalk masterpiece in our Chalk the Walk Sidewalk Chalk Art Competition on Saturday. Entries will be judged based on execution/use of materials, originality/creativity and overall design. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories and age groups: best children’s piece 5-10 years, best young adult piece 11-15 years, best adult piece 16 and above.
Get your creativity flowing, carve your Jack-O-Lanterns and bring them to the competition Saturday! Our Carved Pumpkin Contest will be held Saturday with prizes awarded in the following age categories:
10 Years & Under: Silliest Jack & Most Traditional Jack
11-17 Years: Silliest Jack, Most Traditional Jack & Creepiest Jack
18 And Over: Silliest Jack, Most Traditional Jack, Creepiest Jack And “Good Gourd Jack”
We didn’t forget about our vendors and marketers! We will be awarding a prize to the Best Fall Decorated Booth.
Meet me at the Races!
Poopdeck Pappy’s Pumpkin Street will feature Pumpkin Racers and Pumpkin Derby Racers battling in a unique side-by-side elimination race featuring handcrafted, decorated Pumpkin Racers and Derby Racers in a funky and hilarious display of racing fun! The entries in each division will battle head-to-head for the coveted trophy. We will also award a prize for the Best Decoration and the Most Innovative Design in all divisions.
The Street Drags sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts, Chester, IL.
PUMPKIN RACERS: made by using a single pumpkin or fall gourd and a pre-fabricated chassis of any kind (skateboard, stroller, Tonka truck, etc…) 4-7 years 8-11 years 12-15 years 16 years to adult
PUMPKIN DERBY RACERS: made from one pumpkin or fall gourd with independent axles with wheels attached. 8-11 years 12-15 years 16 years to adult Pumpkin Racers and Derby Racers come in all different shapes, sizes and speeds. Make it a family event and challenge your friends and neighbors. Race time is 1 pm Saturday.
We are thrilled to announce Swee’ Pea’s Kid Zone on Saturday, 10 am-2 pm on the corner of Church and Swanwick Streets. (KC parking lot) This area will have inflatables, interactives and games. Silly Jilly the Balloon Artist will be on hand crafting balloon creations for kids at the Kid Zone. (1 per child)
Oscar Unveiling
We are honored to have the newest member of the Popeye and Friends Character Trail unveiled during Popeye’s Fall Festival 2022. The formal unveiling of Oscar will be held Saturday, October 15 at 11 am.
We invite you to join us for the unveiling at Cole Memorial Park, 111 Deer Path Lane.
Another Saturday event you won’t want to miss is Oscar’s 2nd Annual Disc Golf Recreational & Twilight Tournament at Cole Memorial Park. Bring your friends, bring your family and have a little good natured competition while having fun. Enjoy a 27 hole tournament…18 in the light and nine more after dark. Cash prizes will be awarded for 1 st Place ($150), 2nd Place ($100) and 3rd Place ($50). There will be a 50/50 raffle the day of the event and a Closes to the Pin and Ace Pot, as well. Only 36 players will be accepted in the tournament.
The Chester Running Club is sponsoring a 5K. There is a competitive 5K Run & Walk and a 1.5 Mile Fun Run. (Men & Women) and Categories for 5K Walk (Men & Women.)The registration fee is $25 and includes a shirt. Awards will be given to the overall male, female and top 3 finishers in each age category. Register on-line at runsignup.com/Race/Il/Chester/ChesterFallFestival5k or on race day 7:30- 8:45 am at the Buena Vista National Bank parking lot. The St. Mary’s PTO will host a Car Show on Saturday at the Cole Memorial Park. Registration is 9 am-noon and the entry fee is $20. There will be a food stand, a 50/50 raffle, attendance prizes and music will be provided by a DJ. Judging begins at 11 am and awards will be presented at 3 pm. Saturday’s music line-up includes the following: DJ Sam Higgerson takes the Main Stage 10 am12 pm.
The Steeleville Baptist Church Youth Band takes over the House Stage 12-1 pm and Ian Ferguson goes live on the Main Stage 1-5 pm. Shane Wagner performs on the House Stage 5:30-7:30 pm and Scattergun Jack closes the day out on the Main Stage, 8 pm to midnight.
Sunday, October 17th brings us to Popeye’s Fall Festival Parade. Parade participants and entrants may begin lining up at the high school at noon. All entries and participants must enter off of State Street onto Hoppe Drive. The parade will step off at 2 pm from Chester High School and make its way to the Randolph County Courthouse. Following the parade you will want to head to the Central Stand area for a Meet and Greet. Popeye, Olive Oyl and Bluto will be shaking hands and giving high fives to festival visitors. You can expect to run in to some Disney Princesses, Disney Characters and maybe some North Pole visitors! Sponsored by the City of Chester Parks and Recreation Committee.
Broedy Fricke and Chad Bower will be jamming on the House Stage, 3-7 pm. Bring a chair, sit back and visit with old and new friends.
King and Queen Coronation
Join us at the Main Stage for the King and Queen Coronation at 5 pm. This year’s candidates include: Lee and Farida Hollaway.
The Hollaway’s are sponsored by the American Legion Post 487. Farida is retired from Con-Agra, Incorporated and enjoys crocheting, cooking, gardening and stamping when she isn’t busy with her duties as Chester American Legion Auxiliary Secretary or volunteering at Memorial Hospital information Desk, the Chester Welcome Center or calling bingo at the American Legion, VFW or the Nutrition Site. Lee is a retired truck driver for Gilster Mary-Lee. He enjoys gardening, Cardinal baseball and is the Chester Coordinator for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots. Lee has served at the American Legion Finance Officer for 16 years, he volunteers at the Chester Food Fair, was the 2019 Citizen of the Year, was the 2018 State 200 Volunteer Rep at Chicago, IL., Honor Flight, past trustee VFW, Veteran Funeral Details Coordinator, St. Vice Commander Randolph County Marine Corps League.
Jordan Hughes and Cami Schroeder are sponsored by Gilligan’s. When Cami isn’t attending college or slinging ice cream she enjoys reading, spending time with her dog, shopping and gardening. She is a former member of CHS Band and their activities, CHS Spanish Club, National Honor Society and volunteering. Jordan is a Union Electrician Apprentice and a member of the Army National Guard. His interests include scouring Facebook Marketplace, fishing, maintaining fish aquariums, attending auctions and watching movies. Due to his passion for basketball, and the youth in our community, Jordan worked the CHS basketball camps. His love for his country led to him to serve our country in the Army National Guard.
Steve and Sue Colonel are sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. The Colonel’s work with the music departments at both the grade school and high school. They are both known for volunteering in our community. Perhaps they are most famous for Steve’s love of nutcrackers and holiday lighting displays. (At the time of this article we had not received their questionnaire.)
Pyrotechnics in the sky
And then there is this… Falling Skies Pyrotechnics will light up the sky with our fireworks finale at approximately 7:15 pm. Last year’s display was amazing….this year is will be breathtaking. The fireworks will be set off from Evergreen Cemetery. The cemetery will be closed to the public during this time. Bring your family and friends and sit around the “bowl” for a fantastic view of the display.
Don’t forget to get your 50/50 Raffle Tickets ($5 or 5 for $20). We have last year’s Fall Festival shirts, available in adult and youth sizes ($15 long sleeve and $10 short sleeve). These are available at City Hall right now and will be available, while supplies last, at the Central Stand.
The 2022 Popeye’s Fall Festival shirt will be available soon! We want to invite everyone to come and check out the festival. Bring your family and enjoy some family time. Come back with old friends and make some new ones. Popeye’s Fall Festival. Where friends meet.