KEWANEE — The 73rd annual Kewanee Hog Days will take place this weekend, Sept. 4 through Sept. 7, in downtown Kewanee, with carnival rides, flea markets, live entertainment, food and the world’s largest outdoor pork barbecue among the attractions. The Hog Days Parade will step off at 2 p.m. Saturday with the theme “We Will, We Will, Chop You!” The 50th annual HogDay Stampede also will be held Saturday, beginning with a 4 mile run at 8 a.m. at the Kewanee YMCA, followed by a children’s fun run and a 1 mile run and walk. More than 100 craft and vendor booths will be set up during the festival, along with mud volleyball, Model T and Model A displays and other family activities.
Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Chamber, said the festival offers something for a wide range of visitors. “It’s kind of like going to the county fair, but we have it right here in our town,” Mikenas said. “We have a little bit of something for everybody, whether you’re a flea market person, a craft person, a carnival person, a food person, plenty of places to get good stuff to eat.”
The Chop Tent will serve thousands of pork chops and pork patties throughout the weekend, with entertainment scheduled near the food areas and at the main stage in downtown Kewanee.
