February 7, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Ogden festival committee to meet tonight

The Ogden Festival will be bigger and better this year if organizer Kelly Cooper has anything to say about it.


“We hope to attract more participants, vendors and spectators,” she said. “We want to be able to bring some fun and liveliness back into the community at least for a weekend.”


In order to do that Cooper is looking for more volunteers for the festival committee.


The committee meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Ogden Village Hall.


Cooper said the committee is hoping to see the festival, which is held in August, grow bigger with more cars in the car show, more vendors at the flea market, additional food vendors and more activities for children.


Last year, the biggest challenge was planning a festival from the ground up.


“I had never done something like this,” said Cooper. “It was huge undertaking.”


Cooper said the festival committee, who had helped with previous events, helped her make sure the event was successful.


“ I wanted to make sure that it was well organized and ran as smooth as possible,” she said.


Cooper said the goal of the committee was to offer activities for a wide range of ages as well as making sure to have activities that were free.

Another challenge was making sure the event had enough volunteers.


“We were short on volunteers but were very grateful to all that helped us and hope they will again this year,” Cooper said.


Cooper said the most rewarding part of working on the festival committee was seeing Ogden residents enjoying themselves at the festival.


“It ran really smooth and people were surprised as to what we had to offer,” she said. “I was so happy with the turn out of participant for the car show, flea market, kiddie tractor pull and the event in general. This all could not have been done without the help of the committee, sponsors, village board or the spectators.”


Cooper said anyone interested in volunteering should attend the festival committee meeting tonight.


“It is a rewarding feeling to know that one is helping the community even if it is for a short period of time,” she said. “We are going to try to offer something to the people that volunteer to help attract them and make it interesting. I can not express how much appreciation goes out to those that help us make it a successful event, without them it would not be possible. We hope to be able to have more volunteers with ideas and open minds to help us this year.”

Banner
Related Posts

Wagners celebrate 15 years and community support

September 29, 2022

September 29, 2022

In October 2007, Jim and Jen Wagner decided to take a leap of faith. They opened their own business Wagner...

Tree lighting, Grinch scavenger hunt to take place today

December 2, 2023

December 2, 2023

The hunt for the Grinch is on. The Village of St. Joseph is hosting a scavenger hunt on Dec. 2...

Weekend family fun guide for Feb.8-10

February 7, 2019

February 7, 2019

Need something to do with the family to beat the winter blues? Here are our weekend picks for family fun....

Alumni banquet to be held

October 25, 2021

October 25, 2021

The 2021 SJO Alumni banquet will be held Nov. 13 at the Royal Community Building. The event starts at noon...

It takes a Christmas village

December 10, 2024

December 10, 2024

Roberta Morris’ childhood dream was to be an architect. Instead, she worked as a pipe fitter at the Clinton Nuclear...

‘There was a spunk and tenacity to her that would never quit, concede or fail’

February 2, 2023

February 2, 2023

Tiffany Kelley was many things. A loving mother. A great friend. An inspiration and a fighter. The St. Joseph resident...

Mayor asks residents to decorate windows, sidewalks

March 30, 2020

March 30, 2020

The St. Joseph Record and Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges are asking village residents to decorate their front windows, driveways or sidewalks....

Around town for Jan. 21-26

January 22, 2019

January 22, 2019

Every week we will post a round-up of events for the following week. We call it Around Town. If you...

Booker to be honored tonight at fire station

October 12, 2023

October 12, 2023

When Ross Booker was 10 years old he went with his mother, Marita, to volunteer with their church group at...

Ogden Harvest Festival to take place this weekend

October 25, 2019

October 25, 2019

A town tradition is taking place Saturday. The Village of Ogden will hold its Harvest Festival from 2 p.m. to...

Weekend Family Fun Guide May 10-12

May 10, 2019

May 10, 2019

The Weekend Family Fun Guide is sponsored by Island Travel Group and Events. May 10 SJO FFA Greenhouse Plant Sale3-7...

Weekend Family Fun Guide

July 26, 2019

July 26, 2019

This post is sponsored by Island Travel Group and Events On Saturday, St. Joseph plays host to hundreds of runners...

Pageant currently accepting applications

March 31, 2021

March 31, 2021

The Champaign County Fair Queen Pageant is now accepting applications.  The pageant will be held July 18 at 2 p.m....

Holly Jolly event postponed

December 3, 2021

December 3, 2021

The annual Holly Jolly Kids Christmas event scheduled for Dec. 11 has been postponed. The St. Joseph Stanton Fire Wife...

Around town April 10-14

April 10, 2019

April 10, 2019

APRIL 10Free Movie Matinee: Green BookHomer Library 1 p.m. In this Oscar Award winning movie, a working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes...

Comments
Leave a Reply