Welcome to A Tradition Kewanee Style :)Where I'm from Labor day is called Hog Days,sounds hilarious right?
We are known in Illinois for being the Hog Capital of the world.
So Hog days it is..I used to LOVE hog days,the parade,the cotton Candy,the apple cider slush's,the Elephant Ears,The Corn dogs and most importantly the Pork Chop sandwich's. I 
also loved getting away from my family for the weekend and not having to worry about school.Hanging with my girls because my dad would be out with his friends and my mom would be up at the bars hanging with all her classmates and the girls she hung around with,it was a tradition,her girls would return home for the annual hog days!From the Rides,to the Cardi rats lol! and the food it was all fun!!
also loved getting away from my family for the weekend and not having to worry about school.Hanging with my girls because my dad would be out with his friends and my mom would be up at the bars hanging with all her classmates and the girls she hung around with,it was a tradition,her girls would return home for the annual hog days!From the Rides,to the Cardi rats lol! and the food it was all fun!! I haven't been 
to a hog days in 7 years and every year I hear how it was so much fun,the rides,the food the bar hopping...
to a hog days in 7 years and every year I hear how it was so much fun,the rides,the food the bar hopping...So I'm going to explain to you how good old Hog Days came around...
At one time Kewanee IL had more hogs in the area than people. Farmers produced hogs in this fertile region often on pasture. The days of confinement systems have changed some things, but the area's hog heritage has not been
forgotten. Each Labor Day there is a whole weekend of activities. Hog Days, the biggest festival in Henry County, began as a simple barbecue to commemorate a proclamation. on Saturday, September 20, 1947, the USDA declared officially that Henry County was the "top hog" so to speak in America when it came to pork production. A barrow show was held to find the best hog of the many in the area, when farmers made a living raising hogs. On 1949, March 23rd to be exact, that the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 40 declaring Henry County
and Kewanee the Hog Capital Of The World, a resolution introduced by Frank P. Johnson R-Kewanee. The festival is highlighted by the world's largest outdoor pork chop BBQ - massive grills are set up for grilling yummy pork chops and butterfly pork chop sandwiches for the thousands of guests that crowd into the small town every year. Chop sandwiches are $3 each and pork patties just $1 - be prepared as lines are long near meal times!! A carnival is set up on the downtown streets; there's a large parade with floats, horses, officials and entries of a wide variety that happens on Saturday each year. Featuring the world's largest outdoor pork barbecue (grilling over 25 thousand butterfly pork chops and pork patties) as well as a huge flea market/craft show, carnival for the kids, tractor pull competition, model T rally, 4 mile fitness run (better known as the "hog stampede"), live stage shows, softball tourney and one of the largest parades in downstate Illinois...there's something going on almost all the time day and night Friday through Monday of Labor Day weekend. It's our way of gathering together with family and friends like you to celebrate and say good-bye to one season while getting ready for the next.Concieved in the 1940's and offically established in 1954.Kewanee's end of summer celebration has never missed a labor day weekend in 56 years.
At one time Kewanee IL had more hogs in the area than people. Farmers produced hogs in this fertile region often on pasture. The days of confinement systems have changed some things, but the area's hog heritage has not been
forgotten. Each Labor Day there is a whole weekend of activities. Hog Days, the biggest festival in Henry County, began as a simple barbecue to commemorate a proclamation. on Saturday, September 20, 1947, the USDA declared officially that Henry County was the "top hog" so to speak in America when it came to pork production. A barrow show was held to find the best hog of the many in the area, when farmers made a living raising hogs. On 1949, March 23rd to be exact, that the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 40 declaring Henry County
and Kewanee the Hog Capital Of The World, a resolution introduced by Frank P. Johnson R-Kewanee. The festival is highlighted by the world's largest outdoor pork chop BBQ - massive grills are set up for grilling yummy pork chops and butterfly pork chop sandwiches for the thousands of guests that crowd into the small town every year. Chop sandwiches are $3 each and pork patties just $1 - be prepared as lines are long near meal times!! A carnival is set up on the downtown streets; there's a large parade with floats, horses, officials and entries of a wide variety that happens on Saturday each year. Featuring the world's largest outdoor pork barbecue (grilling over 25 thousand butterfly pork chops and pork patties) as well as a huge flea market/craft show, carnival for the kids, tractor pull competition, model T rally, 4 mile fitness run (better known as the "hog stampede"), live stage shows, softball tourney and one of the largest parades in downstate Illinois...there's something going on almost all the time day and night Friday through Monday of Labor Day weekend. It's our way of gathering together with family and friends like you to celebrate and say good-bye to one season while getting ready for the next.Concieved in the 1940's and offically established in 1954.Kewanee's end of summer celebration has never missed a labor day weekend in 56 years.
As I sat there watching the 10pm news from my home town,and anticipating the 
