Huntley's homage to turkey privates still going strong

Hundreds of suburban residents packed into a heated tent Wednesday outside Huntley's Parkside Pub didn't know they were in the presence of royalty.But standing in the corner of the tent, dressed inconspicuously with a beer in his hand, was a former turkey testicle king.Brett Harmon won his crown at the 21st annual Turkey Testicle Festival four years ago by correctly answering the most turkey trivia questions -- and he still remembers fondly his time in the limelight.While he stood with his next-door neighbor and his neighbor's father, Harmon reminisced about his brief but glorious reign."I walked home with a cape and everything. My wife was like, 'What did you do?' " Harmon said. "When I have family over, I make sure I proudly represent myself."While Harmon relived his former glory, Parkside Pub co-owner Mark McDonald celebrated the 25th year of the annual festival."It's the best party in Huntley -- ever!" McDonald said.The cold, gray weather couldn't keep out the several thousand suburbanites who attended what many consider Huntley's claim to fame."With the weather, it's going great. The weather doesn't seem to bother people. We've had a lot worse," including blizzards, McDonald added.McDonald said the pub would go through 1,200 pounds of turkey testicles and at least 100 pounds of grease this year.Why are turkey testicles so popular?"It's an aphrodisiac," McDonald said.Does it work?"Yeah!"The annual event isn't just about beer, bands and testicles. The proceeds go to local charities. Last year, the event raised $30,000 for charity."We hope to do as much this year," McDonald said.As always, the festival was a mix of veterans and first-timers.Dick Carrather falls into the former category. Carrather sported a sweatshirt from the 19th annual Turkey Testicle Festival. Five empty bowls were stacked on a table in front of the two friends.Carrather planned to buy another bowl -- to serve alongside yams and cranberry sauce with Thanksgiving dinner."I'll put them on the side," Carrather said. "They're appetizers."Crystal Lake grandfather Bob Popp, also a connoisseur, described the pleasure of snacking on a bowl of deep-fried testicles."Tabasco makes it." Popp said. "When you have beer with it -- oh!"Popp's son, Tim, who lives three blocks from the Parkside Pub, summed up what has brought him to the festival for 12 of the last 14 years:"It's the environment; it's the music; it's the fact that everybody is here together."