Animal antics take center stage at Harvard Milk Days
Monkeys, lions and milk, oh my!
This year the 68th annual Harvard Milk Days kicks off with several new additions, including the "Banana Derby," an attraction in which monkeys are featured racing dogs.
The first "Banana Derby" race begins at 5 p.m. on Friday. Spectators will get a chance to visit with the monkey jockeys and their racing dogs Saturday at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. and Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing every two hours after that until 7 p.m.
Milk Days will also be bringing back its "Great Cat Adventures" after a one-year hiatus. According to Wanda Marzahl, office administrator for Harvard Milk Days, Inc., baby tigers and lions from the wild will be brought to the festival as part of a presentation on wildlife and safety. Visitors will get the chance to pose for photos with the animals as well.
"It's all about preservation through education," Marzahl said.
While all this may sound like a menagerie in the making, Milk Days will still hold many of its annual events whose popularity have contributed to its nearly 70-year run.
Going all the way back to the spring of 1942, Milk Days is considered the oldest festival in Illinois. What began as a one-day show now spans over two weekends crammed full of events like the crowning of the Queen of Milk Days and the 2-mile Milk Run and Walk.
"There was just no room to fit everything into one Milk Day weekend," Marzahl said.
Marzahl says the economy really hasn't had a huge affect on the festival, which does not charge an admission fee. Milk Days will continue to hold events like the milk drinking contest, Milk Days Parade and a fireworks display.
The festival is also host to a wide array of culinary treats.
"If you want it, we got it!" Marzahl joked.
Brats, burgers, steak sandwiches and even homemade strawberry shortcake are among the dozens of dishes offered to visitors.
Milk Days was originally started during World War II as a way of commemorating the Harvard dairy farmers who pledged to increase milk and food production to benefit serviceman abroad.
At the time Milk Days began there were seven dairy farms within a 15-mile radius of Harvard. More milk was being produced in this area than anywhere else in the United States, earning the town the title of "Milk Center of the World."
Harvard no longer holds that title anymore. According to Marzahl, a town in Indiana has taken over as the milk center of the U.S. However, this has not lessened Milk Day's attendance or the interest surrounding the event.
This year alone Milk Days is expecting an upward of 15,000 visitors. The festival continues as a way of celebrating those farmers who achieved their goal of producing large quantities of milk for their country.
"I think people come just because it's a really good time," Marzahl said. "A lot of people who've grown up in Harvard come back for this event and it's like a big family reunion."
Milk Days begins on Friday, June 5 and runs through Saturday, June 7. For a full schedule, visit milkdays.com.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Harvard Milk Days</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 10 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. Friday, 9 to 10:45 p.m. Saturday and 10 to 10 p.m. Sunday, with fireworks displays at the end of each day</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Milky Way Park, 300 Lawrence Road in Harvard </p> <p class="News"><b>How much?</b> Admission is free; parking is $3 daily or $6 for a three-day pass</p> <p class="News"><b>Info: </b><a href="http://www.milkdays.com" target="new">milkdays.com</a> or (815) 943-4614</p>