The biggest yearly event in Burr Oak, The Heritage Festival, is one weekend a year when the Burr Oak Area comes together to throw a weekend long event that celebrates the history of the Village. You can find the schedule for this year’s festival below.
The Theme:
This year’s Heritage Fest theme is Living In A Small Town Can be a Circus. The theme was chosen to recognize the interesting events that can happen in a small town, and Madam Marantette historical performer for the Barnum and Bailey Circus. The Madam would become popular in Burr Oak, along with her ostrich Gaucho.
A book about the Madam and Gaucho was written by Betsy Bird, and Betsy will be doing a meet up at this year’s festival!
Schedule of Events:
7:30 AM to 10:30 AM : Breakfast - Fuel up for the day by attending the breakfast at the Methodist Church.
7:45 AM to 8:15 AM : Sign up for 5k Run - Sign up for the 5k run downtown.
8:30 AM to 9:30 AM : “Run Giraffe Off” 5K Run - Gather at the starting line as this year's participants take part in the 5k run.
8:35 AM to 8:50 AM - Kids’ Fun Run - The kids can run for fun in downtown
9:30 AM : Parade Lineup Begins - Parade line up starts at Boyer Field and is sponsored by the Burr Oak Mother’s Club
11 AM to 12 PM - Parade - Gather from Boyer Field to downtown as this year’s parade passes through town with loads of excitement.
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM : Meet Betsy Bird - Meet Betsy, the author of “A Long Road to the Circus” , a book that was written about a girl raised in Burr Oak that encounters Madam Marantette and her ostrich Gaucho.
All Day : Old Fashioned Farm Machinery Demonstrations - See the live displays of how old fashioned farm machinery was used in the Railroad Park.
All Day : Food Vendors - Grab a bite to eat all day with the variety of food vendors in the Rail Road Park.
12 PM : Fireman Hotdog Sale - Support the Burr Oak Fire Department as they host a hotdog fundraiser outside of the Fire Station.
12 PM to 1 PM : Register for the adult corn hole tournament -
12 PM - 4 PM : Inflatables - Kids can enjoy the variety of inflatables in the Railroad park.
1 PM to 3:30 PM : FREE Tractor Pedal Pulls - Ages 3 -15 can come to the Town Hall/Fire Station to see how far they can get the tractors in this year's tractor pedal pulls.
1 PM to 4 PM : Historical Burr Oak Tours - Enjoy a historical tour through Burr Oak starting at the Gazebo/Front Street Parking Lot.
1 PM to 5 PM : Car Demolition - Support the Burr Oak NHS Students by grabbing a sledge hammer, a bat, or golf club and swinging away.
1 PM to 5 PM : Adult Corn Hole Tourney - Several teams will compete to see who emerges victorious in this year’s cornhole tournament sponsored by Black Gold Farms.
1 PM to 5 PM : Free Children’s Rides - Children can enjoy a collection of free rides at the Railroad Park.
1 PM to 2 PM : Register for Mud Volley Ball - Registration for Mud Volleyball at the Railroad Park.
1:30 PM to 2 PM, 4 PM to 4:30 PM, and 6 PM to 6:30 PM : Blackwell’s Circus-Performer, Jay Blackwell - Visit the entertainment circle near the Community Tent to be amazed at a performance by Jay Blackwell. Including sword swallowing, magic tricks, and more for your entertainment!
2 PM to 5 PM : Mud Volleyball -Watch as several teams battle it out to see who is the best at this year's Mud Volleyball tournament.
2 PM to 5 PM: Rob Maystead - Caricature Drawings. Community Tent.
2 PM to 6 PM : Historical Walk Challenge - Register for the Heritage Walk at Prairie River Flower Company, and find historical sites around town and verify with a picture!
3 PM to 3:30 PM and 5 to 5:30 PM - “Hula Hoop Extraordinaire” Kylee Lipinkski - Watch Kylee perform acts with hula hoops that will astonish you.
4 PM to 5 PM : Junior Corn Hole Tournament Sign Up - Register for the Junior Corn Hole tournament at the Basketball Courts.
4 PM to 8 PM : Tethered Hot Air Balloon Ride - View Burr Oak from above in a hot air balloon, now located at 217 Third Street.
5 PM to 6:30 PM : FREE Junior Corn Hole Tourney - Register for the Junior Corn Hole tournament at the Basketball Courts.
6:30 PM to 7 PM : Register-Port-A-Potty Pulls - Registration for both classes of the Port-A-Potty-Pulls begins on Front Street.
7 PM to 7:30 PM : Port-A-Potty Pulls(Youth) - Gather on Front Street as the youth class compete to see who is the fastest.
7:30 PM to 8 PM : Port-A-Potty Pulls (Adult) - The adults will compete to see which trio is the fastest.
8:30 PM to 9 PM : Nick May “Flames Of Dance” - Nick May returns to perform his “Flames of Dance” outside of the Community Tent.
9 PM to 12 PM : Six To One Band 21+ - (Age 21+) Come hangout in the community tent and enjoy the performance of the “Six To One Band”
9:30 PM to 10 PM : Balloon Glow - Gather at the Burr Oak School Playground to enjoy the Balloon Glow and find a spot to view the Fireworks.
10 PM to 10:30 PM : Fireworks - Enjoy the Fireworks.
