Like many other small towns in the US, Aledo, Illinois kicks off their Summer season with a town wide celebration for locals.
What better way to commemorate the beginning of season than to honor everyone’s favorite tart veggie, rhubarb. In this part of the midwest, the rhubarb grows so fast and large, you can actually hear the stalks pop and crack as they expand an inch every day. Most would say that a vegetable that has to have that much sugar, butter, and flour to be enjoyed is not worth celebrating, but the folks of Aledo disagree! From rhubarb pie, beer, ice cream, crumble, wine, and lots more, you’re bound to find a form of rhubarb you’ll enjoy at Rhubarb Fest.
While the festival has been a summertime staple since 1991, the town of Aledo did something special to celebrate their 25th year of Rhubarb Fest. In 2016, a 10 foot metal rhubarb plant was unveiled and former Illinois governor Pat Quinn officially declared Aledo the “Rhubarb Capital of Illinois”. The title has yet to be challenged.