January 23, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Ogden festival committee to meet tonight

The Ogden Festival will be bigger and better this year if organizer Kelly Cooper has anything to say about it.


“We hope to attract more participants, vendors and spectators,” she said. “We want to be able to bring some fun and liveliness back into the community at least for a weekend.”


In order to do that Cooper is looking for more volunteers for the festival committee.


The committee meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Ogden Village Hall.


Cooper said the committee is hoping to see the festival, which is held in August, grow bigger with more cars in the car show, more vendors at the flea market, additional food vendors and more activities for children.


Last year, the biggest challenge was planning a festival from the ground up.


“I had never done something like this,” said Cooper. “It was huge undertaking.”


Cooper said the festival committee, who had helped with previous events, helped her make sure the event was successful.


“ I wanted to make sure that it was well organized and ran as smooth as possible,” she said.


Cooper said the goal of the committee was to offer activities for a wide range of ages as well as making sure to have activities that were free.

Another challenge was making sure the event had enough volunteers.


“We were short on volunteers but were very grateful to all that helped us and hope they will again this year,” Cooper said.


Cooper said the most rewarding part of working on the festival committee was seeing Ogden residents enjoying themselves at the festival.


“It ran really smooth and people were surprised as to what we had to offer,” she said. “I was so happy with the turn out of participant for the car show, flea market, kiddie tractor pull and the event in general. This all could not have been done without the help of the committee, sponsors, village board or the spectators.”


Cooper said anyone interested in volunteering should attend the festival committee meeting tonight.


“It is a rewarding feeling to know that one is helping the community even if it is for a short period of time,” she said. “We are going to try to offer something to the people that volunteer to help attract them and make it interesting. I can not express how much appreciation goes out to those that help us make it a successful event, without them it would not be possible. We hope to be able to have more volunteers with ideas and open minds to help us this year.”

Banner
Related Posts

Running for a good cause

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

John Lubinski has a sizable commute each day to get from his home in St. Joseph to his place of...

Mayor to host Halloween Parade

October 28, 2020

October 28, 2020

Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges is looking forward to a happy Halloween. The mayor will hold her annual Halloween Parade on Saturday...

Weekend Family Fun Guide May 10-12

May 10, 2019

May 10, 2019

The Weekend Family Fun Guide is sponsored by Island Travel Group and Events. May 10 SJO FFA Greenhouse Plant Sale3-7...

Weekend Family Fun Guide

June 24, 2019

June 24, 2019

Every week we select some events that would provide your family with some fun. This post is sponsored by Island...

Five questions with Lindsey Parrish of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

December 1, 2022

December 1, 2022

Tonight at 7 p.m, The St. Joseph Church of Christ will present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” We asked Lindsey...

Employees help co-worker during time of need

February 8, 2021

February 8, 2021

The staff at the St. Joseph Subway wanted to help April Patton. Manager Adam Porter said his co-worker said she...

Aden brings Easter joy to community

April 15, 2020

April 15, 2020

The Easter Bunny made sure children in St. Joseph had a happy holiday this past weekend. St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Lindsey...

The Importance of Sunscreen

July 8, 2021

July 8, 2021

By: Will Miller, PA-C, Christie Clinic Department of Dermatology Summer has come and everyone is out and enjoying the sun....

Talk of the Town… Jim and Jen Wagner

August 6, 2019

August 6, 2019

Every week we ask a village resident or official three questions. This week we spoke to Jim and Jen Wagner...

Bracelets honoring Booker bring attention to Scott’s Law

April 5, 2022

April 5, 2022

Vickie Reese is hoping a bracelet will help people remember to move over when they see flashing lights. Reese, the...

Little Prince and Princess applications being accepted

July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019

The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring the Little Prince and Princess event in conjunction with the St....

Bringing Boston to St. Joseph: Jones to complete virtual marathon Monday throughout villages

September 5, 2020

September 5, 2020

Alison Jones has competed in the Boston Marathon before. On Monday, she will participate in the storied event — just...

PTC to host carnival

March 8, 2019

March 8, 2019

The annual St. Joseph PTC Carnival will take place tonight. “It’s genuinely a fun family event that costs little or...

SJO to host event for seniors

April 1, 2021

April 1, 2021

The administration at St. Joseph-Ogden High School wants to give their seniors some sense of normalcy.   “The decision to have...

Ceremony to honor Edwards scheduled for Thursday

December 9, 2020

December 9, 2020

A Gift of Hope Flag raising ceremony will be held on Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. at the St, Joseph-Ogden...

Comments
Leave a Reply