January 20, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Ogden Festival to take place Saturday

Kelly Cooper wants residents of Ogden to know that their town’s festival is bigger and better than ever.


“I would hope that people would expect to have a fun filled day and enjoy their time in our little town,” Cooper said.

The event will take place Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.


The event includes a car show, pancake and sausage breakfast, a lunch at the Methodist church, carnival rides, laser tag, live bands, food vendors, bicycle parade, petting zoo and an escape room.


“I feel like the dedication and the various things that are offered through out the day helps keep people engaged,” Cooper said.


Cooper and the festival committee begin planning months in advance.

“The continuous planning and execution of planning helps,” Cooper said.


Cooper said the biggest thing that has helped the festival grow is people who have attended previously telling people about their experiences.


“It makes us very excited and relieved when people are enjoying themselves,” she said. “It makes us proud to see all the hard work pay off.”


Cooper said she hopes her fellow residents attend the event and have a good time.
“It should be a fun filled day,” she said.


One of the events is an escape room run by Onward Ogden at the Ogden United Methodist Church.


The event will run all day Saturday with sign ups to reserve a spot starting at 9 a.m and the first group beginning at 10 a.m. The cost is $5 per person.


“Escape rooms are a fun, interactive activity,” said Onward Ogden member Dina Fox.


This is the second year for the event and Fox said last year’s had great participation from residents.


The theme this year is a Once Upon A Time fairytale adventure and will room offers varying sets of challenges from simple observation to manipulative and mental puzzles. 


“Our event is strictly planned, prepared and hosted by community volunteers and while certainly not professional escape room experts, we’ve done our best to provide some fun and entertainment for the community,” Fox said.


  The escape room is a fundraiser for the Onward Ogden Events Committee. 

“We will be using any funds raised to purchase holiday lights and decorations to “Light the Parks” in Ogden,” Fox said. “We hope the community will enjoy the display later this year.”

Banner
Related Posts

Get to know our Little Prince and Princess Candidates : Aleena Swanson

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

What is your favorite part of summer?Going swimming in a pool What do you want to be when you grow...

Live at SJO School board, Nov. 17, 2025

November 17, 2025

November 17, 2025

OMG you guys. It’s my favorite curriculum review- Social Sciences! It’s Beckett, Schacht and Kieffer. Schacht teaches American History, Sociology,...

SJO Alumni named Farm Credit CEO

September 25, 2024

September 25, 2024

Kelly Duitsman Hunt was designated as the next Farm Credit Illinois CEO by the cooperative’s board of directors. Hunt assumes...

McKinney shines, SJO football stays unbeaten

September 16, 2024

September 16, 2024

Kodey McKinney made his third start as the St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback this past Fridaynight. Hard to tell with how well...

SJO falls to Tolono, will take on BCC at home

April 16, 2021

April 16, 2021

St. Joseph-Ogden dropped a 48-16 contest to their long-time rival Unity Rockets in an Illini Prairie Conference tilt at Hicks...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

I am here so you don’t have to be. It’s Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges’ last meeting and Jim Page’s first meeting...

SJO fourth quarter high honor roll

July 9, 2019

July 9, 2019

High Honor RollFreshmenAllen, Addison Altenbaumer, Tyler Anderson, Kailyn Armstrong, Ella Atwood, Madison Behrens, Abigail Beyers, Andrew Bowln, Brandie Burkhalter, Mara...

5 questions with Michelle Wagner

December 15, 2024

December 15, 2024

1. What is your favorite childhood holiday memory?My favorite childhood memory is Christmas Eve. Our family would go out to...

Q and A with SJO Hall of Fame inductee Morgan Gooding 

October 3, 2025

October 3, 2025

1. How does it feel to be inducted into the hall of fame? Honestly, it was a surprise. So many...

Painter appointed new trustee

August 27, 2019

August 27, 2019

Max Painter has been selected to fill an open trustee position in St. Joseph. Republican caucus treasure and caucus committee...

SJO football cruises past PBL in home opener; Grey Ghosts up next tonight

September 12, 2025

September 12, 2025

When the St. Joseph-Ogden football team needed a big play last Friday night, the Spartansturned to a connection that is...

Parents hold tailgate at St. Joseph IGA

November 15, 2025

November 15, 2025

Parents of the St. Joseph-Ogden Football team wanted to rally the community. So, Shawna Waller, Billie Hayes, Adrienne Umbarger and...

Senior spotlight Eric Poe

February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we talked to Eric Poe. Thank you to...

Kern, Cafarelli, Carter and Atwood help SJO golf team have continued success

September 20, 2022

September 20, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School golf team has established a pretty common routine this season. Jacob Kern or Ashten Cafarelli...

Comments
Leave a Reply