January 23, 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

Board approves concession stand project

August 25, 2025

August 25, 2025

St. Joseph-Ogden Softball  will be getting a concession stand, restrooms, and a concrete walkway that will connect to the north parking...

Get to know…. August Rosser

October 8, 2025

October 8, 2025

Name: August Rosser I play: quads in marching band and also piano because why not? My favorite part of “Whatever”...

Barnes, Cramer help SJO girls’ basketball start off season perfect

November 22, 2019

November 22, 2019

So far, so good. The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team has opened the season with three straight wins...

Get to know our Little Princess Candidates: Annah Fiedler

August 9, 2024

August 9, 2024

What is your favorite part of summer?Favorite part of summer: riding bikes, going to the pool, and going boating at...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Sept. 10, 2024

September 10, 2024

September 10, 2024

They are discussing personnel policy updates. They are formalizing the on call public works format. SOLAR!!!! For the 400th time....

Vendor profile: That Little Farm in the Country

August 8, 2024

August 8, 2024

Tell me about your business.That Little Farm in the Country is a small business in Sidney. I design and sell...

5 questions with Republican Caucus candidate Andrea Schultheis Childers

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

1. What made you want to run? We’ve lived in St. Joe for the past almost 19 years and it’s...

Live at SJO school board, October 28, 2024

October 28, 2024

October 28, 2024

It’s me and the Spanish teachers here tonight. They are doing a curriculum review. I am doing a blog. They...

10 things you don’t know about me… DEE EVANS

September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

DEE EVANS will be inducted into the SJO Hall of Fame tonight. Dee Evans is a 1960 graduate of St....

Trimble, relays lead way as SJO boys’ track and field heads to Charleston

May 26, 2022

May 26, 2022

Relying on teammates is key to a successful track and field relay. The St. Joseph-Ogden High School boys’ track and...

Get to know our Little Prince and Princess Candidates : Will Peters

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

What is your favorite part of summer?Staying at my grandparents house and having more time with mom and dad. What...

Vendor profile: Janeration

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

Tell me about your business and what inspired you to go into business? What started as making hair bows for my...

Village looking at options to sell wastewater system

December 2, 2025

December 2, 2025

 The Village of St. Joseph is exploring options to sell its wastewater system.  At a special meeting on Nov. 18,...

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...

Get to know SJO volleyball manager Katie Oehmke

October 31, 2022

October 31, 2022

What do you think makes the team so successful? The atmosphere that is on the team What is your favorite...

Comments
Leave a Reply