2024 Arcola Broomcorn Festival

The Arcola Broomcorn Festival

September 6, 7 & 8, 2024 

Promoting the Growth of the Arcola Community

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The Arcola Broomcorn Festival 
Sept. 6, 7 & 8, 2024
In Arcola, IL 
The Broomcorn Capital of the World

Arcola celebrates its heritage as the “Broomcorn Capital of the World” with the renowned annual Broomcorn Festival. Visitors can see broom making, broom activities, arts and crafts vendors, free entertainment,5K and 10K race, great food, and a gigantic parade with our local, famous Lawn Rangers!

The event, always held the weekend after Labor Day, honors Arcola’s position in the late nineteenth century as a center of broomcorn production. 



Broomcorn 5K & 10K

Choose to run either the 5K (3.1 miles) or 10K (6.2 miles) race or walk the 5K recreational walk on brick and hard surfaces through and north of Arcola, Illinois. Finish in downtown Arcola. The 5K course is all in town.

The course features police escorts, aid stations, and split times. Awards are given to the top 3 finishers in each age division. Plaques are awarded to the top overall finishers. Door prizes will be drawn (must be present to win). Awards are presented following the race at the Main Street stage.

Broom Corn Festival Race Map

Arcola's Lawn Rangers

Arcola is famous for the Lawn Rangers, a “precision lawn mower drill team” that marches in formation with brooms and lawn mowers in the Arcola Broomcorn Parade. Every year since 1980, the Lawn Rangers have marched in the Arcola Broomcorn Festival Parade. This unique custom was publicized by humor columnist Dave Barry, who marched with the Lawn Rangers in 1995 and has written columns about them. In 2003, President Barack Obama marched with the Lawn Rangers in the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade to launch his race for the Senate. As a result, The World Famous Amazing Arcola Lawn Rangers were invited to march in the 2009 Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C.

Arcola Broomcorn Festival Rules

The following is a list of rules and regulations that you are agreeing upon as a vendor. If you choose not to comply with these rules, the Arcola Broomcorn Festival Committee / Arcola Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to ask you to remove yourself from the festival without a refund. Please read through these rules thoroughly. By signing the application, you are indicating that you agree to all rules.

 

  1. The Arcola Broomcorn Festival Committee (ABFC) reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to close any vendor, should the vendor or any of their employees engage in acts that are disruptive and against the best interest of the event. Vendors should refrain from selling or displaying items that are considered offensive, obscene, or could pose a public health or safety concern. ABFC may, at its discretion, remove any vendor merchandise or display that does not conform to the rules.
  2. Street vendors may begin setting up at 10 am on Thursday, Sept. 7th. Please check in at the tent on the corner of Main and Locust Street. You will be given your booth location and festival schedule. You are asked to pull up to your assigned location, unload, and park your vehicle before any setup of your booth. Your vehicle can not block the roadway at any time. Vendor parking is available, and you will be given this information at the time of check-in. Check-in Friday morning will begin at 7 am on the corner of Locust and Main St. All vendors must have their booth set up and vehicles off the street by 9 am on Friday. 
  3. No street vendors may begin breaking down their booths until 5 pm on Sunday unless prior arrangements have been made and approved by the ABCF. No vehicles are allowed on the street until the close of the festival at 5 pm on Sunday. 
  4. ABFC has the right to place vendors in any location. Vendor booths can be on the street, sidewalk, or grass area. Repeat vendors can request a location, but there is no guarantee of reserved booth space. If you sell out of a trailer or have specific space requirements, please communicate that to the vendor coordinator. 
  5. Prohibited Sale Items - No guns, knives (unless approved by ABCF (kitchen knives)), pinpoint laser lights, pepper spray, smoke bombs, products that represent or imply drug use, drug paraphernalia, pornography, any item that resembles or bears the confederate battle flag are prohibited. ABCF has the sole discretion to prohibit vendors from selling or displaying items that may be considered offensive, obscene, or could pose a public health or safety concern. The sale of bootleg or counterfeit products is prohibited. Selling these types of goods results in patent infringement and/or trademark infringement. ABCF will allow one representative from a Direct Sales Company.
  6. The Arcola Broomcorn Festival is a family-friendly festival, and vendors are expected to be professional and act appropriately. All vendors should wear clean clothing and present themselves in a professional appearance. Foul language, profanity, and any other rude behavior are not permitted and will not be tolerated. 
  7. No refunds are given. If a vendor needs to cancel their reservation, their payment may be rolled over to the following year. Refunds may be given on a case-by-case basis.
  8. By electronically signing the vendor application, you are agreeing to uphold all the rules and regulations of the Arcola Broomcorn Festival.
Non-Food Vendor Application
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