Broom Corn Festival Arcola celebrates its heritage as the "Broom Corn Capital of the World" with the renowned annual Broom Corn Festival. Visitors can see broom activities, arts/crafts, free entertainment, great food, and a gigantic parade with the Famous Lawn Rangers. Additional, visitors can participate in the ABC 5K and 10K races. The event, held the weekend after Labor Day, honors Arcola's position in the late nineteenth century as a center of broom corn production.
Arcola is famous for the Lawn Rangers, a "precision lawn mower drill team" that marches in formation with brooms and lawn mowers. 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.
Johnny Gruelle, born in Arcola in 1882, loved to write and draw cartoons almost as much as his young daughter Marcella loved to hear his stories. Her favorite character from her father's tales was Raggedy Ann.
But when Marcella died as the result of a vaccination shot, Johnny had a hard time coping with the loss. He found that the best way to overcome Marcella's death was to write the stories he created for her. From these humble beginnings came the stories of Raggedy Ann, whose popularity has made Johnny Gruelle, as well as Arcola, famous around the world.
In commemoration of Gruelle's Raggedy Ann & Andy legacy, every June the Raggedy Ann & Andy enthusiasts gather in Arcola, the birth place of Johnny Gruelle, creator of Raggedy Ann & Andy. They come to exchange their treasures, renew acquaintances, and visit the small town that once was a boyhood inspiration for the creation of the Raggedy Ann phenomenon.
The next Raggedy Ann Friendship Gathering will be held June 1 & 2, 2012 at the Arcola Community Center. For more information contact 217-268-3848 after 6 PM or email: patridge@consolidated.net
Raggedy Friends gather for dinner at the Kaskaskia Country Club Photo by: Leann Rardin
