Mid-West Side Stops: Part 2

Sometimes life is full of surprises, and boy did I get one! About 30 minutes or so out of St. Louis we stopped for gas in Collinsville, Illinois. As we were putting gas in the car, I noticed a sign that said "International Horseradish Festival." Being a fan of random side trips, I absolutely had to stop for this!

One of the neat things I have seen across the word are festivals dedicated to regional crops. Just in Mississippi we have the Peach Festival in Ecru, Sweet Potato Festival in Vardaman, and the Blueberry Festival in Poplarville. While these aren't all of the agricultural festivals in Mississippi, these are the ones I have first hand knowledge of.

The festival was an absolute treat. It was set up as any other street festival I have been to. There was a stage where local talent was providing entertainment surrounded by various local food vendors. As you walked from the block with music and food, you were immediately surrounded by vendors of all types. Some of the neatest to me were the food vendors. There was a horseradish mustard vendor and a salsa vendor with tasting booths set up. At both vendors tent's you were able to sample the products. (We left with a bottle of horseradish mustard and 5 jars of salsa!)

If you go to a neat festival, such as the Horseradish Festival, you must leave with a souvenir! I was able to pick up a shirt with a picture of a horseradish root that says, "Caution: I'm hot!"