Day 1 of Redhead Days a Success; Record-Breaking Ginger Photo Planned for Sunday

A Chicago suburb is decked in red this weekend and it has nothing to do with the Blackhawks’ pursuit of a third Stanley Cup in six years.

Well, actually quite a few were donning Hawks jerseys, but most came to downtown Highwood Saturday to celebrate the art of having red hair.

The first ever Redhead Days Festival in the United States kicked off on the lawn outside Highwood City Hall on Saturday.

According to organizer Jim Stoecker, the turnout for Chicago’s official affiliate of the Dutch festival, Roodharigendag, was great.

“I’m very pleased,” said Stoecker, owner of Alex’s Washington Gardens restaurant located across Green Bay Road from the festival location. “I thought most would wait until Sunday to be part of the (record-breaking redhead) picture, so it kind of scares me to see this many people out today knowing more will be here tomorrow.”

Stoecker came up with the idea of bringing Redhead Festival to the Chicago-area while biking across Europe two years ago with his wife. While looking for a hostel one night during his trip, Stoecker came across the Dutch Festival, which intrigued him, of course, because he has red hair himself.

“But there’s no comparison,” he said of his Festival when matched against Holland’s. “Theirs is established - a gathering in the city square with numerous cafes and shops around the area. They have also been doing it for nine years and more people know about it.”

Read More: Festival of Redheads Planned for Chicago’s North Shore

Several dozen redheads (and ginger friendlies) enjoyed the Ronald McDonald House, a carrot cake competition, music and beer and whiskey with a red-haired theme on Saturday.

Serving their newly crafted ‘Creepy Ginger’ beer, Maplewood Brewery & Distillery of Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood was on hand for the fun.

“We make a Creepy Ginger beer, and I have red hair, so it only made sense for us to be a part of this event,” said Maplewood co-founder Paul Megalis.

Maplewood, Megalis explains, is the first brewery/distillery in Illinois to be licensed in both. They relished in serving their new beer to those who can relate.

“It’s a little cool for a June day, but this is a good turnout,” Megalis said. “We are only pouring our second batch of Creepy Ginger today so good for us to get the word out.”

Emma and Jessica, both college students at different schools in Illinois, made sure once they heard about it, Redhead Days would not be missed.

“I thought it was so funny when I first heard about this,” said Emma, a student at Illinois State University in Bloomington (a school with the nickname, “Redbirds,” how fitting, right?). “It’s funny how everything here has a red-haired theme. The carrot cake, the beer, I like it.”

Jessica, a non-redhead who attends school in Chicago, was just there for the good time.

The good time will continue on Sunday, with a record-breaking Ginger photo planned in addition to the parade of gingers, which will kickoff from City Hall Park and progress toward Everts Park before the world’s greatest ginger gathering caught on film. Also keeping the crowd entertained Sunday will be Jacky Colliss Harvey, author of Red: The History of the Redhead and a red-haired comedian (not Carrot Top). See Sunday’s Schedule here.

But a big name making an appearance would be nice, Emma said.

“The only thing that would make this better is if they had Kathy Griffin or someone,” she said. “Maybe next year.”

Having the event next year isn’t guaranteed, but will likely depend on how everything goes Sunday.

“Next year? Who knows, but yeah, probably,” Stoecker said when asked if this will happen again next June. “Unless my wife kills me for doing this.”

A preview of this year’s Festival was picked up by just about every local and regional media outlet, with some national love being doled out as well. But reaching ‘viral’ status doesn’t come as a surprise, not to Stoecker.

“I had a gut feeling,” he said. “There’s definitely been a great response. I’ve gotten so many nice messages from people about how happy they are about this.”

“Not that we are going to take over the world, or anything.”