9-04-2024 5:17am

Roscoe Fall Festival 2024 begins Friday

Michael McGinnis Editor

Children at the 2022 Roscoe Fall Festival hope for a winning number as they spin the wheel at the Harlem-Roscoe Fire booth.

The Roscoe Lions Fall Festival continues a 114 year tradition on September 6-8, 2024 at Leland Park. The festival features carnival rides, food and drinks, games on the midway, live music, parades, karaoke, bingo, exhibitors, and a pancake breakfast.

The Roscoe Lions Club has organized the annual event for more than 50 years. It is one of the longest running events of its kind in the Stateline area. In 1910, the Roscoe Improvement Association held the first Fall Festival ins Roscoe.

As Jean Seegers reports:

In 1910, the Village of Roscoe was unincorporated, and sustained by the Roscoe Improvement Association (RIA). As the population grew, residents and the RIA wanted to beautify and improve their little village by adding sidewalks and better roads.

Money was needed to make it happen. The Association decided to hold an all-day festival at Roosevelt Park, now called Leland Park. The park, located at 1070 Third Street (or 5727 Broad Street), between Harrison Street and Broad Street, was donated to the village by Alvan Leland.

Music

Friday: O.G.M.C. with Kevin n Greg & Osiris
Saturday: Dead Man's Hand
Sunday: Lola Blu

The Fall Festival Parade will launch on Main Street at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Raffle Tickets: $5 each or five for $20 at the festival or from any Roscoe Lion member - contact them at roscoelionsclub@gmail.com.
Eyeglass Collection: Collection boxes available for your used glasses
Bingo Tent - open all three days. Bingo tickets are $1 per card or $2 for three cards.
Exhibitor Tent - Check out our local vendors and organizations
Across the street: First Congregational Community Church is having a free clothing giveaway at 10780 Third Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday Sept 7 10-3 and Sunday Sept 8.

SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 6, 2024

5 p.m. - Festival & Midway opens (featuring Skinners’ Amusement Rides)
5 p.m. - Poison Ivy Pub Beer Tent opens (beer, wine, Bloody Marys)
5 p.m. - Lions Cafe Opens

Cream chicken on biscuit, served with mashed potatoes, green beans, bread & butter
Hot dog with chips
Hamburger with chips
Butterfly pork chop sandwich with chips

6 p.m. - Lions Bingo Tent opens
6 - 10 p.m. - The OGMC with Kevin & Greg and Osiris - Playing classic rock to country to danceable music. Led by Lion Club member Dan Tritten.
10 p.m. - Midway closes

Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024

10:30 a.m. - Kiddie Costume Parade

Children are invited to “dress up” in a costume. The category this year is: your favorite costume. Please meet in the Bingo tent at 10:30 a.m. Special prizes will be awarded to the costume winners: two age groups - one year to five years and six years to ten years. The top two boys and girls in each age group will receive the special prizes. The winners will be invited to participate in Sunday’s big parade down Main Street. Every participant will receive a free drink coupon and one free ride ticket. Don’t miss the fun!

11:30 a.m. - Kids wristbands go on sale - $30 for four hours on all rides
12-4 p.m. - Kids’ Day on The Midway
12 - 4 p.m. - Karaoke by Johnny West & Friends (Main Stage) - all proceeds go to Vets Roll

12 p.m. - Lions Cafe Opens

Ham dinner served with scalloped potatoes, green beans, bread & butter
Hot dog with chips
Hamburger with chips
Butterfly pork chop sandwich with chips

12 p.m. - Poison Ivy Pub Beer Tent opens (beer, wine, Bloody Marys)
1 p.m. - Lions Bingo Tent opens
6 - 10 p.m. - Dead Man's Hand (Main Stage) - Southern Rock, Blues, Classic Rock
10 p.m. - Midway closes

Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024

7 -9:45 a.m. - Breakfast at Leland Park - Tickets $7

Hosted by Roscoe United Methodist Men, a fine breakfast of pancakes (all you can eat) and sausages is served to all who enjoy breakfast out. Come early and enjoy this community meal before the parade.

11 a.m. - Lions Festival Parade

Led by the Roscoe VFW color guard, a contingent of Lions members, marching bands, floats and dignitaries, the parade steps off at 11 a.m. from Bridge & Main Streets and ends at Williams Street near Main Street Square. Thousands of spectators will be gathered along the parade route for this festival tradition.
The Roscoe Police Department will be closing and barricading all streets off Main Street (from Williams Drive to Bridge Street) at 10:15. No exceptions will be allowed to reopen them.

12 p.m. - Lions Cafe Opens

Pork chop dinner served with scalloped potatoes, green beans, bread & butter
Hot dog with chips
Hamburger with chips
Butterfly pork chop sandwich with chips

12 p.m. - Midway opens
12 p.m. - Poison Ivy Pub Beer Tent opens (beer, wine, Bloody Marys)
12 -7 p.m. - Carnival Ride Specials
1 p.m. - Lions Bingo Tent opens
3:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Lola Blu- A full throttle rockin' Y'allternative country band
7 p.m. - Carnival Rides close
8 p.m. - Grand Prize Drawing (Main Stage) - cash prizes