Join the Oz Celebration


© Karen Barker Crowley
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Sep 7, 2001


Editor's Note: The Wizard of Oz Festival will go on as planned on September 14 - 16. Because of the recent terrorist attacks, the festival's sponsor asks that all attendees wear yellow or red, white, and blue ribbons. American flags will be distributed at the festival's parade.

Chesterton, Indiana is a quiet town. Surrounded by rolling sand dunes on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, the little community of 9,000 is an hour away from Chicago, and lacks much of the excitement of a big city.

For most of the year, anyway.

For three days each September, Chesterton’s downtown area shuts down and is overrun by cackling witches, celebrity Munchkins, and hordes of little girls in blue gingham dresses.

Chesterton has hosted the Wizard of Oz Festival since 1982, when it was founded by the owner of a local Oz gift shop and museum. Each year, the festival draws as many as 90,000 Oz enthusiasts from across the United States and around the world.

This year’s fest is scheduled for Sept. 14 – 16. Here’s just a sampling of things you can do:

Shop: Ozzy merchandise will be available at more than 200 craft booths. You can also sample Ozzy cuisine from more than 45 food booths and buy chances in the "Flying Monkey Raffle." The festival also features a Judy Garland / Oz collectible exchange and auction.

Meet Oz celebrities: A number of Oz celebrities will make appearances at the festival. Several of the original Munchkins, including Lollipop Guild member Jerry Maren and Munchkin Coroner Meinhardt Raabe, will sign autographs and participate in events such as a Munchkin Picnic and Munchkin Breakfast. You can also meet John Fricke, author of 100 Years of Oz, Judy Garland’s Oz stand-in, Caren Marsh Doll, and Roger Baum, great-grandson of L. Frank Baum. In addition, Official Festival Costumed Characters will roam the festival grounds and pose for photos with festival goers.

Compete: Festival contests include a "Run to Oz" 5K race and character look-alike contests for people and teddy bears. Some more unusual competitions include a Wicked Witch cackling contest, a "Dorothy calling" contest, and the "Cutest Munchkin" baby contest.

Be entertained: Don’t miss out on the Oz Fantasy Parade, many musical acts, puppet shows, and performances of The Wiz and The Road to Oz. Of course, no Oz festival would be complete without the MGM movie; it will be shown several times at the local drive-in movie theater.

For more information, visit the Official Wizard of Oz Festival web site.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
2.   Sep 8, 2001 9:57 AM
In response to message posted by AnneWatkins:

Yes, I really hope to go someday, too. If anyone has been, I'd love to hear from you ...

-- posted by karenbc
1.   Sep 7, 2001 5:03 PM
If we were closer, this is something we'd take part in! I'll have to check out those links.

Thanks for the info. :)

Anne ...

-- posted by AnneWatkins



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