Heritage Fest

The biggest yearly event in Burr Oak, The Heritage Festival, is one weekend a year when the Burr Oak Area comes together to throw a weekend long event that celebrates the history of the Village. You can find the schedule for this year’s festival below.

The Theme

This year’s Heritage Fest theme is Living In A Small Town Can be a Circus. The theme was chosen to recognize the interesting events that can happen in a small town, and Madam Marantette historical performer for the Barnum and Bailey Circus. The Madam would become popular in Burr Oak, along with her ostrich Gaucho.

A book about the Madam and Gaucho was written by Betsy Bird, and Betsy will be doing a meet up at this year’s festival! Make sure to join the Burr Oak Heritage Committee as they host this year’s festival July 25th to July 28th.

  • 4 PM - 8 PM : Cruise In - Cars and Trucks are invited to gather in the Front Street parking lot for a fun social time.

    6PM - 8 PM : Brats & Bingo - The Community Tent on Front Street is hosting bingo and prizes with a side of brats for all ages!

    8:30 PM - 9 PM : Light Parade Line Up - Lineup for participants of this year’s light parade is at the Front Street Parking Lot.

    9 PM - 9:30 PM : Light Parade - The parade will wind through town, and meet up at the Main Street Bridge. During this time, the parade area will be closed, with parking available at the School.

    9:30 PM - 10 PM : River of Fire - The kick off ceremony for this year’s festival will be held at the Main Street Bridge. With the launching of flames in memory of someone, a family celebration, or a symbol of peace. The flames will be launched after the completion of the National Anthem.

  • 10 AM : Antique Tractor Country Cruise - Enjoy a cruise through the beautiful country, with registration in the Railroad Park. If you do not have a tractor, there will be wagon rides available.

    11:30 AM to 12 PM : Bike-A-Thon Registration - Register for the Bike-A-Thon at the Church Park.

    12 PM - 1 PM : Bike-A-Thon - The Bike-A-Thon begins in the Church Park.

    1:30 PM to 3:30 PM : FREE Kids Day - Games with prizes, pony rides and more activities will be available at Burr Oak Schools.

    4 PM to 4:30 PM : FREE Kiddie Duck Derby - Decorate and race a rubber duck at the river behind the school. With prizes as well!

    4 PM to 7 PM : Antique Tractors & Wheat Threshing Display - View a variety of tractors from throughout the years, with a demonstration of wheat thrashing in the Railroad Park.

    4 PM to 8 PM : Chicken Dinners - Support the class of 2025 as they host a chicken dinner fundraiser.

    4 PM to 8 PM : A Variety of Food Vendors - Grab a bite to eat at the Front Street Parking Lot.

    5 PM to 6:30 PM : FREE Spaghetti Dinner - The Missionary Church will be hosting a dinner for all looking to attend.

    6:30 PM to 7:30 PM : Variety Show and Outstanding Service Award - A line up of talent that is guaranteed to provide an hour of fun in the air conditioned Lutheran Church.

    8 PM to 9 PM : Contest In The Community Tent - Join the fun of a circus themed contest and win some cash. More details will be provided at a later date.

    9 PM to 12 AM : “DJ Sparxx” OTG Entertainment - Ages 21 and up can come to the community tent to dance and hang with friends old and new.

  • 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM : Breakfast - Fuel up for the day by attending the breakfast at the Methodist Church.

    7:45 AM to 8:15 AM : Sign up for 5k Run - Sign up for the 5k run downtown.

    8:30 AM to 9:30 AM : “Run Giraffe Off” 5K Run - Gather at the starting line as this year's participants take part in the 5k run.

    8:35 AM to 8:50 AM - Kids’ Fun Run - The kids can run for fun in downtown

    9:30 AM : Parade Lineup Begins - Parade line up starts at Boyer Field and is sponsored by the Burr Oak Mother’s Club

    11 AM to 12 PM - Parade - Gather from Boyer Field to downtown as this year’s parade passes through town with loads of excitement.

    12:30 PM to 1:30 PM : Meet Betsy Bird - Meet Betsy, the author of “A Long Road to the Circus” , a book that was written about a girl raised in Burr Oak that encounters Madam Marantette and her ostrich Gaucho.

    All Day : Old Fashioned Farm Machinery Demonstrations - See the live displays of how old fashioned farm machinery was used in the Railroad Park.

    All Day : Food Vendors - Grab a bite to eat all day with the variety of food vendors in the Rail Road Park.

    12 PM : Fireman Hotdog Sale - Support the Burr Oak Fire Department as they host a hotdog fundraiser outside of the Fire Station.

    12 PM to 1 PM : Register for the adult corn hole tournament -

    12 PM - 4 PM : Inflatables - Kids can enjoy the variety of inflatables in the Railroad park.

    1 PM to 3:30 PM : FREE Tractor Pedal Pulls - Ages 3 -15 can come to the Town Hall/Fire Station to see how far they can get the tractors in this year's tractor pedal pulls.

    1 PM to 4 PM : Historical Burr Oak Tours - Enjoy a historical tour through Burr Oak starting at the Gazebo/Front Street Parking Lot.

    1 PM to 5 PM : Car Demolition - Support the Burr Oak NHS Students by grabbing a sledge hammer, a bat, or golf club and swinging away.

    1 PM to 5 PM : Adult Corn Hole Tourney - Several teams will compete to see who emerges victorious in this year’s cornhole tournament sponsored by Black Gold Farms.

    1 PM to 5 PM : Free Children’s Rides - Children can enjoy a collection of free rides at the Railroad Park.

    1 PM to 2 PM : Register for Mud Volley Ball - Registration for Mud Volleyball at the Railroad Park.

    1:30 PM to 2 PM, 4 PM to 4:30 PM, and

    6 PM to 6:30 PM : Blackwell’s Circus-Performer, Jay Blackwell - Visit the entertainment circle near the Community Tent to be amazed at a performance by Jay Blackwell. Including sword swallowing, magic tricks, and more for your entertainment!

    2 PM to 5 PM : Mud Volleyball -Watch as several teams battle it out to see who is the best at this year's Mud Volleyball tournament.

    2 PM to 6 PM : Historical Walk Challenge - Register for the Heritage Walk at Prairie River Flower Company, and find historical sites around town and verify with a picture!

    3 PM to 3:30 PM and 5 to 5:30 PM - “Hula Hoop Extraordinaire” Kylee Lipinkski - Watch Kylee perform acts with hula hoops that will astonish you.

    4 PM to 5 PM : Junior Corn Hole Tournament Sign Up - Register for the Junior Corn Hole tournament at the Basketball Courts.

    4 PM to 8 PM : Tethered Hot Air Balloon Ride - View Burr Oak from above in a hot air balloon, now located at 217 Third Street.

    5 PM to 6:30 PM : FREE Junior Corn Hole Tourney - Register for the Junior Corn Hole tournament at the Basketball Courts.

    6:30 PM to 7 PM : Register-Port-A-Potty Pulls - Registration for both classes of the Port-A-Potty-Pulls begins on Front Street.

    7 PM to 7:30 PM : Port-A-Potty Pulls (Youth) - Gather on Front Street as the youth class compete to see who is the fastest.

    7:30 PM to 8 PM : Port-A-Potty Pulls (Adult) - The adults will compete to see which trio is the fastest.

    8:30 PM to 9 PM : Nick May “Flames Of Dance” - Nick May returns to perform his “Flames of Dance” outside of the Community Tent.

    9 PM to 12 PM : Six To One Band 21+ - (Age 21+) Come hangout in the community tent and enjoy the performance of the “Six To One Band”

    9:30 PM to 10 PM : Balloon Glow - Gather at the Burr Oak School Playground to enjoy the Balloon Glow and find a spot to view the Fireworks.

    10 PM to 10:30 PM : Fireworks - Enjoy the Fireworks

  • 10 AM to 11 AM : Donuts & Coffee - Come to the Church park for donuts and coffee

    11 AM to 12 PM : Community Church Service - The Missionary Church will lead a service for the community, with a luncheon following the service.

While You’re Here

The Burr Oak Area has plenty to offer outside of Heritage Fest. With plenty of events, businesses, and more going on in the area. See what Burr Oak has to offer by visiting our homepage!