A Festival of Redheads Planned for Chicago's North Shore

Everyone knows what Carol Burnett, Ron Howard, Vicki Lawrence, Willie Nelson and perhaps most famously, the late Lucille Ball, have in common. It’s in the hair.

They aren’t big in number, but redheads always seem to hold a sense of togetherness. But outside of Holland, it’s rare for any significant number of them to be together at the same time. Redheads are clearly in the minority. Maybe you know one or two. Having them all together at one event would be interesting an interesting sight to say the least.

But that’s exactly what Chicago’s North Shore has in store for the first full weekend in June this year. On June 6 and 7, the city of Highwood is expected to see an influx of the ginger-variety.

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The city will host the United States’ first-ever Redhead Days Festival, a yearly tradition in Breda, Holland that “seeks to unite the global redhead community through their three core values of bonding, pride and recognition,” according to a community post on the Highland Park Patch.

That’s right, a festival for redheads. Lots and lots of redheads.

The event comes to Highwood thanks to organizer and local business owner Jim Stoecker, a redhead himself, of course. The eccentric Stoecker came across the festival in Holland three years ago by chance when he was biking through Europe (without much of a plan) and was looking for a nearby town to stay the next day when he was in Amsterdam.

When one hostel owner had suggested he visit Breda, he called a lodge there who had to turn him down because they were filled with an influx of visitors in town for Redhead Days. Stoecker, always one for a different experience, knew he had to be there. He went, loved it, and three years later has successfully brought the craze to America.

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The family-friendly festival will take place at Highwood’s City Hall Park, 17 Highwood Avenue, where participants can register to be a part of the record breaking photo, purchase any signature “ginger gear, drinks, and goodies,” vote for their favorite carrot cake, and then head out to stroll the streets of Highwood and see how Highwood businesses are paint the town red.

The festival is an official affiliate of Roodharigendag, the official name of the Dutch Festival, according to a Chicagoist feature.

It will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day on the lawn of Highwood’s city hall, and, as the tongue-and-cheek article puts it, “will cater to the lowest common denominator with “ginger”-themed food and beverages and a carrot cake contest.”

Registration is free.

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Stoecker, who now owns Alex’s Washington Gardens - his favorite restaurant even before he owned it - said Highwood was the logical choice to bring Redhead Days to America.

“Highwood people are good people,” said Stoecker. “They love to have fun, and there’s this genuine love of community. Everyone here is proud to be in Highwood. Redhead Days celebrates that same sense of pride. It’s a big deal that we’re the first place in the United States to hold this festival, and I know we can do the Highwood and redhead community proud.”

Read the full story behind how Redhead Days came to be in Highwood!