GINGERS UNITE! SECOND ANNUAL REDHEAD DAYS CHICAGO AFFILIATE IS BACK!

HIGHWOOD, IL (JUNE 4-5 2016) – On June 4+5, 2016, the City of Highwood will once again be on fire in colorful hues of red, as they proudly host the second annual Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate. As the first United States Affiliate of the world renowned Redhead Days festival originating in Breda, Holland, the Chicago area event will be presented again by Highwood’s Alex’s Washington Gardens along with Redhead Piano Bar.

Seeking to unite the global Redhead community through their three core values of bonding, pride and recognition, Highwood’s inaugural Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate brought over 2,500 people, including 1,100 registered Redheads, of all ages from around the country in 2015. Visitors came as far away as Washington DC, Louisiana, Arizona and New Mexico as well as neighboring Midwest states of Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

To accommodate the expected crowds, 2016 festival grounds will be expanded to include the original City Hall Park (17 Highwood Avenue) as well as Everts Park (130 Highwood Avenue), home to Celebrate Highwood’s Series of Festivals and Events. Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate 2016 will feature two days of live music, local food vendors and food trucks, beer, wine and other red-themed cocktails and soft drinks, a Carrot Cake Throwdown, petting zoo, pony rides, bounce houses and other activities for all ages. Admission is free, but all Redheads will be asked to register on-site to be a part of the count for most Redheads gathered in one place!

One of the highlights of Redhead Days is the opportunity to be a part of an aerial group photo, capturing the country’s largest gathering of Redheads. Last year’s photo captured over 750 gingers together. To really make the red-locks stand out, everyone is encouraged to wear the same color shirt, with this years’ color has yet to be determined by the main festival in Breda.

Jim Stoecker, Highwood’s honorary Redhead, event organizer and owner of Highwood’s Alex’s Washington Gardens first came upon Redhead Days in 2012, while biking across Europe. He chanced upon the 5th Annual Redhead Days in Breda and dreamed of bringing it to Highwood to celebrate the love, kinship and immediate bond that all Redheads share with one another.

“We had no idea how huge of a success our first annual Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate would be,” says Stoecker. “People have been reaching out all year long wanting to know if we were going to do it again and I’m so pleased to say we are!”

Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate 2016 will run Saturday, June 4th from 11am to 6pm and Sunday June 5th from 11am to 5pm. Attendees are asked to register at the main tent in front of City Hall, where they can also purchase event t-shirts and other goodies.

Highlights include:

· On June 4, the famous Carrot Cake Contest will take place from 1pm to 3pm. A panel of renowned judges will announce the elite Carrot Cake Champion will be announced at 3pm.

· At 2pm on June 5, Fest organizers will capture an aerial photograph with the Country’s largest gathering of Redheads above Everts Park.

The creator of the Redhead Days in Breda, Holland, Bart Rouwenhorst anticipated that his event would “some day expand to multiple events, maybe across the world.” As one of the first official affiliates of Redhead Days, Highwood is proud to have started this global community gathering in America.

To stay up to date with the latest news on Redhead Days in Highwood, please LIKE www.facebook.com/RHDchicago or view Redhead Days official website at http://www.redheaddays.nl.

ABOUT REDHEAD DAYS

Redhead Days is a festival started in 2005 in Breda, Holland and takes place in the beginning of September. It has participants from over 50 countries and 6 continents, including the United States, Africa, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. It has gained such national notoriety that it includes affiliates now in London and Chicago. The fest has made news in BBC Magazine, and various other publications.

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