TONS OF FUN PLANNED AT HIGHWOOD'S REDHEAD DAYS JUNE 4+5

HIGHWOOD, IL (JUNE 4-5 2016) – There’s much to do at the second annual Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate set to light Everts Park, (130 Highwood Avenue, Highwood, IL), on fire with colorful hues of red on June 4+5, 2016. Admission is free and redheaded attendees are asked to register at the main tent in order to be part of the count for most redheads gathered in one place. This year’s theme is “50 Shades of Red,” celebrating that no two ‘reds’ are alike!

You don’t have to be a redhead to join the fun! Highwood’s Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate 2016 features two full days of live music sponsored by Chicago’s iconic, The Redhead Piano Bar and School of Rock, as well as plenty of food and drink vendors, entertainers and family friendly activities for everyone to enjoy all weekend long including a petting zoo, pony rides, bounce house, red furred pet contests and more!

“We’re so excited as we gear up for this year’s exciting festivities and have even more fun, more attractions and more things for families and adults to do this year,” says Jim Stoecker, Highwood’s honorary redhead, event organizer and owner of Highwood’s Alex’s Washington Gardens.

Highlights include a Carrot Cake Throwdown at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 4th where esteemed bakers from A La Carte, Alex's Washington Gardens, Baker Boys, Bent Fork Bakery, Foodstuffs, Real Urban Barbeque, Sunset Foods, Taste on Chestnut, returning champion Nothing Bundt Cakes, and amateur Highland Park bakers Shari and Stephanie, compete for the title of best carrot cake. Come out and cheer on the judges, Ellen of The Ginger Files on Chicago Now, Julie Kemp Pick of JWC Media’s Daily North Shore, Tina Johansson of The YOU Journal, and Joe Vince of Highland Park Patch. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m.

There will be super fun contests and giveaways all day long with interactive red-trivia, and don’t forget to bring your dog for pet contests too.

The Playground Games is coordinating red-centric games for adults and kids alike, including the latest inflatable plastic bubble soccer craze; red butt bouncer obstacle course races; 8-foot giant basketball skill shot competitions; gaga ball in the inflatable pit; and fun hula hoop contests.

There will be photo opportunities all day Sunday as Eric Decker Photography captures unique ginger nation photos such as the family of the most redheads, ladies with the longest locks, the longest red beards, and reddest pet. And starting at 1 p.m., guests can take their picture with the world’s most famous redhead, Ronald McDonald.

RECORD-BREAKING PHOTO OPPORTUNITY – Sunday, June 5th at 2 p.m.

Everyone is encouraged to wear red for the record-breaking group photo at 2 p.m., taken by aerial drone from the center of Everts Park, in an attempt to capture the country’s largest gathering of redheads and break a world record. Last year’s photo captured more than 1,750 gingers and festival organizers hope to have many more this year. Limited edition Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate t-shirts are available for purchase at the registration tent.

Fest-goers 21 and over are invited to stroll the streets of Highwood after 6 p.m. and visit the many restaurants and bars in Downtown Highwood offering drink specials.

MUSIC & EVENTS SCHEDULE:

Highwood’s Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate 2016 will run Saturday, June 4th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday June 5th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4TH:

11am–1pm School of Rock’s Evanston House Band

12-2pm How to be a Redhead® presentation and book signing by authors Stephanie and Adrienne Vendetti, natural-born redheaded sisters and co-founders of HowtobeaRedhead.com. Book tour sponsor, Paul Mitchell is giving away goodie bags to the first 50 lucky book purchasers while future professionals from Paul Mitchell the School Chicago do hair.

1:30-3:30pm Charlie Cruce, Windy City Dueling Pianos, Redhead Piano Bar

2-4pm Carrot Cake Throwdown

4-6pm School of Rock’s Highwood House Band

6pm After Fest Pub Crawl through downtown Highwood

SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH:

11am Nili Yelin, The Storybook Mom will be performing "red haired highlights" from Julianne Moore’s Freckle Face Strawberry, Red Riding Hood and Pippi Longstocking

11am-1pm Stu Stoinski, Redhead Piano Bar

12-2pm How to be a Redhead® presentation and book signing

1-3pm Atlas Stone, School of Rock

1pm Photo ops with Ronald McDonald, the world’s most famous redhead

2pm Record-breaking aerial drone group photo

3-5pm Stu Stoinski, Redhead Piano Bar

Highwood’s Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate is presented by Alex’s Washington Gardens and Redhead Piano Bar. Others sponsors include 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Celtic Complexion, How to be a Redhead® and Paul Mitchell, Maggie’s Munchies, McDonald’s of Bannockburn, Highland Park and Highwood, Miss Mary’s Mix, Inc., The Playground Games, Van Gogh Vodka and Yelp! North Shore.

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

A HISTORY OF HIGHWOODS REDHEAD DAYS CHICAGO AFFILIATE

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 7th Annual Redhead Days in Breda, Holland and dreamed of bringing it to Highwood to celebrate the love, kinship and immediate bond that all redheads share with one another.

As the first and only official U.S. affiliate of Redhead Days, Highwood is proud to have started this global community gathering in America. Highwood’s inaugural Redhead Days Chicago Affiliate brought more than 2,500 people, including 1,100 registered redheads of all ages from around the country. Visitors came from 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.

Redhead Days originated in Breda, Holland in 2005 and takes place the beginning of September, attracting participants from more than 50 countries and 6 continents, including the United States, Africa, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Now in its 11th year, the event has gained national notoriety and now includes affiliates in London and Chicago. The fest has made news in BBC Magazine, and various other publications.

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