If you love seafood, you’ll be pleased to find that the town of Findlay, Illinois hosts a fried fish festival each July. There’s nothing but small-town charm, delicious food, and fun at this event. Check it out:
Taking place July 26-27, 2019, the Findlay Walleye Festival is the event of the year for this small southern Illinois town. Featuring fun events for the whole family, this is a celebration you won’t want to miss if you’re anywhere in the area.
Facebook/Findlay, IL
It all begins at 4 p.m. on Friday with the opening of the walleye tent at the local firehouse. It is open until 8 p.m. and will reopen again on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
pixabay/PublicDomainPictures Address: 301 East South 2nd Street, Findlay, IL, 62534
In addition to great food, there will also be many activities to enjoy. Kids especially will enjoy the inflatables. There is even a Kiddie Tractor Pull set up for the young ones on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Facebook/Findlay, IL
For the adult crowd, there will be a 5K, live music, a beer tent, a car show, a garden tractor pull, and other traditional activities. Additional events connected to this fried fish festival included a pancake breakfast and a seller’s market.
Facebook/Findlay, IL
There is also a grand parade Saturday morning at 10 a.m. that is worth attending. All sorts of floats come down the street, each promoting a different business in town.
Facebook/Findlay, IL
Findlay, Illinois is a small town of fewer than 800 residents, but its capacity certainly increases during this fried fish festival. It is located near Lake Shelbyville where the town gets much of its fresh fish.
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Walleye is a freshwater fish found throughout lakes in North America. It is a popular fish for sport fishing as well as dining, which is why this town celebrates it once each year in the summer.
Flickr/Sportsman’s Lodge
For more details about the Findlay Walleye Festival, check out its event page on the Lake Shelbyville website here.
Facebook/Findlay, IL
pixabay/PublicDomainPictures
Address: 301 East South 2nd Street, Findlay, IL, 62534
Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Flickr/Sportsman’s Lodge
If you can’t make it to this festival but still crave some seafood, check out these eight fried fish restaurants in Illinois.
If you’ve ever been to this fried fish festival, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.
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