This weekend is going straight to the chickens

When one does not eat meat, one does not register important dates like “National Fried Chicken Day,” which was July 6. In atonement, here are five fantastic things to do this weekend that also include chicken.

Picnics

▪ The Millstadt Fire Department continues it’s picnic from Friday into Saturday with carnival rides, games, drinks and more. Music by the Well Hungarians on Saturday. Food includes fish fried “the firemen’s way”, pulled pork, brats, and, as promised, chicken.

▪ The Lebanon Emerald Mound Fireman’s Picnic also continues from Friday into Saturday starting at 5 p.m. at the new engine house, 760 N. Monroe St., Lebanon. The parade is at 6 p.m.; there will be music by Whiskey Dixon as well as a cake and soda stand, beer garden, carnival rides and games. Food includes burgers, brats, ribeyes, fried mushrooms and, you guessed it, chicken strips.

▪  Over at St. John the Baptist Catholic Churh in Red Bud, they’re having a polka mass at 4 p.m. Saturday. They’ll also have a country store, games for adults and kids, inflatables. Food includes an all you can eat chicken buffet, with homemade dressing and more.

▪  And in the cool air-conditioned all of St. Damian in Damiansville, the St. Damian Picnic will have cafeteria-style dinner of fried chicken, homemeade noodles, mashed potatoes and more starting at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. There’s a quilt cash bingo at 6:30 and Masses at 4 and 5:30 p.m.

Knife Expo

You have to cut that chicken up with something. The Belleville Knife Expo contintues from Friday into the weekend with hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, 200 South Belt East, Belleville. Admission is $4 to see antique, factory and custom knives and accessories at the larges knife show in the area.

Catsup Bottle Festival

You can start a debate as to the necessity of ketchup or catsup on chicken at the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Woodland Park in Collinsville. The annual festival has a taste test at 10 a.m., no less than three eating contests (none chicken), and a Little Princess Tomato and Sir Catsup contest at 10:30. A grand prize drawing is at 4:30 p.m. Go to http://www.catsupbottlefestival.com/ for more information.

Yoga in the Park

Continuing our homage to chickens, let us introduce the dear reader to the yoga pose known as the “upward rooster”. It may come with a “don’t try this at home” warning. Try some yoga in the park at 9 a.m. Saturday at Leclaire Lake Park, 927 Hale Ave., Edwardsville instead. It’s free; just bring a yoga mat, water and bug spray. Arrive about 15 minutes early to register and set up. For more information, go to www.cityofedwardsville.com.

Litchfield Pickers Market

The open air market features only items from before 1980 – which may include a good cast-iron skillet or pressure fryer for that chicken of yours – at the Litchfield Pickers Market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Entertainment this month is the Bearup Brothers and B&B Strings. For more information, call 217-324-8147.

This story was originally published July 8, 2016 at 10:56 AM with the headline "This weekend is going straight to the chickens."