The International Horseradish Festival is an annual free festival held the first weekend of June on Main Street in Uptown Collinsville, Illinois, the self-proclaimed Horseradish Capital of the World. Sponsored by the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce, it celebrates the local horseradish industry with contests, live music, a 5K run, and horseradish-themed food.
Its unusual crop identity makes it a strong weird-food Illinois row.
Collinsville sits at the center of a region that grows a large share of the horseradish sold in the United States, and the festival turns that agricultural identity into a weekend of genuinely unusual contests built around the root itself, including a Root Toss, a Root Derby, and hands-on root-grinding demonstrations that let visitors learn how fresh horseradish is actually made
The festival recently relocated to Uptown Collinsville's Main Street specifically to accommodate crowds that organizers estimate could reach 25,000 attendees, reflecting how the event has outgrown its earlier footprint
Its pairing of a serious 5K run and a Horseradish Pageant with a Bloody Mary contest and beer garden gives the weekend a mix of family athletic events and adult-oriented festival culture rarely combined so directly
The festival's signature traditions are its horseradish-specific contests
the Root Toss and Root Derby
along with hands-on root-grinding classes that connect visitors directly to the crop the festival celebrates
The Horseradish Pageant and the festival's Bloody Mary contest
a drink traditionally garnished with horseradish
both tie directly back to the root itself rather than functioning as generic festival add-ons
reinforcing the event's identity around Collinsville's actual agricultural specialty
Dates TBA · Usually June
Driving from St. Louis is typical.
Casual warm-weather clothing suited to early June in southern Illinois: shorts or light pants, breathable t-shirts, and comfortable walking or running shoes for those entering the 5K. Sun...
Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.
Collinsville
Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.
USD
unknown
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International Horseradish Festival is listed for June · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Collinsville, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Collinsville, IL
unknown
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