A new vendor opened at the farmers market on a rainy morning. Ka Ching sells a blend of four flavor juices in a four-pack holder. All are fruit blends: apple cherry, raspberry lime, orange peach and strawberry watermelon. A great variety of fruits, vegetables picked in season and farm-fresh items from Stojan’s Vegetables, Tidy Farms, Noffke Farms and Gunderson Orchards are available at the Winfield Chamber’s farmers market from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Wednesday in the Prairie Trail shopping mall at County Farm and Geneva roads.

Other food vendors are Basically Nuts, Fraternite fresh French pastries, Great Harvest Bread Company, kettlecorn, Homemade Gourmet and Pete Blennert’s Beef Jerky. Non-food vendors are Connie’s Birdhouses and Stuff, Double Lucky Plush merchandise, Gamble Enterprises Jewelry, Gingham Turtle soaps, Illusion Jewelry by Cynthia Anne and Impressions Boutique.

Good Old Days

It’s only six weeks until Winfield’s biggest party, Good Old Days, returning Sept. 4 to 7. Good Old Days Committee members have been planning the event for months. The June 10 meeting was led by Chamber President Patty Shupp with a great deal of input from Chamber Executive Director Rich  Bysina and representatives from several organizations and clubs. Many new changes have been made in this year’s 40th anniversary gala. There will be an expanded Winfield Lions Club Beer Garden, where several bands will entertain. Visitors will be able to go outside the tent and enjoy their beer in a larger designated area. The tent will be open each day of the festival.

Also new will be shopping cart races, with categories offered adults and children. A ferris wheel will be included in the annual carnival rides, and a quarterback passing contest challenges contestants seated on a sofa to throw a football through a television set with the screen removed.

The Food Court, under the direction of Regina Czech and Dan Keck, will expand its options.

Some old favorites will be back, such as the ladies’ shoe-kicking contest, and Winfield Junior Woman’s Club members will face paint and sell root beer floats.

Shupp is planning the third Arts and Crafts sale but is in need of crafters to make it a success. Sale hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, in Creekside Park near the gazebo. Interested crafters should call Shupp at (630) 871-0383 or e-mail pattyshupp@sprynet.com.

This year, a prize plaque will be awarded for “Best of Show” in the Good Old Days Parade, which steps off at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Cindy Keck and Paul Stevenson are parade committee members.

Winfield United is sponsoring old-fashioned children’s games: sack races for all ages, a water balloon toss and the ever-popular minnow races. Winfield Park District will sponsor a “Teen Street” dance at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6. The district also will have a 6-inch softball tournament Sept. 6 in Wynwood Park at Summit Drive and Beecher Street. Home Depot will give children an apron of their own and a chance to build a wooden toy. This year will also see the return of the underhand free throw competition Sept. 7 after the parade.

The chamber is sponsoring its third annual Miss Junior Winfield Contest, which is open to all of Winfield’s young ladies entering sixth, seventh or eighth grade this year.

Entrants must write  in 500 words or less: “What Winfield Means to Me.” All essays must be submitted to: Winfield Chamber of Commerce, 0S125 Church St., Winfield, IL 60190 no later than Aug. 20. Entrants should include name, address and phone number. Essays will be judged on content and originality. The winner and second runner-up will be announced Sept. 7. For further information, call (630) 682-3712.