Harvard Milk Days

The longest running festival in the state of Illinois. Milk Days has grown from a small hay wagon stage with street dancing to a week of 30 plus different events. It is yearly attended by thousands of people all along it's two mile route through the town of Harvard, IL.
Downtown Harvard
Harvard, IL 60033
815-943-4614

Milk Days has grown from a small hay wagon stage with street dancing to a week of 30 plus different events. It is yearly attended by thousands of people all along it's two mile route through the town of Harvard, IL.

What started as a small downtown tribute to the dairy farmer in 1942 became a major festival by the end of the decade with 25,000 people attending Harvard Milk Day staged at the Speedway. "It is only right and natural that Harvard should honor the producers who have made it the Milk Center of the World." said program chairman Charles A Minot in 1943. "This Milk Day will be much more than the glorified picnic it started out to be."

Schedule of Events

Saturday, June 7th

6:45 a.m. Milk Run/Walk Registration

Registration and Starting Line are at Jefferson School, at the intersection of Jefferson and Harrison Streets, just one block east of Route 14, North

8:00 a.m. 2 Milk Run and Walk & 10 K Run

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Antique Tractor Show

9:30 a.m. Milk Days Brunch with Orion Samuelson

Stratford Banquet Hall
Reservations required. $16.50

1:00 p.m. 67th ANNUAL MILK DAYS PARADE

“The Milky Way” – Ayer Street, Downtown

2:00 p.m. Milk Days Festival Grounds Open

Carnival, Concessions, Petting Zoo, Market Place / Food Court, Chain Saw Carving, Hot Air Balloon Launch (weather permitting)

3:00 p.m. Antique Tractor Show

3:00 p.m. Dairy Cattle Show Pavilion Dedication

4:00 p.m. Milk Drinking Contest

3:00 Signup - Entertainment Tent

5:00 p.m. Cow Chip Lotto

5:30 p.m. Entertainment

Battle of the Bands

10:45 p.m. Short Fireworks Display

Visible from Milk Days Grounds
Sunday, June 8th

10:00 a.m. Community Church Service

Entertainment Tent

12:00 p.m. Milk Days Festival Grounds Open

Carnival, Concessions, Petting Zoo, Market Place / Food Court, Chain Saw Carving, Hot Air Balloon Launch (weather permitting)

12:00 p.m. Dairy Cattle Show

Pavilion

12:00 p.m. Antique Tractor Show until 3:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m. Entertainment

"Borderline Barbershop Quartet" from Walworth

Entertainment Tent

3:00 p.m. Entertainment

"Walworth County Cloggers"

Entertainment Tent

7:00 p.m. Cow Chip Lotto

Milk Days Festival Grounds

7:30 p.m. Entertainment

"New Odyssey"

10:00 p.m. Fireworks Display

Grand Finale

2008 Milk Day Queen

Alexandra Engle

Harvard Milk Day Queen Each year a junior or senior girl, residing in Harvard, is elected the Queen of Harvard Milk Days. Each candidate is judged on her personal interview, appearance, poise, personality and communication skills. The queen is crowned at a special Milk Days event held in May. The queen receives a $1500 scholarship, the 1st runner up receives a $500 scholarship, and the 3 runners up receive a $100 scholarship each. The queen and her court participate in Milk Days activities and also attend various parades throughout the summer and fall in surrounding communities.

For more information-
Harvard Milk Days Office
P.O. Box 325
201 West Front Street
Harvard, IL 60033
(815) 943-4614
Fax (815) 943-7404
info @ milkdays . com