This Weekend, It's "Catsup"

by Alison Sieloff

June 30, 2011 How much fun is there to be had at the World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival? Let's put it in terms of the giant-size bottle itself. So the catsupy water tower and roadside attraction stands proud over Collinsville, Illinois, at a shocking 170 feet tall. That's a lotta landmark! The bottle itself is a whopping 70 feet tall -- you'd have to eat 140 catsup-covered hot dogs in the fest's hot dog-eating contest (happening at 11:45 a.m.) to equal 70 feet! And this bottle's not only tall -- it's girthy: It could hold 100,000 gallons of the good stuff! Imagine how many tomatoey tastes would have to be served up at the Brooks Tangy Catsup Taste Test Booth to equal that much! (The booth opens at 10 a.m. for those looking to try and identify the Brooks brand condiment -- and enjoy as much catsup as possible before the day is through.) Of course, the entire festival doesn't revolve around tomatoes that have gone to heaven on the wings of a bottle. There's the C.I.A. Car, Truck & Bike Show (one of the cars could probably fit in the cap of the big ol' bottle!), a hula -hoop contest (at 2 p.m.), live music, a magic show and other entertainment. Plus, at 11 a.m. there's the Little Princess Tomato and Sir Catsup Contest, during which all of the preregistered little children will show off their love of all things catsupy, which shouldn't be too difficult for them -- most kids subsist on a diet of condiments and juice boxes anyway. To be sure you don't miss out on any of the complimentary (as in free admission) and condimentary (as in delish) good times, arrive at the American Legion Post 365 (1022 Vandalia Street, Collinsville, Illinois) at 10 a.m., and visit www.catsupbottlefestival.com for a full schedule of the day's festivities.
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