Plans in works for bigger, better Hay Day event

Lori Tepinski
Posted 3/27/17

Straw sculptures still expected to be part of popular Rochelle festival.

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Plans in works for bigger, better Hay Day event

Posted

ROCHELLE — A recent announcement by a local artist that a national straw-sculpting event was not returning to Rochelle this year set off a flurry of questions from local organizers and residents this past week about the future of the competition and the Hay Day festival, which proved to be popular with locals and visitors.

Rochelle artist Fran Volz, who created a straw replica of the Statue of Liberty and was involved in the sculpting event last fall, reportedly told an audience at a Flagg Township Museum presentation last Monday that the sculpting competition was going to be held in Mt. Morris this year and not Rochelle.

While Volz himself may not be involved as part of the Rochelle event this year, city representatives say the Hay Day festival is a go and will still include straw sculptures and even more fun family activities.

City of Rochelle marketing and public relations manager, Jenny Thompson, said not only is the Hay Day festival returning on Sat., Oct. 14, but it will feature plenty of family activities, food and straw sculptures.

“Hay Day is without a doubt my favorite community event of the year and we can’t wait to bring it back for 2017,” Thompson said. “The City of Rochelle will once again be inviting area artists to create straw sculptures to display leading up to and after the event again this year.”

According to Volz, he and city officials were not on the same page with the scope of the sculpting competition and required funding, so he reached out to other locations, including a non-profit arts initiative organization in Mt. Morris.

“Rochelle and I had differences for the show,” he stated. “For instance I wanted to change the location from the high school, change the dates to a warmer month and make it its own featured event, rather than a peripheral activity of Hay Day.”

Volz said the Mt. Morris group embraced all of this.

“I like their passion and willingness to follow my vision for the event,” he said. “So now people can come out to see the fine arts straw sculptures throughout August in Mt. Morris, then in October come to Rochelle for Hay Day.”

Last fall, three artists from Rochelle, as well as some from Rockford and DeKalb wowed the crowds with their creative displays all made out of straw. Thompson said the city plans to once again extend an invitation to those artists and hopes many of them will participate.

“We can’t wait to see what these creative geniuses come up with this year,” said Michelle Pease, City of Rochelle Community Development Director.

Thompson said the event planning is already underway and she hopes to see even more visitors to the community.

“Kids will have the chance to try rock climbing, run through the inflatable obstacle course and burn off some extra energy in our bounce house — all for free,” Thompson said. “Once again we will have a barn of animals for everyone to feed, pet and visit up close. Your local favorite tasty treats will be available this year too.”

Thompson said the community-wide hay bale decoration contest will also be returning.

“Last year over 30 organizations, businesses, and individuals transformed ordinary bales of hay into works of art,” she added. “It was a something that really took off and we know the community enjoyed seeing them all over town.”