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Olyphant Hosts Annual Queen City Days Festival

OLYPHANT — Thousands will make their way out to Fern Hill Park in Olyphant over the next three days for the annual Queen City Days. “It’s cool...
OLY FESTIVAL 1

OLYPHANT -- Thousands will make their way out to Fern Hill Park in Olyphant over the next three days for the annual Queen City Days.

"It's cool because last year they didn't have this many rides out here," said Cole Bryant of Throop. "Now, it's getting better every single year."

Queen City Days returned to Olyphant six years ago, and plenty of local businesses come out for what they call their "big backyard picnic," hoping to lure in more customers.

"When they try our stuff [here], it actually brings them back into our store," said Tom Bosak, co-owner of Bosak's Choice Meats. "If you were here and tried the steaks right now, you'd be at our store this week."

But it's not all fun and games and fulfilling food. This whole festival is put on by one of the local volunteer fire companies in Olyphant to help make sure they have enough money to stay around and answer each and every call.

The Queen City Days is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Eureka Hose Company #4.

To put operating costs in perspective, it costs the fire company $3,000 to equip one volunteer firefighter.

"This is the biggest it ever was, and this is our major fundraiser for the year," said Mayor John Sedlak, who is also the treasurer for the fire company. "So it's a big thing for us all and hope the people come out this weekend."

The festival runs through Saturday night at Fern Hill Park along East Grant Street in Olyphant.

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