The Midwest Wizard Of Oz Fest Is In Illinois For The First Time

If you're a Wizard of Oz fan and you're reading this thinking "how come I have never heard of this place before?", you're not the only one.

I haven't heard of the famed Midwest Wizard of Oz Festival either but that might be because, since 1982, the long-running festival was only in Chesterton Indiana.

Things are different this year, for the first time ever, Midwest Wizard of Oz Festival is coming to Tinley Park, Illinois on Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22.

Just a few hours from Rockford, Midwest Wizard of Oz Festival features:

• a yellow brick road
• two corn mazes
• inflatable kidz zone
• hayrides
• duck races
• petting zoo
• and a zipline
• pie-eating contest

There are also four different guest speakers, including Mary Ellen St. Aubin.

St. Aubin's husband, Parnell, was a munchkin in the original Wizard of Oz movie. She was also the star of the 1994 documentary, I Married A Munchkin, chronicling the couple's life after the classic was released.

Tickets for Midwest Wizard of Oz Festival are going for $12 ($18 for a 2-day pass).

Keep up with Midwest Wizard of Oz Festival on Facebook.

[H/T Only In Your State]

Sweet Lenny is the brand manager of 97ZOK, Q98.5, and Operations Manager for Townsquare Media Rockford. Catch him afternoons 3 to 7 on 97ZOK. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram and like his page on Facebook.