News Digest

Fowl play? Hardly, says pub owner with a new rival for his turkey testicle festival

You would be forgiven for feeling a bit testy. You have run a successful turkey testicle festival for more than 30 years, when someone decides to cash in on your idea. But not so J R Westberg, owner of a Chicago pub which has been inviting thousands of people to try the foul-sounding (or should that be fowl-sounding) delicacy for 32 years. The boss of the Parkside Pub in Huntley is not at all concerned that nearby East Dundee is planning a similar community event on the same day – the day before Thanksgiving – and time as his event. His only beef is that organizers have shown a lack of originality. “It’s often imitated but never duplicated,” he said.

We’ve perfected the execution over the years. Thirty-three years of tradition is probably not going away for us.

J.R. Westberg

Meanwhile, in East Dundee, businessman Cliff Surges says there’s enough interest to support both festivals and that the new one will target a different demographic. He hopes to draw 1,000 to 2,000 people to East Dundee’s event, which he says will be “family-oriented”. Like the Huntley festival, the new one will raise money for charity. “It’s one of those silly things you can have some fun with and do some good with,” Surges said.