Okawville: Golf, History, and Local Festivals

Okawville combines golfing with local history and recurring community events. To plan your stay, you can first decide what to focus on: golf, historic sites, or a date that coincides with one of the festivals. This makes it possible to choose your travel dates based on specific interests. The history of the Original Springs Hotel is also part of Okawville’s character, beginning with the discovery of mineral water in 1867.

Golf and Course Design

The Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course has 18 holes with multiple tee options. The first nine holes follow the curves of Plum Creek and run along tree-lined fairways. This describes both the size of the course and the layout of its first nine holes. If golf is one of the reasons for your trip, you can compare these features with local event dates and plan your visit accordingly.

Museums and Historic Buildings

The Heritage House Museum of Okawville is a complex comprising three distinct museums. The Frank Schlosser Home is a house dating from around the turn of the 20th century; it includes a barn, a harness shop, and a commercial laundry. These two historical points of interest differ in form: one is a complex of three museums, while the other is a house with specifically named buildings and uses. You can use their different focuses to guide your cultural interests when planning your trip.

Mineral Water and Hotel History

The discovery of mineral water in 1867 led to the creation of the Original Springs Hotel. It is the only surviving mineral-water bathhouse in Illinois. This distinction connects a clearly dated chapter in local history with a specific hotel name and highlights Okawville beyond the local perspective. The hotel’s historical role is a destination highlight in its own right, alongside golf, museums, and events.

Festivals and Events Throughout the Year

The Okawville Easter Bunny Breakfast is a recurring community event. Activities include cookie decorating, an Easter egg hunt, crafts, animal activities, and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny. Its name and activities give this event a different character from festivals focused on exhibits, entertainment, or tours.

The Okawville Fair and Wheat Festival takes place on the second weekend after Labor Day weekend and lasts three days. The program includes rides, exhibits, entertainment, homemade food, a queen contest, a talent show, and a parade. This recurring festival therefore offers several different activities within a set time frame.

The Okawville Christmas Stroll, held on the first weekend in December, features tours of decorated homes, a Festival of Trees, crafts, Breakfast With Santa, museum tours, and a sales event. Events at the Heritage House Museum also have a clear date: food, old-fashioned games, entertainment, and museum tours are offered there on the Saturday and Sunday before Father’s Day weekend.

The Chili Cook Off is part of Okawville’s recurring October schedule. Spectators can buy tickets, sample the contest entries, and vote for their favorite. There are also beverage tastings and other homemade food. Unlike a single guided tour, this event centers on tasting and voting.

In the fall, Simonton's Orchards, two miles south of Okawville, offers apple picking for student groups. This activity is specifically intended for groups of students.

Discover more destinations: Du Bois

For the broader travel overview: Washington County.