Paw Paw, IL

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The Pawpaw Festival of Paw Paw, Illinois – A New Tradition with Old Roots

Paw Paw, a small farming community in northern Illinois with a population of under one thousand, is rich in history and has seen many ups and downs. Founded in the mid- 1800s, it was a booming farming and rail town, but as with many other rural communities, Paw Paw felt the impact of globalization on their farming and manufacturing industries. By the late ‘90s, many of the businesses on main street had been closed. However, recent efforts to breathe new life into Paw Paw are creating renewed optimism for the community’s future.

Pawpaw Festival

This festival was born when two long-time friends Austin Cliffe and Shawn Beck approached the Paw Paw Lions Club about an idea to start a new festival in Paw Paw. The idea was simple– why not have a celebration of the pawpaw fruit in Paw Paw, Illinois?

The pawpaw is the largest edible fruit native to the continental U.S. It has a custard-like texture and a tropical flavor commonly described as a blend between banana, mango, and pineapple. The village of Paw Paw was named for the large groves of trees in the area, which made it a popular autumn camping ground for the Potawatomi tribe.

Native Fruit Draws National Audience

Many people have never seen, much less tasted, a pawpaw, despite it being a native fruit. The fruit can be quite difficult to grow on a large scale because the trees need a genetically distinct pawpaw tree nearby for pollination and rely on flies and beetles rather than bees to grow. The fruit is also delicate, bruises easily, and has a shelf life of only three to five days- making it difficult to sell in traditional grocery stores. For pawpaw fans, however, the fruit’s short season each September is part of what makes it so special! Pawpaw festivals have become increasingly popular across the eastern United States, bringing thousands of visitors together to taste the fruit, learn about the trees, and celebrate this unique native crop.

In 2024, Shawn and Austin approached Neal Rogers, President of the Paw Paw Lions Club, with the idea of creating a festival of their own. Neal immediately saw the potential, and the three became cofounders of the Paw Paw Pawpaw Festival.

The first festival focused on introducing visitors to the fruit and the history behind it. Guests could sample fresh pawpaw, purchase baked goods featuring the fruit, and take a tram or walking tour around town to see pawpaw trees growing throughout the community while also learning more about Paw Paw’s history. 

“People just loved that they could walk or ride a tram around town, see the beauty of a small-town community, and see trees being grown and nurtured by local people,” Neal recalls.

The first event brought approximately 1,000 visitors to Paw Paw, and the bake sale sold out in just 90 minutes! After seeing the positive response, organizers knew they had an opportunity to make the festival even bigger, and even better, the following year. 

In 2025, the festival received additional support from Visit Northwest Illinois and expanded to include food trucks, live music, a market, and a children’s play area. Eli’s Cheesecake of Chicago even used the festival to debut a pawpaw cheesecake, while Brother Chimp Brewery of North Aurora, IL created a special pawpaw beer specifically for the event. “The brewmaster had wanted to do a pawpaw beer in the past but could never find enough fruit,” Neal explains. “When we came to them with an offer to provide a significant amount of fruit and pulp, they were very excited. And the pawpaw beer
sold out in about two hours.”

The festival is now bringing people to Paw Paw from well beyond the surrounding communities. In 2025, at least 30 percent of attendees traveled more than 50 miles to attend, with visitors representing 20 different states. In 2026, the festival is even reaching an international audience, with one volunteer traveling all the way from Japan to experience the event and learn more about Paw Paw’s celebration!

Paw Paw’s revitalization is still just beginning, but the community is already showing what can happen when residents embrace what makes their hometown unique. Through strong local leadership, new businesses, community traditions, and a festival built around the fruit that gave Paw Paw its name, the community is finding new ways to bring people together and give visitors a reason to discover this small town.