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Churubusco to celebrate 71st Turtle Days Festival

by JAMIE FLEURY Pilot News Group Staff Writer

The legend of a 500- pound turtle sighting over 60 years ago put Churubusco on the map as “Turtle Town USA.”

Turtle enthusiasts hold a festival every year in June to celebrate their town, park and “turtle-y” awesome history.

The festival, “Fun in the Sun at Seventy-One” will be held this Wednesday, through Saturday at Churubusco Town Park, 605 N. John Krieger Drive.

The first sighting of “Oscar” was reported in 1898 by a farmer, Oscar Fulk, who claimed he saw a “prehistoric turtle” residing in his lake.

After the turtle made headlines, visitors flocked to the town to search for the reptile. Though all attempts to record an official siting have failed, many still believe that the “Beast of Busco” existed.

Hosted by the Churubusco Chamber of Commerce, the turtle race will be held Friday at Ball Diamond No. 1 starting at 6:30 p.m. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, registration for the annual Turtle Days Parade is open. Parade lineup will begin at 9 a.m. at the BRC parking lot located at 589 South Main St. The parade will end at the Churubusco Jr. Sr. High School parking lot.

The parade will be led by the Churubusco Fire Department Color Guard. Trophies will be awarded to the following categories: Best Performance, Best Overall, Best Use of Theme (Fun in the Sun at Seventy-One), Best Vehicle (Classic and New).

A full schedule of events can be found online at turtledaysdotcom.wordpress.com. Follow the festival on Facebook @TurtleDaysFestival.

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2021-06-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

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