Every August, Cumberland welcomes locals and visitors to the annual Rutabaga Festival. But what exactly does the festival entail? And does Wisconsin have a good climate to support the growth of rutabagas?
Cumberland’s history is rooted in a rich tradition of rutabaga farming. According to the Cumberland Advocate, Cumberland was actually known in the 1960s as the “Rutabaga Capital of the World” for having over 600 acres of rutabagas and being a pivotal location in the rutabaga trade in the Midwest.
Much like other festivals across the Badger State, the festival provides entertainment and food, among other family fun activities.
But what’s unique about this festival is that it is based around a vegetable. And if you’ve never tasted this root vegetable, you’ll have the opportunity to do so at the festival.
Some of the festival activities include Baga Olympics, Rutabaga Run and The Golden Baga (a city-wide hunt leading up to the festival).
Rutabagas are known as an autumn harvest vegetable. And one of the key ingredients to a successful harvest: frost. It actually helps to bring out a richer flavor in the rutabaga.
Once a rutabaga crop makes it through the first frosts of the year, farmers will begin to harvest shortly after.
And since frosts are a key part of the growing process, farmers will count back about 90 days from the typical first fall frosts to start planting. In Wisconsin, this is around June.
Northwestern Wisconsin is a prime location to grow rutabagas because of its cooler climate, where the root vegetable thrives.
As part of the festival, a group of individuals is selected to the royal court. And our very own Anthony DaBruzzi actually served as junior royalty back in 1999.
Have you been a part of the Rutabaga Festival? Send us your pictures to be featured on our social media accounts!
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