Illustration of Jesus holding a child with people around him and a yellow wall behind him

Some liturgical protestant churches choose to celebrate Rally Days to mark the beginning of the church calendar year, which usually comes at the end of September or the beginning of October. Churches celebrate their Rally Days in various ways, but standard events and customs include handing bibles out to children, celebrating the graduation of Sunday school students from one grade to the next, welcoming new members into the church, and formally presenting church goals for the coming year. The word “rally” in Rally Day signifies that this is a time when all church members can come together and celebrate their shared beliefs, values, and mission.

Blue text and an light blue illustration of a bell inside a circle on a yellow background

Created for The Bell System, a collective of telecommunication organizations that supplied telephone service across the United States, the President's Safety Awars recognized outstanding safety in the workplace. The Bell network combined AT&T, Bell Telephone Laboratories, Western Electric, and local Bell Telephone companies. This collective would produce countless communication services and products. It was the country's largest employer and worked with civil defense during the cold war era. The bell's image was designed by the Bass & Yager design firm in the late 1960s. It would become one of the most recognizable logos nationwide. On January 1, 1984, the Bell System ended; the U.S. Department of Justice dismantled the monopoly.

Blue text and an illustration of a pink rose on a white background

The Portland Rose Society was founded n 1888, when Georgiana Burton Pittock invited acquaintances to display their roses in her garden. The “Madame Caroline Testout” rose became a hit in Portland, and by the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial event, the city had 200 miles of streets bordered with roses. In 1915, hobbyist Jesse A. Currey convinced the city’s officials to create a test garden to preserve cultivars in danger of being destroyed in World War I in Europe. The garden was completed in 1924, and Currey served as the first curator until his death, in 1927. Other gardens and parks in the city feature roses prominently, including a garden dedicated to Gold Award roses. Frank Edwin Beach suggested the first annual Rose Festival, and is said to have given Portland the moniker, the “City of Roses.”

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The State Street "People Week" is a week long celebration where businesses on State Street in Chicago take part in events and a sidewalk sale. "People Week" started in the 1960s and was celebrated annually through the 1970s and on. It was renamed State Street Days in the 1980s. The event celebrated the businesses and the Chicagoans who frequented them with music, events, magicians, puppet shows, and sponsored booths from around the city.

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The business that came to be known as The Parisian Novelty Company was originally established in Chicago, 1898, by Louis L. Joseph, the American born son of a German immigrant. He created powder compacts decorated with advertisements. The patent for his invention was granted on November 2, 1915.  They were referred to by the company as toilet boxes.

Blue text and an illustration of a woman as North America and one as South America on a white background

Buffalo, New York became the site of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, because of its location near major population centers and along rail lines. The exposition grounds stretched 342 acres. The exposition’s “Pan-American” theme was timely. It took place not long after the Spanish-American War of 1898, and effectively ended Spain’s control over its remaining colonies in Latin America. The United States took control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

Buildings were constructed for the occasion, though most of them would be torn down within a year. The exhibits included hydroelectric power, electric lights, engines, feats of engineering and technology, buildings like “Cleopatra’s Temple,” a “wild west” show, and captive Apache chief Geronimo. The exposition is perhaps best known as the site of President William McKinley’s assassination on September 6th, 1901. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz shot President McKinley twice, and he died on September 14th. Theodore Roosevelt, McKinley’s vice president, succeeded him.

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On September 24, 1934, Orange County, Virginia celebrated its 200th anniversary.  The county was established under the name Fort Germanna in 1714 when Governor Alexander Spotswood founded a settlement made up of German miners and their families. Twenty years later, in 1734, the region was divided into two counties: Spotsylvania, named for Governor Spotswood, and Orange, named for William IV the Prince of Orange (in what is now southern France). Orange County was the first German settlement in the country so at the bicentennial event the German Ambassador to the United State, Hans Luther, was the featured speaker. 

Illustration of a house with a grass yard and a tree behind it with black text above on a white background with outer red, then white then blue edge

From August 30th through September 5th, 1908, Renovo, Pennsylvania held an Old Home Week festival. During this time, former residents who had moved away were encouraged to return “home” for the week to reunite with friends and family. Events in Renovo included a parade led by mounted police officers, fireworks, a “sham” battle, horse racing, and sparring exhibitions. Other events that might be included in Old Home Week were town dinners, local tours, and class and family reunions.

Old Home Week originated in New England in the late 19th century. It has since carried over to other parts of the country, although the focus of the festival has evolved over the years to celebrate local culture and history.

Illustration of a house with a grass yard and a tree behind it with black text above on a white background with outer red, then white then blue edge

"Old Home Week" is a week of celebration where the former residents of a house come and celebrate with the current residents. It started in 1902 by Phillip Edward Baer because he wanted an reunion-like event to enjoy with his friends and neighbors.

The festivities can include games, friendly competitions, prizes, parades, and decorations. It is an event for the whole community to come together and be joyful about their past, present, and future. It is not a celebration held every year, but in intervals of 3, 5 or 10.

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The Annual Oktoberfest in La Crosse, Wisconsin, marked its 30th year in 1990 and celebrated it’s 59th year in 2019 at the time of writing. The annual event includes epic parades, biergartens, food, and activities. Each year, the La Crosse Festivals, Inc. Board of Directors holds a contest for button designs to symbolize the festival for the coming year. For instance, the theme for 2019 was Fest with Das Beste, and the button represented that theme and Oktoberfest in general. Most of the festivities happen at the Northside Fairgrounds or the Southside Fairgrounds. More recent festivals are 4-day events.

The 1990 festival ushered in the fall with music, food, tradition, pageantry, and beer. It began Friday, September 28th at 11:30am with an opening day parade and continued over the next 7 days with over 70 events scheduled for the week. Saturday opened with a Maple Leaf parade at 11am which lasted 2-3 hours. On Sunday, the “Kids” Day Parade started at 3 and Kids Day activities lasted until 5:30 and included Magician Robert Ian. Robert Ian performed at the North and South Fairgrounds throughout the week as well. The culinary centerpiece was on Wednesday, October 3rd ,as Heritage Night at La Crosse Center, which included a variety of cultural foods from over 20 area groups and a full slate of musical performances. Notable musicians from Oktoberfest included members from Guess Who and Herman’s Hermits, though both were missing some members. Others included New Odyssey, polka songs from the Eldon Otto Orchestra and Ricky Yurko, as well as rock music from The Heat, Rockin’ Lilly, and Troubleshooter. The festivities ended on Thursday, the 4th, with a Torchlight Parade at 7pm.