Illustration of man with short red hair and white shirt holding a glass with two hands, drinking from it with a long straw.  Pink, green and black text on a white background.

Bennigan's, a Irish-themed pub chain restaurant in the United States, celebrated Halloween 1984 in locations around the country with eight days of festivities. On Halloween night 1984, the celebrations included magicians, a costume contest with a $250 prize, and other surprises like giveaways. Some of the giveaway items from the celebration included buttons and pint mugs reading "Halloween 1984" and "Phantom's Potion."  

Illustration of a large mushroom with two smaller mushrooms below it.  Black text on an orange background.

Every autumn since 1968 the towns of Berwyn and Cicero, Illinois, have celebrated their Czech and Slovak heritages with the Houby Festival. Houby is the Bohemian word for mushroom, symbolizing the annual Czech and Slovak harvest and cultural dishes. Bohemians immigrated to the Chicago area in the 1900s, but their communities have dwindled in recent decades. The festival now brings together people from various backgrounds and surrounding communities. Festival events have included a pageant, carnival, parade, and live music. The parade has been toted as one of the largest in Chicago’s suburbs.

Illustration of a black bat with white eyes with red text on a yellow background.

Red outer edge with yellow text on the top and bottom of the button. In the middle section is an image of Jerry Lewis's face holding a telephone while looking over the planet.

Jerry Lewis (1926-2017) was an American comedian, actor, director, and humanitarian. In addition, Lewis served as the national chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Muscular Dystrophy results in the weakening and deterioration of skeletal muscles over a period of time. Through his role with the organization, Lewis hosted the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for 45 years. Broadcast during the Labor Day weekend, Lewis established the telethon to raise awareness and establish funds to combat MDA. The image that appears on this pin was used in 1974 to promote the event. Lewis remained as host from its 1966 inception until 2010. Though there is no known cure to Muscular Dystrophy, the telethon is estimated to have raised $2.45 billion for MDA research between 1966 and 2009. 

Cartoon-style Illustration of a blue rhino wearing sunglasses with blue text on a white background.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is a 49 acre zoo located in Chicago, Illinois. The zoo was founded in 1868 when Lincoln Park Commissioners were gifted four swans by Central Park’s Board of Commissioners.  Lincoln Park Zoo is a non-profit institution managed by the Lincoln Park Zoological Society and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is one of the oldest zoos in America and home to approximately 200 different species of animals, many of which are rare and endangered. The zoo attracts thousands of visitors a year and is one of America’s last free admission zoos.  

Illustration of two men, one on the left wearing a kings' crown and royal robes, and the one on the right wearing a red 'devil' outfit with horns, black eye mask, beard and goatee pointing a black gloved hand to the other man..  The man on the left is blowing a cloud of steam into the center of the button with red and black text and musical notes inside the cloud.  Above the cloud is a grey-colored image of a person's torso surrounded by flames.  White text along the top and bottom edge of the button with a grey background.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is an annual festival in Saint Paul, Minnesota. First celebrated in 1886, the festival came about when newspapers reported that upon visiting the city of Saint Paul in the winter, the area resembled that of another Siberia, unfit for human habitation. Deciding to retaliate and prove that the city was one of beauty and activity, the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce began the festival to showcase the wonders and beauty of Minnesota Winters. According to tradition and legend, King Boreas, known as the "King of the Winds", came across Saint Paul and deemed it the capital of his domains. Meanwhile, Vulcanus Rex, the God of Fire, and also Boreas's sworn enemy, stepped forward to oppose Boreas and his land. Vulcanus swore to blister Boreas by unleashing heat and fire upon the land. Undaunted, Boreas proclaimed a celebration in opposition to Vulcanus. For ten days the people of Saint Paul enjoyed feasts, dancing and fun in celebration of Boreas and the sacred land on which they stood. Thus began the Winter Carnival which still continues to be celebrated to this day.

Black text, red heart symbol and purple female symbol on a white background.

In January 2005, the New York City Commission on Women's Issues (CWI) launched a multi-media campaign to promote and highlight women's rights and success using the slogan "New York Loves Women." It is a play off the popular "I heart NY" slogan found on merchandise throughout the city. 

Illustration of Bozo the Clown's face in grey and red on a white background with black and red text.

Initially created in 1946 for Capitol Records by writer and producer, Alan W. Livington, Bozo the Clown was first used for a children's storytelling record album and read-along companion book. The character was popular enough that he became the mascot for Capitol Records. Bozo was originally played by voice actor and cartoonist, Pinto Colvig, until the creative rights were later purchased by Larry Harmon of the Larry Harmon Picture Corporation (L.H.P.C) in 1956.

Harmon used the property to turn Bozo into a franchise across the United States with several local television stations producing their own Bozo shows. By this point in time multiple Bozos appeared on television across the world. The most well-known actor to portray Bozo the Clown was Bob Bell, who portrayed Bozo for WGN-TV in Chicago. Bell stayed in the role from 1960-1984. Broadcast every weekday at noon, the show featured comedy skits, cartoons, and games with the audience. The show continued to be a popular program until its cancellation in 2001. 

Red star with white text in front of a green background with an outer black edge that has white text on the top and bottom

Rock Against Racism was formed in the UK in the mid-70s by artists and activists who were alarmed by a rise in far-right political parties and white supremacism. Music concerts and other events were held throughout Britain. Different types of music such as reggae and punk would be played at the same concert, encouraging multiculturalism. Through this, youths were discouraged from embracing racist mentalities.

The movement spread internationally, and on June 9, 1979, a concert was held in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL. A flyer for the event states: “In the USA, black music, Latin music, folk-rock, southern boogie, jazz, new wave, reggae, and all us fans will unite in several places at several dates in a show of our anti-racist solidarity... The crucial test for RAR-USA will come June 9th in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. The scene of everyone’s favorite police riot is also considered the most segregated big city in the U.S. ... By opening an offensive not just against organized racists, but against the whole system of control... Rock Against Racism can set a new beat for the coming decade, a beat that’ll shake the walls of Babylon to their very foundation.”

Illustration of growling bear with raised claws. Black and orange text on a brown background.

Trots & Bonnie was a comic strip that appeared in National Lampoon Magazine between 1972 and 1990. Written by American cartoonist, Shary Flenniken, the story is told from the perspective of a young girl named Bonnie, whose adventures with her talking dog, Trots, offered a humorous look at a child and her dog navigating the craziness of life and growing up. The duos antics remain one of Flenniken's most popular and recognizable works amongst her many works.