Meet the Pawpaw: A Fall Festival in Paw Paw, Illinois

Have you ever tasted a pawpaw?

If the answer is no, you’re certainly not alone. But on Saturday, Sept. 26, Paw Paw, Illinois, offers a pretty good place to start. To make it even better, admission is free.

The 3rd PawPaw Festival celebrates a native fruit with a name that happens to match its hometown. The festival brings visitors to this Lee County community for a day of tastings, food, vendors, live music and plenty of pawpaw curiosity.

And yes, the pawpaw is real.

So, What Exactly Is a Pawpaw?

The pawpaw is the largest edible fruit native to North America. Despite growing in Illinois, its flavor is surprisingly tropical. People often describe it as a mix of banana and mango.

The fruit has a soft, custard-like texture and a short season. That can make fresh pawpaws difficult to find in stores.

Paw Paw has a special connection to the fruit beyond sharing its name. Pawpaws grow naturally in the area, making this small Illinois town a fitting place to celebrate them.

A Festival Built Around a Local Favorite

The PawPaw Festival began in 2023 and quickly found an audience. What started as a celebration of the native fruit has grown into a fall event that draws thousands of visitors.

Festivalgoers can taste pawpaws and learn more about how they grow. Pawpaw fruit and trees are also available for sale. Local vendors, food and live entertainment add to the day.

Past festivals have also included tram tours that introduce visitors to local pawpaw trees and other sights around town.

For newcomers, the festival offers an easy introduction to a fruit many people have heard about but never tried. For longtime pawpaw fans, it’s a chance to celebrate a very short—and eagerly awaited—harvest season.

Make a Day of Paw Paw

Part of the fun is simply spending time in Paw Paw. 

The village sits in southeastern Lee County, surrounded by the open farmland and quiet roads that make this corner of Northwest Illinois especially inviting in early fall.

While you’re downtown, stop at The Beaver Den Tavern for a bite to eat. The casual local hangout serves burgers, sandwiches and other tavern favorites—with a menu that clearly doesn’t take itself too seriously. Even the names are worth a read.

The festival offers a reason to slow down, wander through town and enjoy a community that takes its unusual name—and its native fruit—to heart.

Come hungry. Come curious. And maybe leave with a pawpaw tree of your own.