Simply red: flame haired festival set for Chicago

Redheads from around the world are about to unite by having their very own festivals celebrating their differences on either side of the Atlantic.

Red-haired people are holding festivals in Europe and now in the USA this year Image by Jamie / CC BY 2.0

If you’re freckled and flame-haired, then there is a welcome on the mat at the event in Chicago early next month.

The gathering at Highwood is being labelled ‘Redheads Day Chicago’ on the movement’s own Facebook page.

The American event is affiliated to a similar undertaking which began in Holland. The US organiser Jim Stoecker – naturally a red-head himself – visited the Roodharigendag festival in the Netherlands and was smitten by the proceedings on offer.

Having visited Breda a few years ago he was only too happy to respond when the Dutch organisers put out feelers to see if there was interest internationally in holding a similar spin-off event.

The Daily Mirror reports that he was thrilled to spearhead the new event and has headlined ginger-themed drinks and food, including a carrot-cake contest as part of the fun.

Among the world’s most famous reheads are Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Ed Sheeran.

Redheads makes up under 2% of the earth’s population.