PAW PAW – The Paw Paw Lions Club is sponsoring Pawpaw Tree Fest on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Paw Paw.

Have you ever wondered where Paw Paw, Ill., got its name? There's a little-known native fruit tree called the pawpaw, and the village of Paw Paw is about to celebrate its unique story with Illinois' first Paw Paw Festival. There will be folks with fresh fruit, seeds, seedlings and trees, pawpaw desserts, speakers, vendors, activities for kids, food, and more. There's more information, including vendor registration, at pawpawfest.org.

The village will also be celebrating the pawpaw growers of Paw Paw, Ill. If you have fruit you would like to share or sell, would like to learn more about your pawpaw trees, or meet other people growing the fruit, reach out. Your ideas are welcome.

If you are a Paw Paw resident, a walking tour is being organized to showcase some of the pawpaw trees in town. In addition to the tour, a documentation of the different pawpaw trees in Paw Paw will be done, which could prove helpful to pawpaw research and help local growers network.

For more information, contact info@pawpawfest.org or Connie Shannon at Gaines Realty (815)-757-9394.