After the turn of the century, Versailles, Ohio became known as the Poultry Capital of the Midwest. Although Versailles is a small village its production of eggs and poultry was recognized far beyond Ohio. The festival began as “Poultry Day” a single day event held on Thursdays until 1962 when it expanded to Wednesday. In 1966 the festival moved to a weekend festival to be held on Friday and Saturday. In 1969 carnival rides were introduced and, in 1972 it was finally expanded to Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Arguably the area’s oldest festival, Poultry Days settled into being held on the second full weekend in June.
The 2023 festival theme is “Chilly Willy Wonka and the Chicken Factory.”
Chicken dinners costs $11.00 and is sized for a single meal with half a chicken, Mike-Sells potato chips, Roll, Butter, Applesauce and the traditional Chilly Willy Orange Drink. Dinners can be enjoyed in a 500-person dining tent or picnic tables located throughout the grounds. A four-lane drive through allows visitors to purchase dinners for a backyard picnic without leaving your car. The festival also offers bulk chicken purchases on a presale basis with 20 chicken halves packed in an insulated cooler.
Come early as chicken often sells out earlier then posted times. The festival sells over 35,000 dinners each year and has served over one million dinners since 1952. Our walk through and drive through lines are staffed by volunteers and organizations capable of delivering over 2,500 dinners per hour.
Find the “Golden Ticket” at Versailles Poultry Days and win FREE Chicken For life. Keeping with the theme, three golden tickets will be placed randomly into chicken dinners (or coolers). One golden ticket will be released each day (Friday June 9, Saturday June 10, and Sunday June 11). The three winners will each receive FREE Poultry Days Chicken For Life! For a chance to win you must pick up chicken in the festival’s Walk Thru, Drive Thru or Bulk Pick Up lines. Limit two chicken dinners per winner per festival day.
Highlights of Poultry Days:
Friday, June 9, 9:30am
Flower Show
Bus Drivers Meeting Room, 459 South Center Street, Versailles
Bingo
Sat, June 10th 8am
Poultry Days 5K Walk/Run + 1 Mile Fun Run
Versailles High School, 280 Marker Rd, Versailles
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Sun June 11th 3:30pm
The Chicken Eating Contest
Registration for this event is FREE! How fast can you eat a chicken dinner? The traditional chicken half is replaced by drumsticks. There is a 16-20 and a 21 & over division with cash prizes. Register online at VersaillesPoultryDays.com or the day of the event.
