The Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival

01/24/2026

Oh, the memories this brings back!

The Wizard of Oz is well known as an all-American fairytale. You might think of Kansas when you’re reminded of the wonderful world of Oz, and you definitely wouldn’t think of Indiana. However, that…

01/16/2025

Farewell, old friend. Thank you for all the wonderful memories. Nobody could shout "DOR'THEE!" over the whipping wind of a cyclone - or the rushing by of a Chesterton train - quite like you!

Sad news out of Oz today, as we have learned that Marianne Miles aka "Auntie 'M" has passed away. Marianne was a huge Oz lover and a friend to every other fan she met. She worked for the Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop and Oz Fantasy Museum in Chesterton, where she could often be found sharing her love of Oz by giving museum tours, showing off the newest collectibles on the market, and chatting up a storm about anything and everything Oz. She also regularly dressed up as Auntie Em when attending the Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival and was a multi-year champion of Dorothy Calling Contest.

Rest now, Auntie 'M. We'll see you again someday over the rainbow.

Photo taken with The Spirit of Oz cast at Munchkinland Market Days at the Yellow Brick Road, Chesterton, IN. September 2007.

11/24/2024

12 years after our last festival, our legacy lives on! Check out this clip from The Kelly Clarkson Show to see actor Jonathan Bailey (Fiyeto in the Wicked Movie) wearing a shirt from our 14th annual festival. Great choice, Jonathan! (We totally see what you did there!)

07/18/2023

Hard to believe it’s been a decade since we hosted our last Oz Festival! If you find yourself looking for an Ozzy fix, we highly recommend you check out our friends at Illinois Oz Festival! Many folks from our festival are now involved with this one including Dorothy and her friends.

05/13/2022

As the messages have already started to come in, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind/inform you that the Oz Days event taking place this weekend is in no way affiliated with the Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival. It is as a separate entity run by an out-of-state organization. Please direct any and all questions, comments, or criticisms to their page. Thank you.

12/30/2021

We are very sad to pass on this news we've received from our friends at The Spirit of Oz: Wizard of OZ Characters.

We are absolutely heartbroken to share the news that Mary Ellen St. Aubin passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 101. Many knew Mary Ellen as "The First Lady" at The Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival or as a "Munchkin by Marriage," as she was married to one of the Munchkin soldiers from the MGM film, Parnell St. Aubin.

Mary Ellen was a friend to all she met and her joy was simply infectious. The Spirit of Oz team had the great fortune of working alongside her at Oz Festival over the span of nearly two decades, though many knew her longer than that.

She lived an amazing life and had a career worthy of its own docuseries. From now on, there will always be a noticeable gap at Oz festivals that can never be filled. Mary Ellen will be dearly missed, loved, and cherished by Oz fans, friends, and family, but her memory will bring us joy for years to come. And, if we may borrow one of her signature phrases, "we'll drink to that!"

04/30/2020

Just a friendly reminder that our organization no longer hosts Oz Festivals. The upcoming Wizard of Oz Days event being held here in Chesterton this summer is being hosted and organized by another organization. Please reach out to them with any questions you might have. Thanks!

04/15/2019

06/06/2018

It is truly the end of an era. Today we say farewell to the last of our beloved Munchkins. Jerry was a huge part of the Oz Festival for many, many years. We will never forget his infectious joy or sincere love for his fans.

We are saddened to report that Jerry Maren, the leader of the Lollipop Guild, has passed away. He was the last of the surviving cast member from the 1939 film version of THE WIZARD OF OZ. Jerry was an absolute delight and instant friend to all who met him. With his lollipop in tow, he was always up for reciting his lines or discussing the making of the movie with fans. Jerry will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by friends and fans alike.

01/25/2018

Hard to believe that it has been 5 years since we hosted a festival here in Chesterton. We miss you all terribly!

Hopefully we will see some of you at one of the fine Oz Festivals that is carrying on in our tradition and spirit.

Wizard of Oz Festival Illinois in Mapleton, IL (Saturday, August 11)

Wizard of Oz Days in New London, MO (Sat., Aug. 25 & Sun., Aug. 26)

Midwest Wizard of Oz Festival in Tinley Park, IL (Sat. Sept. 22 & Sun., Sept. 23)

Also, The Chesterton Oz Festival's characters are still touring the country annually, including the three festivals mentioned above. Keep us with Dorothy and pals on their page: The Spirit of Oz: Wizard of OZ Characters.

09/22/2016

AS OF 2012 THE CHESTERTON WIZARD OF OZ FESTIVAL HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISCONTINUED. The tradition lives on in other festivals across the country. However, the original Chesterton Oz Festival is sadly no more.