Since its inception a few years ago, the jackpot for the West Side Nut Club's Fall Festival half-pot drawing has exceeded $1 million, giving the winning ticket holder a life-changing sum of cash and the Club an opportunity to donate more money to local schools and other organizations. Could 2023 be the year the jackpot goes over $2 million for the first time? It's certainly possible with the Club's recent announcement it will start selling tickets a few days before the start of this year's festival.

West Side Nut Club Announces Early 2023 Half-Pot Ticket Sales

With the exception of 2020 when the festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and "drive-through" ticket booths were set up in the empty parking lot across from Mead Johnson at the corner of the Lloyd Expressway and St. Joe Avenue, the only way you could buy your half-pot tickets was to make your way to Franklin Street during Fall Festival week and walk up to one of the ticket booths. In a post on Facebook Friday evening, the Club says it has received "numerous e-mails and messages" through social media asking for the return of the drive-through booths from residents who don't want to fight the festival crowd, but still want to purchase half-pot tickets. The post included the announcement that it will grant those residents' wishes.

My WJLT 105.3 logo
Get our free mobile app
Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...

The drive-through booths will be set up on the following days and times:

  • Thursday, September 28th: Noon-8:00 PM
  • Friday, September 29th: Noon-8:00 PM
  • Saturday, September 30th: 10:00 AM-8:00 PM

At the conclusion of sales on the 30th, the booths will be moved to their regular locations on Franklin Street and will sell tickets from 1:00-8:00 PM on Sunday, October 1st.

Changes Coming to Half-Pot Drawing

In addition to the extra days, the Club also announced it will extend the time tickets will be sold on the final day of this year's festival. Since the beginning, ticket sales ended at 2:00 PM on the last day of the festival with the winning ticket number announced later that evening following the main parade. This year, ticket sales on the last day will run until 8:00 PM with the announcement of the winning ticket being pushed back to some point the following day (Sunday, October 8th). The time and method by which the winning ticket number will be announced is still being determined according to the Club.

The half-pot jackpot has increased every year since its launch with last year's reaching $1,639,870, meaning the winner pocketed $819,935.

[Source: West Side Nut Club on Facebook]

West Side Nut Club Fall Festival Pics 2022

Every October the West Side Nut Club organizes and sponsors a mammoth Fall Festival. This is a week-long gala on the west side along Franklin Street with free entertainment, carnival attractions, over 137 food booths, amateur talent competitions and on the last day, a huge parade. This event attracts over 200,000 people to the West Side & is considered to be one of the largest street festivals in the United States.

Evansville's Fall Festival Survival Guide

We've put together a guide to help you enjoy (and survive!) Evansville's annual West Side Nut Club Fall Festival on Franklin Street - the 2nd Largest Street Festival in the Country!

More From My WJLT 105.3