CASSVILLE, Wis. -- When Jennifer Friederick, of Dubuque, gave birth to her twin sons Evan and Ethan five years ago, only one thought came to mind: "We gotta do Twin-O-Rama."
Friederick always had loved the annual event in Cassville to honor twins everywhere, and when she found out her sons were identical, she was excited to join the fun.
"My boys were each seven pounds. I had over 14 pounds in my belly. They owe me," Friederick said with a laugh.
The Friedericks were among 63 sets of twins that turned out for Cassville's 63rd annual Twin-O-Rama celebration. What started in 1929 as a family picnic for one set of twins has become one of the largest celebrations of twin pride in the nation.
Twins who participate are judged in 16 categories and age groups, including most and least alike. The Friedericks have entered the boys into the annual competition four years in a row, and they have won the most alike contest in their age bracket twice.
"A lot of people are amazed just how much they do look alike. We even have a hard time
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She said when Evan and Ethan were born, they had no physical features to tell them apart. Their parents turned to makeup.
"We put fingernail polish on Evan's toes for a few months," Friederick said. "We were so afraid we were going to get them mixed up."
Three months later, one of the boys developed a mole on his chest that allows their parents to tell them apart without any cosmetic solution.
Diana Kruger, spokeswoman for the Twin-O-Rama committee, said the city loves hosting the event.
"We are so thankful for all the twins who showed up," Kruger said. "It's a lot of fun."
