Mendota Sweet Corn Festival is Aug. 8-11

Mendota Sweet Corn Festival is Aug. 8-11

By Peggy Werner

The unusually wet spring left fields under water, causing the corn crop to either not get planted on time, or not get planted at all. This made Mendota Chamber of Commerce President Kate Fox wonder if there would be a sweet corn festival this year.

Thanks to a better corn crop south of the Rockford area, the 72 nd Mendota Sweet Corn Festival will be Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 8-11, and will feature local musicians, a beer garden, amusement rides, food vendors, craft booths, a fitness run and walk, a blood drive, tennis tournaments, a king and queen pageant – and yes, lots of corn.

“We usually get our sweet corn from Mendota, but the corn is too immature to pick in time for the festival. We were able to get the corn from the DelMonte fields in Peoria, lll., which will provide us with corn for the weekend,” she says.

Fox says the festival usually goes through about 50 tons of corn. Freshly picked corn will be sold for $4 a dozen on Saturday and Sunday during festival hours. Beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, while supplies last, hot boiled corn will be given away. The Mendota Optimist Club will be selling roasted corn Friday through Sunday.

In addition to all the corn, more than 50 food vendors will line two city blocks along Illinois Avenue and Washington Street, providing classic favorites like corn dogs, hot dogs, burgers, nachos, pork chops, brats, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, pizza, wings, cotton candy, kettle corn, funnel cakes, elephant ears, taffy, pulled pork and more.

Ethnic favorites will include chicken or beef kabobs, Italian sausage, Italian beef, Italian ice, tacos, burritos, gyros, baklava, Greek salad, fried pickles and more. Lemon shake-ups, snow cones, iced tea, root beer floats and frozen cappuccino will be among drink options.

The festival will begin with a “Special Afternoon for Special Kids” from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday for any individual with special needs and their immediate families. Those wanting to attend the free event need to pre-register by calling the chamber at (815) 539-6507. Also on Thursday, carnival rides and food booths will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. and The Valley Katz will perform classic rock songs by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and more at 7 p.m. on the main music stage on the corner of Veterans Way and Washington Street, sponsored by First State Bank.

Friday’s events will begin with a youth division tennis tournament at 10:30 a.m.; food booths opening at 10:30 a.m.; carnival rides opening at noon; balloon artist Magic Matt performing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Dallas Stramberger

playing a mix of ’50s, ’60s, blues and country music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and The Acoustix performing from 2 to 4 p.m. and also from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the hospitality tent in the First State Bank parking lot, 706 Washington St., followed by the Sweet Corn Queen Pageant at 7:30 p.m.

Cornapalooza kicks off Saturday’s lineup with a 5K/10K Run and 5K Fitness Walk at 8 a.m., beginning and ending at Lake Mendota. Awards, giveaways and food will be provided for all who participate. Register online at sweetcornfestival.com. Proceeds from the event benefit OSF Saint Paul Medical Center’s foundation.

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Indiana Avenue and Jefferson Street. For an appointment, call the Red Cross at 1-800-Give-Life, ext. 5.

More than 200 vendors will be at The Crafters Market and Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Mini Royalty Pageant will take place at 10 a.m. A local art show and sale will be from 10 to 8 p.m. at Setchell Studio, 723 Washington St. The adult division tennis tournament is at 10:30 a.m. at Mendota High School, 2300 W. Main St. Carnival rides begin at noon on Saturday.

Sunday’s events will include the craft show and flea market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., adult division tennis tournament singles at 10:30 a.m., the hospitality tent opening at 10:30 a.m. and carnival rides opening at noon.

At the Crafters Market and Flea Market, visitors can purchase food, jewelry, home décor, scents, handmade crafts, pet products, wooden art, children’s items, collectibles and more.

Admission to the festival is free. Daily unlimited ride passes can be purchased throughout the weekend. Mega passes are good for unlimited rides during the entire festival and can be purchased in advance until noon Aug. 8 for $65 at the chamber office or online at sweetcornfestival.com. At the festival, the cost is $80. ❚