The festival started in 1982 with 40 vendor booths and a few thousand attendees. Now, it’s up to 180 booths and more than 45,000 joining in on the tasty fun over the two-day event.
CORN ROYALTY
One thing that hasn’t changed is having the Sweet Corn King and Queen kick things off with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This year’s honorees are Jamie Hensley and Linda Hall.
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
WHAT TO EXPECT
With the Sweet Corn Festival officially opened, visitors can expect to see attractions like a corn eating contest, free entertainment, arts, crafts booths, and – of course – the star of the show: delicious steamed sweet corn from Brentlinger Farms. The corn is cooked in the husk using a steam engine from the 1800s.
Credit: Ron Alvey
Credit: Ron Alvey
You can also have fun with the corn eating contest, where two teams battle it out for sweet corn supremacy. The catch is the combatants aren't allowed to hold the corn themselves.
If corn is not your thing, you can look to tasty options like barbecue chicken, pork chop sandwiches and fresh cut watermelon to name a few.
The event is designed to be family-friendly, with attractions for kids such as pony and train rides and a bounce house.
There will also be an 1840s Pioneer Village with candle making, a silver smith, a black smith and powder gun demonstrations.
Don’t miss the music and dancing. A number of bands and dancing groups will perform including the Fairborn Civic Band, Honey Creek Cloggers, Sophia and the Shimmy Cats Belly Dancing and the Miami Valley Music Men.
Alcohol will not be available.
WANT TO GO?
When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday Aug. 17 ; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday Aug. 18.
Where: Community Park, 691 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Fairborn
Price: Free parking and admission
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