By Barbara Arnstein
I think it’s safe to say that this popular local festival is the corniest! The 62nd Annual Eden Corn Festival in Eden, NY, will take place from Thursday, August 6th to Sunday, August 9th, and include celebrity corn husking. The theme for this year’s parade, on Sunday at noon, is “Corn in the USA” (a clever twist of the title of the popular song, “Born in the USA”.). Entrants in the Run for the Corn will each receive a corn-themed souvenir, plus a coupon for a hot buttered ear of Sweet Corn after the race. A Corn King will be crowned at the Corn Growers’ Competition. The Eden Fire Department will be selling Cooked Sweet Corn, and the Eden Police Group will be selling Fresh Picked Sweet Corn. There will be a Corn BBQ Cookoff.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the parade floats, vehicles and groups that best depict the theme, and display creativity and enthusiasm, which the poster further describes as “your corn-inspired American spirit”. There will be corn hole games, as well as horseshoe, baseball, softball and volleyball games, and a tractor pull.
The Eden Corn Fest Craft Show will take place from 12-8pm on Saturday, August 8th, and 12-6pm Sunday, August 9th. The vendors there will include: Kissed By The Sun Spices, The Knotty Nook, Beer Goggle Games, Glow & Grow Creations, Jodie’s Homemade Jam & Salsa, Buffalo Bead Bar, Sew Fluffy Kitties, Sew Sweet Designs, Blueberry Children’s Boutique, Nightshade Stitchery, Doggone Designs, Treats & Sweets Doggie Cookies, Works of Woods, Hopkins Hilltop Honey, Weave It or Knot, Enchanted Hearts Bamboo, T & T Custom Woodworks Creations, Bows and Bands, Roots and Wings, The Bugs Boutique, Blue Dragonfly Boutique, Flourish Gift Shop, and more.
The Celebrity Corn Husking will happen this year on Saturday, August 8th at 3:30pm, and the celebrities participating will be News 4’s Morning Co-Anchors William Patterson and Sarah Minkewicz, WIVB Meteorologist Sara Stierly, and, returning as a Celebrity Corn Husker, WGRZ Meteorologist Patrick Hammer. The Corn King will be crowned on Thursday, August 6th, at 6:30pm at the Corn Growers Competition.
“This is the first year I’ll have a booth at the festival”, said Donna of Donna’s Pepper Jelly and Jam. “Some of my flavors have pepper and some don’t. They include: Raspberry Rhubarb, Blueberry Rhubarb, Cherry Almond, Red Currant, Apple Cider, Pineapple Raspberry, Orange Marmalade and Apple Butter.”
There is so much more happening at the festival! To mention just some of the entertainment: Family Iroquois Dancers will perform. The live bands performing will include: Uncle Ben’s Remedy, on Friday, August 7th, at 6:30pm; Jack Fire, on Saturday, August 8th, at 6:30pm; and Cold Beer Creek, on Sunday, August 9th. Hall of Fame guitarist Michael Hund will preside at an Open Mic session on Thursday, August 8th, at 8pm, and all musicians are welcome, to play, sing, or just jam. There will be an Agriculture Showcase, a Trade Show, a Pet Show, and a Car Show, and more.
The fair is located at 2863 Legion Drive in Eden, NY. For more information, go to edencornfest.com