Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival
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Angell Park, Sun Prairie 315 Park St., Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 53590
Andre Ouellet via Unsplash
This fest just keeps getting bigger, but the star is still cob after cob of fresh steamed sweet corn, available to devour by the ear — or buy a tote (8-13 ears) to share with your corn-loving pals. Trust us, it’s the way to go. (Note, corn is available Saturday noon-7 p.m. and Sunday noon- 6 p.m. only.) Wednesday night starts with a parade at 6 p.m.; Friday night features SuperTuesday; Saturday night it’s the Kings of Radio. And Saturday there’s a corn eating contest at 2:30 p.m. See details below and updates at sunprairiecornfest.com.
media release: Sun Prairie’s 70th annual Sweet Corn Festival features something for everyone — from the Aug. 16 parade to a cultural celebration Saturday afternoon and sweet corn all weekend long.
The entire event is sponsored generously by Trachte Building Systems, which is the inaugural Entire Crop Sponsor. The Aug. 16 Sweet Corn Festival Parade and Block Party in Cannery Square featuring The Dirty Birds from 7-9 p.m. is being sponsored by One Community Bank.
Also new this year is Corn Fest’s Sustainability Initiative. Multiple city, county and state stakeholders have teamed up to provide recycling and composting solutions for Sun Prairie’s Sweet Corn Fest. Specially marked trailers will be available on the grounds at Angell Park to collect the corn cobs and husks to divert up to 52 tons of corn waste from being placed into the landfill. However, the initiative requires the support of Corn Fest patrons to separate recycling, waste and corn materials at the specially marked trailers, where garbage and recycling containers will also be available. Volunteers will be on hand to assist patrons in proper disposal of their corn waste, which will be brought to the City of Sun Prairie’s municipal composting site at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
For the inaugural Corn Fest Cultural Celebration, a group of black business and civic leaders proposed adding a diversity celebration to further unite the Sun Prairie community on the Corn Fest Family Stage from 5:15-7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19. The goal is to create a platform for education, appreciation, celebration, foster dialogue, understanding, and unity within and beyond the black community. Patrons of all ages and ethnic backgrounds will be inspired by talented performers and black role models. The originator, Mr. Demancea (Dee), founder of Star Media Group has also arranged for disadvantaged kids to enjoy the Corn Fest — including the food and carnival — at no cost.
Also new this year, the Sun Prairie Historical Museum will be displaying a selection of festival highlights and a peek behind the scenes of the first 70 festivals. The museum, located at 115 East Main Street, will host an exhibition opening with special hours from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 16. The exhibit will run at the museum through October 2023.
Also new in 2023, Madison Metro now runs bus routes into Sun Prairie. On Sunday, Aug. 20, overflow parking will be at the Sun Prairie East High School, 888 Grove St. The Sun Prairie FFA Alumni is seeking a suggested $5 donation per vehicle. Follow traffic signage to access the high school lot.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Sun Prairie Lions Club parking costs $5 per vehicle but that includes a $1 admission fee per person on Saturday and Sunday. Walk-in patrons entering either of the two festival gates at Park Street or Grove Street will be charged the $1 per person admission fee.
Daily highlights include:
Wednesday, Aug.16 — The parade, which begins at 6 p.m., and block party — running from 7 to 9 p.m. — mark the beginning of the Corn Fest and will feature The Dirty Birds band as well as a beverage area staffed by the Sun Prairie Lions Club, which will offer beverages for purchase.
Thursday, Aug. 17 — The alcohol-free carnival midway opens at 6 p.m. Wristbands for unlimited rides on Aug. 17 can be purchased for $30.
Friday, Aug. 18 — Back by popular demand, alternative rock band SuperTuesday will perform on the Milwaukee Tool Main Stage, which is located inside the Beer Shelter on Angell Park’s upper grounds. Food vendors are also open Friday evening, offering traditional festival foods and a few specialties. The carnival midway will also be open with another wristband night.
Saturday, Aug. 19 — All aspects of the festival are active, especially the Waunakee Remodeling Family Stage, which features free entertainment acts ranging from music to dancing, martial arts and more. Shows begin on the hour Saturday and Sunday starting at noon.
An expanded free Children’s Activity Area provides free entertainment including face painting, arts & crafts, games, bubbles, sensory playtime, the Renk Seeds kernel box, and more are available, but adult supervision of participants is required at all times.
In the Second Annual Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Eating Contest, participants in three age categories will compete to eat up to 10 ears of corn, with the fastest eater earning prizes. The official judge will be Alice in Dairyland, Ashley Hagenow, who will also share a special message about the love affair between Wisconsin agriculture and Corn Fest. The event will be broadcast by the Sun Prairie Media Center. Although there is no fee to participate, contestants must register on-site because spaces are limited.
More than 30 vendor booths are on the lower and upper grounds representing non-profits and entrepreneurs ranging from Frank’s Fruit Trees and State Farm Bobble-head making to a corn-stripper machine that removes kernels from the corn for ease of canning and freezing.
The festival’s famous steamed sweat corn sales begin at noon on the lower grounds. Each corn tote costs $10 and holds 8-12 ears. In the Corn Shed, patrons husk their own steamy corn and take it to the buttering area where Butter Kids roll the corn in Wisconsin butter and return it to the patrons, who make their way to the Salt Tree before exiting the building. If that’s too many, the Single Ear Price is $3 or a Two-Ear Price is $5. Many patrons eat their corn, which is grown near Plover on fields irrigated to ensure maximum tenderness, while watching the Family Stage entertainment.
Customer-selected uncooked corn may be purchased, while supplies last, for $10 per grocery bag (no corn husking allowed) on the Upper Grounds at Angell Park.
The Milwaukee Tool Main Stage in the Beer Tent features Kings of Radio on Saturday evening.
Sunday, Aug. 20 — Steamed corn and uncooked corn; food and vendor booths; the Children’s Activity Center and Waunakee Remodeling Family Entertainment stage all continue on Sunday.
La Movida radio AM 1670 broadcasts live and features three bands including La Septima Alianza, Los Nuevos Cadetes Du Rubern Guerrero and Rafael Rivera y sus Joyas Nortenas. DJ Miranda will also be spinning records. Wear your favorite sports jersey and participate in one of their contests to win prizes.
Angell Park Speedway will host the IRA Outlaw Sprint Series, 410 Sprint Cars and Badger Midgets into the evening for a separate entrance fee. The Family Pack includes two adults and up to four children ages 17 and younger for just $40. It is also the Backpack Give-away Night.
The Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce operates and manages the Sun Prairie Corn Festival, which benefits partner organizations who provide volunteers. These organizations include the Sun Prairie Lions Club, VFW Post 9362 of Sun Prairie, the Exchange Club of Sun Prairie, the Knights of Columbus Holy Family Council 4879 and Sun Prairie American Legion Post 333.
For more information about the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival — including more information about festival sponsors, volunteer opportunities and special deals for hotel stays — check out the festival website www.sunprairiecornfest.com.