Wisconsin
From free corn to corn royalty, check out these six Wisconsin corn festivals
Wisconsin State Fair Lions Club corn roast: Farm delivers it fresh
Poulson’s Farm delivers hand-picked, very fresh corn to the New Berlin Lions corn roast at Wisconsin State Fair
Lori Nickel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
From cobs to kernels and sweet to spicy, you’ll likely find a corn stand at most summer festivals across Wisconsin.
But if you’re looking for a more full-fledged celebration of one of Wisconsin’s top crops, several corn festivals are coming up across the state in the next few weeks.
Jerry Smith Farm’s Sweet Corn Fest
Kick off your tour of Wisconsin corn festivals this weekend at Jerry Smith Farm’s Sweet Corn Fest. The family-owned farm in Kenosha will host its annual festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 10 and 11.
Along with plenty of home-grown sweet corn, the festival will feature live music, food, drink and local vendors. Find a full line-up of vendors and performances here.
Admission is free, and Jerry Smith Farm is at 7150 18th St., Kenosha, WI 53144.
Cobb Corn Roast
For a weeklong celebration topped off with free ears of sweet corn, visit the Cobb Corn Roast Celebration from Aug. 6-11. The 66th annual festival will feature a ball park concessions, a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament, water fights, inflatable rides and multiple nights of live music — and corn, of course.
If you’ve got only one day to spare, make sure to check out the last day of the festival on Sunday, Aug. 11. Free face painting for kids will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a chicken BBQ at 11 a.m., all followed by a 2 p.m. parade and live music through the afternoon. The festival will also give away free sweet corn by the ear.
Check out the festival website for a full schedule. The celebration will take place all week long at Scheper Park, 109 Gard Way, Cobb, WI 53526.
Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival
Wisconsin’s largest corn festival is just over a week away. The Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival runs from Aug. 14-18 with more than 80 tons of Wisconsin-grown sweet corn, according to its website.
Though the festival runs for five days, steamed corn will only be served on Saturday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 18. On those days, you can purchase cooked sweet corn from 12 to 7 p.m. (until supplies last) or uncooked corn for $10 per grocery bag.
But don’t count out the other festival days: non-corn festivities include a parade, carnival night, food vendors, a beer shelter and live music. Check out the full schedule here. All festivities will be at Angell Park, at 200 Park St., Sun Prairie, WI 53590 with paid parking onsite.
Corn and Tater Festival
For corn with a side of potatoes, check out the Corn and Tater Festival in Grand Marsh. The annual event — which boasts the status of the largest, one-day festival in Adams County — will run from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 17.
The food line-up includes brats, hot dogs, and a roast beef sandwich with unlimited corn and potato on the side. You can also enjoy live music from the afternoon to the evening, a basket raffle, pan poker and a bouncy house and obstacle course. Check out the full schedule here.
Admission is free. The festival is at Grand Marsh Lions Park, at 620 County Road East, Grand Marsh, WI 53936.
Loyal Corn
For perhaps the best all-you-can-eat corn deal in the state, check out Loyal Corn Fest in from Aug. 22-25 in Loyal. For $3, the festival offers all-you-can-eat sweet corn and an official Corn Fest button on Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25. Corn will be served starting at 12 p.m. until supplies last.
The festival is a citywide affair, with garage sales throughout the weekend, a coronation and parade of local children as “Corn Fest Royalty” and free live music. Find the full schedule here.
Some events are free and others require an admission fee. Corn Fest is at various locations throughout the city, but the main festival will be at American Legion, at 302 N. Union St., Loyal, WI 54446.
Darien CornFest
For more helpings of free corn, check out Darien CornFest from Sept. 6-8 in Darien. You can grab free sweet corn from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8.
The three-day festival will also be bookended by fireworks at 9 p.m. Friday and a downtown parade at 12 p.m. Sunday. Carnival rides will be up throughout the festival, with a $25 wristband available to access rides on all three days. Check out the full schedule here.
The festival is at Darien West Park, at 335 W. Madison St., Darien, WI 53114.
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