The National Sweetcorn Festival will feature activities and events for festival visitors this year. Events are centered around McFerren Park in Hoopeston for the Labor Day weekend.

Two of the biggest events will be the Motocross at 7 pm Friday, August 31 and the Demo Derby at 7 pm Sunday, September 2. Both are at the Park Annex. The Hoopeston Demolition Derby pits will open at noon with the grandstands opening at 3 p.m. and the event starting at 7 p.m. The classes for the competition are: 80’s and Newer Wire, Bone Stock 108 FWD Compacts, Weld Compacts, Vans, Weld Trucks and Wire Trucks.

Festival activities will kick-off Thursday, August 30 with Bingo in the Jaycees Shelter in McFerren Park from 6-9 p.m.

The National Sweetcorn Festival Grand Parade will start in downtown Hoopeston at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Car Show registration will be presented from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the southeast section of the park. Awards will be presented at 3 p.m.

The Hoopeston Area FFA Chapter will present a petting zoo from noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and noon-4 p.m. Monday.

Festival-goers will have the chance to compete in the Hula Hoop Contest near center stage in the park at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday. Registration for the contest is at 2:30 p.m. near the stage. Contestants will try to keep the hula hoop going for as long as they can. The contest is free to enter and prizes will be award for first place in each age category. Age categories are: 6-under, 7-9, 10-13, 14-17 and 18 and older.

The Polka Pop Balloon Stop Balloon Art program will be roaming around the festival from 2-3 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday activities will kick-off with the Children’s Fishing Derby sign-ups at 11 a.m. in the Crabtree Shelter and the actually derby in the lagoon at noon.

The festival will feature a new unique contest this year.
A Bubble Gum Blowing Contest will be presented at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at center stage. Registration for the contest will start at 1 p.m. by center stage.

This will be followed by the Wings of Wonder Avian Rescue program at 2 p.m. at center stage.

While watching this show, participants can register for the Ponytail Contest at 2 p.m. near center stage. The Ponytail Contest will start at 2:30 p.m. in front of center stage.
Monday, the final day of the festival, will feature a packed schedule of activities, starting with the Cream of the Crop Baby Contest. Registration will be from 9-9:45 a.m. in the civic center following by the contest at 10 a.m.

The Kids Pie Eating Contest registration will be from 12-12:30 p.m. by the center stage with the contest starting at 1 p.m.

Contestants will only be able to use their face, no other appendages may be used in the contest. Contestants must clean their plates and raise their hand to signify they have finished.

Age groups will be 4-5 years old, 6-7 years old, 8-9 years old and 10-13 years old. Prizes will be awarded to the top three in each age group: $5, $3, and $1.

Of course, the festival also offers a host of carnival rides and other activities throughout Labor Day weekend in McFerren Park. Ride specials are available from 5-10 p.m. Aug. 30-31.

A highlight of the festival for many is the free hot-buttered sweetcorn available from 1:30-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday and noon-4 p.m. Monday in the center of the park.

While the main musical performance of the National Sweetcorn Festival be headlined by Chris Lane and Smithfield at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 1 in the McFerren Park Annex, the park will be filled with music throughout Labor Day Weekend.

A number of musical acts are set to take center stage during the festival, starting with Willis Monroe Clayton Music from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by Tammy’s Dance Arts Center from 2-2:30 p.m.

Alex Jenkins and the Bombers will take center stage from 3-5 p.m. Saturday.

Julia Silver Music will kick-off the center stage performances Sunday from noon-1 p.m. Dalton Halls Band will perform on stage from 3-5 p.m. Sunday.

The Dancepiration Dance Academy will perform on stage from noon-12:45 p.m. Monday.

The Back Paiges will wrap up the musical performances for the festival from 2-4 p.m. Monday.

The gate fee for entering the park during the festival is $3. Children age 7 and under enter for free.

For more information about the National Sweetcorn Festival visit www.hoopestonjaycees.org.

94.1 WGFA