Sugar Grove Corn Boil to honor vets

Good vibrations and small town charm will bring visitors and vendors back for the 48th annual Sugar Grove Corn Boil.

Volunteers are shucking thousands of ears of corn in preparation for the celebration in Sugar Grove's Volunteer Park. Still, Louise Coffman, president of the Corn Boil committee, was quick to admit the festival will not break any attendance records when the festival opens on Thursday, July 23.

"It's not a huge event," Coffman said. "But it's fun and free."

The Corn boil will be open from Thursday, July 23, to Sunday, July 26. And organizers of the long-standing Sugar Grove staple are proud to contribute to the more than $30,000 they have raised for local charities in the last two years.

"We always like to make sure people know the Sugar Grove Corn Boil is completely not-for-profit and completely volunteer-run," Coffman said. "At the end of year, after our bills are paid, we give whatever's left to charity."

This year, the festival will honor the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam War by making that its theme. Along with veteran-preferred parking, Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam War veteran, Army Sgt. Allen J. Lynch, will speak at the festival's opening ceremony.

The festival raises money for local organizations such as the Between Friends Food Pantry, the town's senior center, and Boy Scout troops.

The proceeds are raised by food and craft vendors while guests enjoy a range of activities including carnival rides, live music, and a magician.

"There's literally something for everyone; we even have bingo," Coffman said. "If you can't find something to do at the Corn Boil, you're not trying hard enough."

Many visitors will flock to the more than 100 vendor booths to examine a wide array of handcrafted goods and independent consultants.

Ernestine and Doug Eltman of Plainfield will return for their 10th year with the Corn Boil. After retiring, they created Bags N Boxes, the pseudonym for their bag toss and family game company.

"(The Sugar Grove Corn Boil) is a great show, a lot of people turn out to it," Eltman said. "We've made a lot of friends and repeat customers. We just enjoy doing it because it's a nice town to come to."

Their main product, bag toss games, come in a variety of forms including your traditional version and a miniature one for dorm room and basement play. Along with games, they sell carry all bags, wine bags, and coasters.

"For retired people, we're very successful with what we do, we make quality products," said Ernestine Eltman. "We had to find something to do to keep ourselves busy during our retirement. We didn't want to become couch potatoes."

Veterans park is located at 61 S. Main St. in Sugar Grove. For additional information, visit www.sugargrovecornboil.org.

If you go

What: 48th annual Sugar Grove Corn Boil

When: 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 23; 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday, July 24; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 25; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 26.

Where: Volunteer Park, 61 S. Main St., Sugar Grove

Admission: Free

Details: <a href="http://www.sugargrovecornboil.org">www.sugargrovecornboil.org</a>; (630) 449-7999