Sugar Grove Corn Boil celebrates sweet corn, family fun
In Sugar Grove, you will realize corn, the unassuming crop, has more power than just nourishing the world's population.
Each year, it brings together thousands of visitors with its buttery flavor.
This weekend, the Sugar Grove Corn Boil will have its 43rd birthday. And the $1 corn on the cob remains the theme.
"We are expecting to sell more than 13,000 ears of corn over the weekend," said trustee Kevin Geary, the Corn Boil president.
The family event's menu also includes hot dogs, brats, Mexican and Italian dishes.
The Corn Boil will start at 4 p.m. Friday, July 23 and conclude at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 25. Admission is free.
Kicking off the three-day festival will be an opening ceremony themed "Red, White and Blue." For the first time, the Aurora detachment of Marine Corps League and Sugar Grove American Legion will fire a 20-gun salute to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Geary.
People can also send cards and packages through the American Legion to servicemen overseas, he said.
At the event, you can make blank greeting cards which will be sent to troops abroad thanks to the group "From Our Hearts." In turn, the troops can use those cards to send notes home to their loved ones, said Corn Boil's marketing official Beverly Holmes-Hughes.
Entertainment is another staple at this year's Corn Boil. On Friday night, 1969 will open the sound stage with the hippie flair of Woodstock. Infinity, a 25-year-old Chicago band, will jack up the crowd's energy level Saturday with tunes from Bon Jovi and Def Leppard. Carnival rides and other amusement park fixtures will be available for anyone looking for the "swooshing" excitement.
Saturday at 9:30 p.m., fireworks will light up the sky of Sugar Grove. For a village without Fourth of July fireworks, this is a once-a-year chance to lie on your back and watch the show.
This year, children will have more activities to choose from, said Holmes-Hughes. Chicago area naturalists Dave DiNaso and Chris Boerema will introduce their Traveling World of Reptiles in the KidZone Saturday. If pythons leave you cold, or getting up close and personal with a chameleon does not sound too inviting, the two reptile lovers will at least tell you more about animal protection.
If you are a fan of either mac 'n' cheese or various pies, the festival would like to test your stomach's capacity during two eating contests this weekend. Even babies can crawl for honor in the Corn Boil Diaper Derby Classic.
Having been involved with the Corn Boil for 17 years, Holmes-Hughes said, "The nice thing about Corn Boil is that it provides opportunities for organizations in our community to be at a place to show what they do and raise funds for the organization."
In the past, the volunteer-run event has been supporting groups like the local firefighters association.
Geary expects the Corn Boil to draw between 30,000 and 45,000 people this year.
"We have a little something for everybody, besides the golden goodness of sweet corn," he said.
Keep busy with KidZone activities Saturday, July 2410 a.m. Free face painting until noon10:30 a.m. Corn Boil Diaper Derby Classic11 a.m. Traveling World of Reptiles11 a.m. Kids Safety ID until 4 p.m.12:15 p.m. Sugar Grove Library storytime 12:30 p.m. Clowning Around with Clowns1 p.m. Mac 'n' cheese-eating contest2 p.m. Magic by the Amazing Tim Adams3 p.m. Balloon twisting and balloon toss contest3:30 p.m. Brightest Stars children's music4 p.m. Sci-Tech Science Show4:30 p.m. Kane County S.W.A.T. demoSunday, July 2511 a.m. Free face painting until noon11:30 a.m. Clowning Around with ClownsNoon Brightest Stars children's music12:30 p.m. Radio Disney Road Crew2 p.m. Sugar Grove Library storytime2:30 p.m. Rain Gutter Regattas3 p.m. Ronald McDonald show3:30 p.m. Pie-eating contest4:30 p.m. Corn Boil 500 Big Wheel race5 p.m. Santa's summer visitTrue19951350Winner Aaron Etienne of Elburn, left and second place finisher Pat Austin of Yorkville stay close at the midway point of the 2007 Sugar Grove Corn Boil 5K.Daily Herald file photoTrue <p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p><p class="News">What: The 43rd annual Sugar Grove Corn Boil</p><p class="News">When: 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 23; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 24; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday July 25</p><p class="News">Where: Main Street in downtown Sugar Grove</p><p class="News">Admission: Free</p><p class="News">Details: <a href="http://sugargrovecornboil.org" target="new">sugargrovecornboil.org</a></p>