Corn Fest 2024 to highlight summer’s grand finale in DeKalb

DeKALB – It’s that time of year again: Corn Fest in DeKalb is back for its 47th year of fun and festivities.

The three-day festival, which runs from Aug. 23 to 25, has all the makings for a summer grand finale, with carnival rides, food and games.

Plus, Corn Fest has long been touted by organizers as one of the last free-admission festivals in northern Illinois.

Started in 1957 as a corn boil by Delmonte to give away free corn, the festival has grown over the years, with 10,000 to 15,000 people attending each year, organizers said. The modern-day version came into existence in 1977 with vendors and live entertainment.

The festival marks one of the busiest times that people frequent downtown DeKalb throughout the year, Corn Fest Chairwoman Lisa Angel said.

“The downtown and the downtown restaurants love it because students are back the week before,” Angel said. “It gives them a reason to come down when they’re at the fest to see the stores, see the restaurants. A lot of people think that people just eat at the food vendor booths, but all of the restaurants are always packed down there. The downtown businesses really love having it down there to bring visibility for their stores.”

The festival will take place from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, in downtown DeKalb, on Lincoln Highway between First and Fourth streets and Grove and Locust streets.

Among the traditions of the festival returning this year is the Chuck Siebrasse Corn Boil, where free steamed corn is given out. It will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – or until supplies last – Saturday at the corner of Fourth Street and Lincoln Highway.

Angel said the corn boil is a highlight for many who visit Corn Fest.

“The corn boil is the heart of Corn Fest,” Angel said. “That is where it started from in 1977. Everything built around that.”

The beer garden is a family-friendly venue with a viewing area for the main soundstage. It is open from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The cost to enter the beer garden is $10 a day or $25 for the weekend. Tickets for that area can be bought at cornfest.com/tickets. A free soundstage viewing area is available on Locust Street between Second and Third streets.

Performing acts will include Matt Ripsch, the Leroy Winn Power Trio and Mike & Joe on Friday; Austin Hopkins, Wait What?, Back Country Roads, Hi Infidelity and Sugar Ray on Saturday; and 2 Of Us, Rockin’ Moxie and 7th Heaven on Sunday.

Angel said the Corn Fest board donates a portions of its proceeds every year to a local nonprofit and a local service group. This year, the festival will benefit Elder Care Services, and the Boy Scouts will be allowed to sell ice to vendors, she said.

Sponsors for this year’s event include Kunes Auto Group of Sycamore, Meta, ComEd, Budweiser, Budlight, Budlight Lime, OC Creative, Rock Valley Credit Union, Shaw Media, the city of DeKalb, Midwest Tents & Events, and Hy-Vee, among others.

For information on where to park, a map is available at cornfest.com.

CORRECTION: This article has been updated to correct the number of annual attendees at Corn Fest. It draws 10,000 to 15,000 each year.