The Revitalization of Youngsville announces the 7th annual A'Maize'ing Corn Festival on August 17, 18, and 19 in downtown Youngsville, PA.
The festivities begin on Friday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. with live entertainment for children and adults, scrumptious festival food, and retail vendors. Make your first stop at 'Corn Central' for maps, schedule of events, and contest entries. Buy your Youngsville T-shirts, mugs, and more. The festival continues through the weekend with something everyday for everyone.
Food and Refreshments
Article Photos
Cornfest
Cornfest is famous for it's locally prepared festival foods. This year the streets will be dishing out many of the following goodies and more. St. Luke's Church is making hot buttered corn-on-the-cob, the Mason's Stillwater Lodge No. 547 will bring back their beef on wick and a chicken BBQ on Sunday, Youngsville Fire Department will again serve up Saturday's chicken barbecue, CJ's Chuckwagon will have Italian sausage with onions and peppers, pulled pork sandwiches, fresh squeezed lemonade, root beer floats and ice cream, the First United Methodist Church will be selling chili and cornbread, plus a pancake and sausage breakfast, (coffee cake and coffee, for the early morning vendors), Mugs Cafe will be on the sidewalk selling Mexican enchiladas, The Galley will slice up Pizza and serve Sloppy Joes, Saron Lutheran Church will have Walking Tacos and Kraut Dogs, and no Corn Festival would be complete without Irvine Presbyterian Church's pie by the slice. Make sure to top off your pie with a scoop of ice cream from CJ's Chuckwagon. New this year is vendor Jim Piehuta with french fries, chicken fingers and other grilled and fried foods. He will be in the downtown area on Friday night and Sunday, and at the Snowmobile Show and Swap at Island Park on Saturday. Another new vendor to the show will serve Greek food. Of course our German Organizational VP, Helga, will bring in the German cuisine.
Helga Laibacher, VP of Organization for ROY, jumped into the Corn Festival seven years ago, doing anything from helping to decorate the downtown, giving out information at Corn Central, selling T-shirts, hats, raffle tickets, pretty much anything that needed to be done. "I also made sure we had enough workers. We are so grateful for all of our volunteers, we wouldn't have a Corn Festival without them, not to mention the support of our local businesses, and all those that come and support Youngsville's Corn Festival." Helga continues, "We have visited with folks from all over Warren county, we even had a Canadian couple here that came just for our Corn Festival. We have a good crew of people working, planning, from one year to the next, and I have to say, I personally made some wonderful new friends by joining this committee and the ROY organization."
"This year my team and I will be selling delicious bratwurst, home-made sauerkraut, and warm potato salad again in front of the Allegheny Artistry on Friday, Saturday and Sunday."
Vendors
ROY Promotion VP, Anita Cohan, states, "The number of vendors keeps increasing each year. Look for all the usual, along with about 18 new vendors. Shop for handcrafted decorations and household items, natural foods and seasonings, home party businesses, and many different styles of jewelry. This year there will be vendors from Church Street through the downtown, across the bridge to the 'Y' intersection of North, West, and East Main Streets. We ask everyone to take a walk throughout the area to support all the vendors."
Event Highlights
Start Saturday off with the customary A'Maize'ing Breakfastheld from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Free Methodist Church. The track team will meet at the YHS for the 5K Run at 9 a.m. 's Parade, August 18, starts at 10:15 a.m. The NEW Parade route will start at Davis Street and end at Dick's Service Station at North and West Main Streets, traveling east to west this year, opposite of previous parades. Line up will start at the old Wigger's car lot. As always there will be many floats, bands, dignitaries, Shriner's units, horses, emergency vehicles, the Cornfield 500 Fire truck, and many more. A traditional 'Fly-Over' will be done, sponsored by the Brokenstraw Airport. Last year to the crowd's delight the fly-over included a mature eagle, soaring over the parade for quite a length of time.
New this year will be a 'People's Choice' Float Award. Floats will be downtown after the parade until approximately 12. People will make a cash vote for their choice, the float with the most money collected will win the award. All floats entered will keep their voters donations to benefit their cause.
MC, DJ, and recorded event music will again be provided by Scott Nelson.
Honor our veterans at the Tribute to Veterans performed by the American Legion Color Guard around 11:15 a.m. on Saturday as the parade concludes.
The Community Photo will be taken after the parade around 11:30 in front of Mugs Cafe.
Committee Chair
Well into his seventh decade of life, John Shaughnesy is the third oldest (but not by very much) member of the 2012 Corn Festival committee, and maybe that's why the committee accepted his offer to be acting / provisional / temporary chairman - for a meeting or two - which has grown into every meeting with no end in sight. If age brings wisdom, that's makes him the third wisest member of the committee (and apparently the oldest two members were wise enough not to volunteer for the position). Quite a step from the two hours he put in at the dunking booth on Saturday of the very first Corn Festival in 2006, wouldn't you say? All kidding aside, John said, "I am delighted to be able to help my (adopted) home town with the revitalization plans and schemes that have been in place fore-v-e-r. Since hope springs eternal, he plans to be in the forefront of the crowd the nanosecond the first shovel digs into the first square foot of downtown Youngsville as the revitalization moves from dream to reality.
Entertainment
Returning for the kid's entertainment is the Marty's Bubblegum Machine. This year he will entertain on Friday from 7 to 8, and Saturday from 2-3:00 and 4 to 5. The Kid's 'Cornival' near Joy Hall will entertain all ages, with games, contests, petting zoo and pony rides. music is on stage to keep your toes tapping and in the mood to celebrate the Youngsville community spirit. Friday evening from 7:30 to 10:30 the Take Five Band, a Warren band playing Blues and Rock will be performing on the Main Stage in front of PNC Bank. Saturday enjoy the music of Paul 'n Joan & Friends from 11:30 to 2, Karaoke from 2 to 5, and the Kokomo Time Band from 6:30 to 9, a people friendly, fun-time band who play many types of music, including Oldies, Calypso, Tex-Mex, Cajun and more.
Paul Eisert, long standing Corn Festival committee member, is in charge of hiring bands and musical entertainment for the Corn Festival , as well as arranging staging and sound. Also a performer in the group 'Paul & Joan & Friends,' a loose affiliation of musicians who gather each year. He also is co-MC with Scott Nelson and Bob Holt for various announcements and events on the two stages. Magician Jamie Petrush, will perform Saturday, 12:30 to 3, and Sunday at 2.
Another addition to the event this year will be a bingo tent operated by Irvine Presbyterian Church Friday and Saturday. Proceeds will benefit their church restoration fund.
Contests
Contests are the center of this great festival, involving all in the community, challenging their skills and sense of humor. How much corn could a community husk if a community could husk corn? There is tons of corn, buttered, for easy eating whether for a meal or the corn eating contest, sponsored by the Ray Shield Farm. There are contests for Hula Hoops, the Roy and Pearl Pageant, 5K run, Corn Hole Tournaments (all weekend, entry fee is $20 for adult two-person team and $10 for junior teams; cash prizes will be awarded), Scarecrow Decorating Contest, Amateur Turkey Calling, and the Crowning of the Corn King, the fastest individual to conquer the 'Corny' Maze.
Again this year is the Corny Scarecrow Contest for children ages 6 to 14. Each Scarecrow will be placed in a provided hay bale and can be made of cornstalks, clothing, tools, vegetables, and other corny decorations. They will be on display throughout the Cornfest. Only 12 entries will be accepted and each will receive an award.
An antique tractor display is in the works to be on the west side of the bridge.
Put a CHILL in your day and head to Island Park off of Ford Street and see the Open Snowmobile Show and Swap by Mike Hendrickson from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with set up from 8 to 11 a.m. Several classes of sleds have been added for 2012 including: Original, trail modified, restored/custom, race, best display (3 or more sleds), best in show (voted on by registered participants) and most unique/odd ball sled.
The entry fee is $5 per sled, $20 maximum and $5 per space/truck/trailer for sled parts swap meet. Mike said, "Last years turnout was great for our first year. We want to pack the park this year. Food vendors have been added for 2012, so join us for some sledding fun in August." You can contact Mike after 2 p.m. most days at 814-563-7576 for more information.
A 'Corny' Mazewill be open throughout the event on North Main Street. Walk to the Maze or ride the wagon for additional fun. Admission is $3 per person per trip through the Maze. Take the Timed Challenge and see how fast you can find the 'punch points' and get back out of the Maze. Refreshments and Bill Nelson's ice cream wagon will be available at the Corn Maze.
Look for the Medieval Encampment with Main Stage demonstrations on Saturday, 12 p.m. and Sunday 12:45 p.m. Location to be announced.
Gibson Fireworks, sponsored by the Rouse and Friends of the Rouse will start at 9.
Car Show
Cruisin' at the Cornfest , car cruise in be held on Sunday, August 19, with registration starting at 9 a.m. until noon. Car Show starts at noon through 4 p.m. The Ecumenical blessing will be at 11:30 a.m. Registration is $10 in advance by calling Paula at 814/688-4066 or $12 the day of the event. Registration forms can be found on the website at www.cornfestyoungsvillepa.blogspot.com or at The Galley, Allegheny Artistry, and Youngsville Pharmacy. There will be trophies for First, Second, and Third place in the nine different classes, antique, truck, SUV, motorcycles, Rat Rods, dragsters (new), race cars (new), stock, and custom. Best of Show, Peoples Choice, and Longest Distance Traveled will also receive awards. They will again have the Power Wheels Division for children 6 years of age and under. Judging will e done by the people who register a car. People's Choice for both adult and Power Wheels can be voted on by anyone for a $1 donation per vote. There will be raffles and T-shirts for sale. The Car Show thanks the following sponsors for their support: Kibbey Auto Wrecking and Garage, Jones Chevrolet, Midtown Motors, Ed Shults, Novice, Youngsville Pharmacy, Youngsville Home and Garden, Youngsville Hardware, Pete's Beverage, Beatty Diesel, Park Avenue Motor Sales, Insurance Auto Auction, O'Brien's Transmission Service, Park Avenue Motor Sales, Insurance Auto Auction, Bob's Garage, Car Go Auto Parts, The Galley, Jim the Car Mahan, JM Auto, Crulls PM Shop of Garland, and the Cornfield 500. In memory of Paul T. Bean, his wife, Kathy and daughters, Paula and Jolene, will also give an award to the person they believe put as much time and effort into their vehicle as Paul did with his vehicles. "My dad, Paul, loved to putter on his refurbished 1966 Chevy Pick-up and added his own touch to our vehicles, like painting the Chevy emblem black," says Paula Confer, event coordinator. "I became the car show chairman four years ago because I acquired my father's love of cars. I invite all car enthusiast to join the Paul T. Bean family in downtown Youngsville to enjoy the sights and sounds of the oldies but goodies."
Also on Sunday enjoy German cuisine, brats, kraut, German potato salad or a chicken BBQ. Music will be provided by EJ the DJ, vendors will still line the downtown main street, and stick around for the Corn Cob races, Crowning of the Corn King (the fastest contestant through the Corn Maze), and Car Show awards.
Youngsville First United Methodist Church will sponsor the Otterbein Praise Band, which will play at 5 p.m. Sunday in front of the Love INC office. Bring a lawn chair