After a several-year hiatus, Youngsville’s Cornfest is set to return later this month.

But this time it’s part of a broader effort at revitalization in the community.

Revitalization of Youngsville President John Papalia said bringing the event back is part of both a ROY reorganization and the Heart and Soul Initiative.

As the group discussed how to find ways to engage people in the community, Cornfest was a logical step.

“We landed on bringing the Cornfest back,” he said. “It was such a great event for many years.”

The event is slated for Aug. 26 and Aug. 27. It’s smaller in scope and doesn’t include a parade but Papalia said that’s by design.

“Bringing it back means we need to kind of start small,” he said. “I’m a big believer in that — lay a groundwork.”

Events will run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the 26th including downtown vendors, a band in the evening — Backlog from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — as well as a kid zone with bounce house and petting zoo.

A dunk tank will raise funds for the sports boosters and the Rouse will be putting on fireworks starting at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday will bring a Rouse 5K at 9 a.m. where the cost is a donation that will go to the Rouse’s alzheimer’s treatment programs.

Downtown events will kick off in earnest at 11 a.m. though cornhole tournament registration starts at 10:30 a.m.

The tournament, to be held by the old PNC Bank area on Main St. will start at noon and include a cash payout.

“We figured it plays in nicely to our Cornfest theme,” Papalia said, as well as an event that could bring people into town to participate or watch and enjoy some good food.

The kids zone will continue on Saturday and will be accompanied by some YMCA events — a water balloon toss at 2 p.m., three-legged race at 3 p.m. and a sack race at 3:30 p.m.

Live music from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. will include a performance from Duo 64.

Vendors will include Shriner’s sausage sandwiches, kettle corn, White Cane Coffee, Mumford Distillery, Brokenstraw Valley Winery, Beny Run Brewing, several craft vendors and more.

“There’s a lot going into it,” Papalia said. “We’re really fortunate for the amount of people that come help. It’s truly amazing. This is going to lay a good foundation as we go into next year.”

He wanted to specifically thank the sponsors that have brought the event this far — the Housing Authority as title sponsor as well as ROY, WCCBI, Northwest, Rouse and the YMCA.

This isn’t intended to be a one-off by any means as ROY aims to make Cornfest an annual event again.

And there appears to be an appetite for just that.

Youngsville Borough Manager Wendy Wilcox said she’s getting calls about the event.

“People (are) excited,” she said. “There’s definitely interest in bringing it back.”

But bringing it back isn’t solely intended to provide a good community event. Organizers are looking for feedback as part of the Heart and Soul effort.

“The point is to gather information from stories,” Wilcox said. “It’s building a comprehensive plan from the bottom up” rather than borough council making decisions for the future of the community. “We want input from the residents of Younsville and the surrounding (area so we) continue to offer what they love.”

And in top-notch corn style, they’re offering free corn on the cob to people who are willing to provide that feedback throughout the weekend.

“There’s not one specific story that we need or (are) looking for,” Barb Young, the Heart and Soul coordinator, explained. “We need to hear about those in the community, why they live in Youngsville, why they moved (here), why they stayed.”

She stressed there’s no “set correct answer” and that the intent of the process is to “build on what we do have.”

Feedback received already have highlighted strong feelings for the pool, downtown business and the importance of a safe community.

Organizers want that kind of feedback at Cornfest.

“Then (we) look toward for the future,” Young said, and use that information to determine “what other kinds of events we can bring into the community.”

“It plays into the overall mission of building a happier, healthier community for everyone,” Papalia said.