On Saturday, Aug. 25, the annual Shippensburg Corn Festival transformed King Street into a medley of art, entertainment and food vendors.

The idea of the corn festival was established by the Shippensburg Heritage and Recreation Society (SHARPS). After a historic log house was torn down in order to build Sheetz in 1979, SHARPS decided to begin the process of making Shippensburg into a registered historic district with the National Register of Historic Places in order to ensure its history was preserved.

The process required funds that SHARPS did not have so they decided to hold a festival in order to raise money. The corn festival, which is now run by the Corn Festival Committee, has remained an important event in Shippensburg ever since.

People from all over were able to enjoy a variety of events that were included in the occasion this year.
The area of the festival stretched along King Street beginning at the intersection at Prince Street, down to the intersection at Spring Street.

In order to live up to its name, a corn eating contest was held and food vendors offered various items such as corn on the cob, chicken corn soup, corn fritters, corn bread and corn pudding.

Along with the staple corn items offered, the festival also included over 40 other options for people to curb their appetites. Hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, beef jerky, Thai food, kettle corn, fudge and a soda fountain could be found in the food court area as well as along the entire length of King Street.

Three areas were set up for music artists to entertain the passer-by. The main stage featured “Ridgeway Brass” “Troupe Asherah” “Midlife Cowboys,” “Blueridge Thunder Cloggers,” and “Wasted Talent.” “Wasted Talent,” who ended the day, is made up of four young teenagers.

The band consisted of a keyboard player, a saxophone player, a drummer and a singer were all the instruments the band needed to successfully entertain the crowd. They were able to sum up the corn festival when they sang “Summertime and the Livin’s Easy.”

One main draw of the festival was all of the various crafts and antiques that vendors sold along the event’s route. In addition to the popular Americana Décor that was sold by many craft vendors, more unique handmade crafts were available as well.

Candles, wind chimes, brooms, jewelry, artwork, dog treats, pottery, purses, scarecrows, photography and furniture were just a few of the many items offered to shoppers.
Not only did people take advantage of the large selection of crafts, they were able to enjoy a magic show and kids were invited to submit their sculptures for the sculpture contest.

After the food and craft vendors packed away the last of their items and the throngs of people filtered off King Street, it is clear to the Shippensburg community that the festival succeeded in once again bringing together a community of people for one exciting day of food, entertainment. and shopping.

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