Rocky Mounty 2nd Annual Sweet Corn Festival
Lake of the Ozarks (September 4th, 2010)
A festival for celebrating sweet corns? Well, you must think it is absolutely crazy to have an event dedicated to sweet corns! But the people of the Ozarks do not think so. The people of the Ozarks celebrate every single aspect of life ranging from cars and bikes to grains and dogs. There is a festival commemorating every smallest joy of life. Lake of the Ozarks is a place where the celebration, fun and parties never cease to end.
The Sweet Corn Festival takes place in Rocky Mount which is a short distance from the Ozarks. People of all age groups, right from infants to the ones in the twilight years of their life, flock to this region to consume the thousands of corn cobs donated by the farmers to commemorate this event.
There is an interesting history associated with this festival. Three decades ago, in the 1970s, barley and sugar beets were grown in the farms spread across this region. However, the demand for these crops began to dwindle and there were no takers. The town witnessed a tremendous downfall because all the farmers here were dependent on the sale of their crops for survival. With no takers, they were at a loss!
It was at this time that, Dave Galinet, a farmer at the Ozarks decided to take the bull by the horns and started growing sweet corn instead. The climate in this region was conducive for the growth of this crop and all the farmers followed the lead. In a short span of time, fortunes turned and the town prospered. This is the reason for the people to celebrate a festival dedicated to this crop that sweetened their lives, literally!
The first instance of this festival was in August 1992. When the festival was first held, about 800 people turned up for the celebrations. Today, this celebration has gained so much prominence that over 20,000 people flock to the Ozarks to celebrate sweet corn. Do you know what they get to eat? Corn, corn and more corn! You can find some of the most exotic dishes made of corn during this event.
And don’t think eating is the only activity you can indulge in, though it is the primary one! There is a classic car show organized at the Ozarks where people bring in hundreds of classic cars and put them on display. There is a cycling tour that is organized as well to help burn all the calories you consume. Parades and live music complete the entertainment options for adults. For kids there are firework shows, small fairs and bounce houses where they can prance about joyfully.
