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• The annual Sweetcorn Festival returns to downtown Urbana

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There will be more than corn to celebrate at the 34th annual Urbana Sweetcorn Festival that will kick off on Friday, August 28 at 5:00 p.m. in downtown Urbana. With three national live music acts, spontaneous improv performances, a bell tower dedication and an appearance from the Marching Illini, the event’s coordinators have added some exciting elements to this CU summer favorite.

Susan Toalson, Executive Director of the Urbana Business Association, said she’s excited to get the word out about the new and exciting additions to this year’s event. “There’s so much that’s new, it’s hard to package it all,” she said. Last year more than 70,000 people attended the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival and Toalson said she hopes that the new features and increased media coverage will bring even more people to the area’s largest outdoor festival.

The list of improvements to this year’s celebration is extensive. For starters, the festival will feature three main national music acts, in addition to 19 other music acts, including local favorites the Prairie Dogs and the Boneyard Jazz Quintet. “The goal this year was to try and have music everywhere you go,” said Toalson.

In previous years only one headlining act has taken the stage, but this year’s trio of national acts has broad appeal. Up-and-coming contemporary Christian band 33 Miles will play to the evening crowd on the “One Community Together” Stage on Friday night from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Alternative rock band Days of the New will take the Miller Main Stage Friday night at 10 p.m., and on Saturday night the rock band War, known for 1970s rock hits “Low Rider,” “Spill the Wine” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”, will bring the festival to a close. The festival will also feature an appearance from the Marching Illini on Saturday afternoon.

In case you have one too many at the beer tent or just want to spend the evening away from home, the Urbana Business Association partnered with Eastland Suites to provide free transportation to and from the event, as well as special room rates.

Another new element to this year’s celebration is what organizers are calling “Art When You Least Expect It But Most Enjoy It, It’s All Around You.” Toalson couldn’t divulge details since the surprise performances will be unannounced and take place throughout the festival, but she could share that members of the group Zoo Improv will be mingling with the crowds, so you never know when you’ll witness a random act of art.

This year the festival has become more environmentally friendly, designating an entire area to green organizations. Dubbed “Green Alley,” the area of the festival on Broadway Avenue south of Main Street will be reserved for “green” exhibits. In addition to Green Alley, the cups used at this year’s event will also be recyclable. So even if you’re hanging out at the beer tent, you’re going green.

On Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m., local leaders will gather at the Champaign County Courthouse Bell Tower for a dedication ceremony. Following the dedication, the 13th Annual Motor Muster will kick off at 10:30 a.m. This antique car show will take place at the corner of Race and Main streets and will run until 4:00 p.m.

But if you have a craving for sweetcorn, volunteers at the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival will be cooking up an abundance of the celebration’s buttery namesake. Toalson said more than 30,000 ears of Illinois sweetcorn and more than 14,000 pounds of butter were ordered in preparation for the event. In past years the festival has caught some sweet corn from nearby states, but this year organizers were able to bring in corn solely from within the state thanks to a healthy growing season.

Toalson says she is thankful the Champaign-Urbana community is so supportive of the event. “We rely on the creative talents of the community,” she said. “If we didn’t have the sponsors we wouldn’t be able to have this free festival.”