National Sweetcorn Festival

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

I have plenty Festival passes, stop in and get yours and take a look around.
Open 11-5 Tuesday-Friday

08/24/2026

Come meet Rapunzel on Sunday 9/6 at Center Stage! Long haired beauties can also win at the Ponytail Contest at 2:30! 🏆

08/22/2026

🌽 A Little Sweetcorn Festival History 🌽

You may have noticed the antique steam engine featured in this year’s Sweetcorn 5K Classic logo. It’s more than just a piece of the festival’s history.
It represents a tradition that has been part of the National Sweetcorn Festival for more than 75 years.

Approximately 50 tons of sweet corn is cooked with an antique steam engine and distributed for free for nearly 20,000 visitors each festival!

The steam engine represents Hoopeston’s rich agricultural and industrial heritage. It connects the farmers who grew the corn, the machinery that helped make Hoopeston a sweet corn industry hub and the festival that continues to celebrate that history today.

Small town. Big tradition.
Register for the Sweetcorn 5K Classic here!

https://tinyurl.com/yny8n4vt

08/21/2026

✨👑 MEET OUR OFFICIAL CLASS OF 2026! 👑✨

We are thrilled to officially introduce the 21 incredible women representing states from across the country as our National Sweetheart Pageant Class of 2026! 🌽❤️

Hosted by the Hoopeston Jaycees over Labor Day Weekend in Hoopeston, Illinois, the National Sweetheart Pageant is a tradition unlike any other bringing together sisterhood, service, pageantry, community spirit, and the beloved Hoopeston Sweetcorn Festival.

📜 Meet the Class of 2026:

🏔️ Alaska (AK) – Suamili Mataia
🏇 Alabama (AL) – Victoria Pedruzzi
🌴 California (CA) – Jennifer Cortez
🍑 Georgia (GA) – Shacori Valentine
🌺 Hawaii (HI) – Sydney Kim
🌽 Illinois (IL) – Alexis Hunt
🏁 Indiana (IN) – Kayla Myers
🌻 Kansas (KS) – Katharina Danielle
🐎 Kentucky (KY) – Meghan Simpson
🦀 Maryland (MD) – Tabitha Spell
🌊 Michigan (MI) – Aubrey MacIntosh
🌊 Mississippi (MS) – Rebekah Wallace
🌹 Missouri (MO) – Grace Clark
🌄 New Mexico (NM) – Elizabeth Fellinger
🍁 New Hampshire (NH) – Kate Marie Chevaire
🌰 Ohio (OH) – Rachel Levi
🌲 Oregon (OR) – Erika Akers
🌴 South Carolina (SC) – Sidney Tindall
🎻 Tennessee (TN) – Mary Humphrey
⭐ Texas (TX) – Laurel Jones
🧀 Wisconsin (WI) – Makaya Stanke

Join us September 5th & 6th as these women make their way to Hoopeston for an unforgettable tradition of competition, community, and memories in the making. ❤️

We can’t wait for you to get to know this year’s Sweethearts. Help us welcome the National Sweetheart Pageant Class of 2026! 👑🌽✨

PageantTradition LaborDayWeekend SweetheartSisters

08/21/2026

Everyone’s FAVORITE weekend in Hoopeston is just 2️⃣ weeks away!🌽🎡🎟️🍬
Thank you, Corntagious News, for highlighting the McFerren Park Mural Project and the 82nd National Sweetcorn Festival schedule in Friday’s edition!

➡️ https://corntagiousnews.com

08/20/2026

❤️Saturday 9.5.26 Prelim Night
Reserved Seats: $25
Pageant Begins @ 6:30pm

❤️Sunday 9.6.26 Final Night
Reserved Seats: $30
Pageant Begins @ 6:30pm

❤️Reserve your tickets online now by visiting our website(listed in bio)

Prices will be raised at the door.

https://nationalsweetheartpageant.com

08/18/2026

📚✏️ Back-to-school season means the 82nd National Sweetcorn Festival is around the CORNer! 🎡🌽✨
Keep the summertime fun going into Labor Day Weekend in Hoopeston, IL with family-fun entertainment, carnival rides, tasty food, and of course, FREE, HOT, BUTTERED SWEETCORN served Saturday, Sunday, and Monday! 🌽🌾🎡🎟️

Passes are available at the Burger Bank, Kirby Foods - Hoopeston, and Mary's Clothesline while supplies last!
Buy now & save! Cash payments only please.

🎟️ 5 Day Gate Pass -- $8‼️
*entry into McFerren Park Thurs.-Mon. ($15 value!)
🎟️ 5 Day Ride Pass -- $80‼️
*unlimited carnival rides ALL Festival long! Thurs.-Mon. ($240 value!)

Please note carnival ride bracelets for individual ride sessions will be available for purchase for $30 each at the carnival during the Festival. There will be 2 carnival ride sessions on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. This means the carnival takes a break then re-opens for the next session.

08/15/2026

🚨 SCAM ALERT / PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

Please be aware that fake accounts are emailing vendors and pretending to represent the National Sweetcorn Festival . We will never message you directly from a personal email to sell a booth space or ask for instant digital payments. All payments are sent to our PO box.

08/14/2026

🍭LAST CALL FOR Grand Parade ENTRIES!🍬
Find the link to the entry form here ➡️https://www.hoopestonjaycees.org/festival/files/2026%20Parade%20Entry%20Form.pdf

Mark your calendars, we’re just 3 short weeks away from the 82nd National Sweetcorn Festival!
🗓️Thursday, Sept. 3 — Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
📍Hoopeston, IL

www.hoopestonjaycees.org/festival/
🌽🌾🎡🎟️ 🌽🌾🎡🎟️