Come on out for church's 52nd annual Corn Fest fundraiser

As sure as August has a first weekend, Rolling Meadows has a Corn Fest.

For the 52nd year, Community Church of Rolling Meadows is organizing the one-day fest, which brings together residents, families and even out-of-towners for an afternoon of food, entertainment and craft shopping.

What started as a backyard cookout with a few church members has grown into an event that draws up to 3,000 people each year, says Kathy Smith, church secretary. It's a fundraiser for the church as well as its biggest outreach effort of the year.

"It's been amazing to see it change through the years," says organizer Laurie Hill, adding that former residents and church members come back to attend. Some even plan family reunions around the Corn Fest.

Admission is free. A purchased meal ticket will get you get a hamburger or hot dog, watermelon, pop and all the sweet corn you can eat.

Before the end of the day, some 15,000 ears of corn will be served or sold. It's grown near DeKalb and purchased though Didier Farms in Lake County. "We make several runs throughout the day, so it couldn't be fresher," Smith says.

Before the big tent is taken away, as tradition dictates, church members will meet for their Sunday service the next morning.

Hill is heading up the Corn Fest for the sixth time. When I talked to her four days before the event, her No. 1 worry was weather. Rain certainly is bad ­- though most years they've been lucky. But heat could keep numbers low, too, she says.

She remembers what's now called their "Storm Fest" about three years ago. All week before the fest it had poured rain, and on Friday, after tents and chairs were set up, a storm with strong winds swept through.

The huge tent fell, chairs were blown around. "I just ran around catching tents," Hill said. She and others stayed up all night making sure things would be ready.

The next day, the corn fest went on, though on very soggy ground. After the event closed that night, the tent collapsed for no apparent reason. Needless to say, Sunday's "Church in the Tent" went indoors that year.

The craft fair has grown tremendously over the years. This year 70 vendors are signed up, including experts in jewelry making, woodworking, pottery, tapestry.

Live entertainment starts at 4 p.m. Frankie Miglio of Rolling Meadows will sing tunes of the Sinatra era.

If you can stop by, be sure to thank some of the dozens of volunteers ­- mostly church members ­- who have been signed up since May to grill, shuck, serve and clean up. Others started in January making a blue patchwork quilt to raffle off.

Their efforts have continued a tradition with a true hometown feel.

• Colleen Thomas welcomes your news about community events and people. Call (847) 427-4591, or e-mail her at cthomas@dailyherald.com.

Corn Fest

When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Community Church of Rolling Meadows, 2720 Kirchoff Road

Admission: Free

Meal tickets: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children 10 and under

Call: (847) 255-5510