Sugar Grove Corn Boil is back for summer fun July 25-28

The annual Sugar Grove Corn Boil, a summertime tradition for over 50 years, returns July 25-28 at Volunteer Park.

The festival kicks off at 5 p.m. Thursday, with food trucks and the beer garden, as well as the carnival, open until 10 p.m.

The carnival wristband presale has been extended to Monday, July 22. Still time to get wristbands at the discounted price. They are available for $30 at FNBO Bank and Old Second Bank in Sugar Grove. Wristbands are $35 at the festival.

A family movie will be shown at 5:30 p.m. The Fortunate Sons, a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

On Friday, the festival begins at 4 p.m. with corn, food and the beer tent. The carnival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. The opening parade and ceremony begin at 5 p.m. by the Sugar Grove Public Library and the parade makes its way down Bastian Drive into the park. Strung Out Chicago will open the music stage at 6:30 p.m., followed by Fresh Hops at 7:30 p.m. and headliner Jimmy Nick and Don’t Tell Mama at 9:30 p.m.

If you’re 18 or older, stop by the bingo tent by the playground and help raise some funds for local nonprofits. Bingo will be 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Bingo cards are $1 each and the pots will be split 50/50.

The event continues for a full day on Saturday, as the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The beer tent opens at noon. Live music kicks off at 5 p.m. with Liv Hatfield and Serendipity, followed by Beatles tribute band American English at 8:30 p.m. The evening ends with the Bob Bohler Memorial Fireworks Show at 9:30 p.m.

New this year is a Cornhole Tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday, near the VIP tent. A $250 cash prize is up for grabs. Make sure to register by 1 p.m. that day to participate. The tournament will be played in teams of two, with teammates assigned through a blind draw. The entry fee is $20 per person.

The Craft and Vendor Market has moved to an indoor location. Check out the offerings between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday events open with the carnival and food and craft vendors at 11 a.m. The beer tent opens at noon.

This year, the car show is expanding to offer a larger variety of vehicles. It is open to all types, years, and classes of cars and trucks. Registration for the show will be 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday. Cost to enter is $10 per vehicle. The show runs until 3 p.m. Awards will be presented for a variety of different categories, including best in show car and best in show truck.

Mad Science demos begin at noon on the main stage, followed by The Duke Band at 1 p.m. The four-day festival wraps up with The Chain performing Fleetwood Mac songs, including their most complex and challenging renditions, at 3:30 p.m.

The free festival started in 1967 as a fundraiser for the Sugar Grove Young Adults Club. As the event grew, the Sugar Grove Corn Boil, NFP was created. This year marks the 54th Corn Boil, as the event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

For more information about the Sugar Grove Corn Boil, visit sugargrovecornboil.org or facebook.com/SugarGroveCornBoil/.