Terry Visits the Adel Sweet Corn Festival

Over the years I have been part of various festivals around the world. From the Pilgrimage in Rome to a Scandinavian Cheese Rolling Festival in 1984, I always have a great time celebrating with the locals.

In August I participated in the Adel Sweet Corn Festival for the first time in 10 years after being abroad.

I began my morning watching the parade. Kids lined the streets rushing for the goodies thrown from the float. I snagged a few pieces of candy that were good-naturedly tossed at my head from a fast moving dune buggy.

I then joined the crowd as we marched to the destination of the day, the Corn Tent! The lines moved quickly as I chitchatted with festival goers young and old. The kids, impatiently shifting from foot to foot, next to their parents who kept reassuring them it was worth the wait.

I got to the front of the line, and not wanting to be greedy, asked for just 8 ears of corn. I was served by the Adel Fan Club and got an Official Adel Fan Club 2010 bracelet I still wear with pride.

I joined a group of friends on the Courthouse lawn and devoured plate after plate of corny goodness. It was the best corn I’ve ever had, and I’m sure the other 10,000 people would agree!

Once full, I started taking in the sites. I bought my fair share of BBQ and handmade crafts before I stopped by the DiscoverAdel.com booth. Imagine my surprise to find a family posing for pictures with a, dare I say it, dashing cutout of yours truly! *A worthwhile disclaimer, I like to think I’m taller in person.

Before the family moved to the next booth, they registered to win the great prizes we had to offer. Shanna Anglin won the Atherton House Artisan Pitcher, with Mike Whisner and Troy Havener each winning a set of golf passes to the River Valley Golf Course.

As the sun started to retreat, we back to the DiscoverAdel headquarters to relax, just for a moment, before heading out to the Community Dance.

Even after a long day, the crowd was excited to hear some live music and enjoy a beer or two. I sat in my lawn chair and looked around, a smile moving across my face. In all my years of traveling, of finding the new and wonderful, nothing beats Adel!

– Terry