Sweet Corn Serenade An Unequaled Success

Rich Adams of Spring Creek Arms was not only a vendor at Sweet Corn Serenade, but enjoyed the roasted sweet corn as well.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The sun had come out from behind the clouds, and it was a bit warmer than it had been all day, but the huge crowd of people filled the square area in downtown Oskaloosa on Thursday night.

They were there to take part in the 30th annual Sweet Corn Serenade, where the entire community has an opportunity to sit down with their fellow neighbor and enjoy a bite of summer in Iowa.

Emily Brown took over as the Oskaloosa Main Street Director, for the retiring Karen Hafner, and Sweet Corn Serenade was her second big event in a month as director, a position she has held just about as long.

She could be found with her sandals off because after working since the early morning, her feet were tired and blistered.

Brown came to the Main Street position from the events coordinator position at the Mahaska County United Way. Brown says that the challenges that come with making Sweet Corn Serenade happen aren’t that dissimilar to those hosting any other large event.

Coordinating volunteers and answering the hundreds of questions, along with placing all of the pieces necessary to make the day happen can be tricky.

Those pieces include the music, corn, rides, and the vendors that all help make the day memorable for the thousands of visitors that arrive to downtown Oskaloosa.

“The committee and the people on our staff that have done 90% of the planning for this are a godsend. There’s absolutely no way I would have survived this without them being there,” says Brown.

Brown added that she’s always enjoyed Sweet Corn Serenade as a guest, “It’s definitely a great opportunity to experience it from this side. My favorite part about doing events, period, is the reaction you get from people. Just knowing you helped make their day better.”

When it comes to the overflowing crowd on the square, Brown says it makes her feel “pretty good to see so many people today.”

“A huge thank you to everybody who has been a part of the planning, the vendors, the people putting on the activities, the food people, volunteers. Everybody that’s had a hand in making it what it is,” said Brown.

For Madonna Bowie, “It seemed to be the best yet! The food vendors during the day were fun for a late lunch under the shade of the square. We returned at 5 to a super packed square, filled with [a] fun variety of live music, people of all ages-birth to 96!”

Sandy Bailey added, “Great to see so many in the community come together and enjoy the downtown festivities!”