You can never have too much corn.
pass on it to the Midwest to work a corn boil into a full - blow summer spectacle of carnival ride , funnel shape cakes , beer gardens , and rock ‘ n ’ paradiddle . What started as a modest , nubby corny community of interests tradition in 1957 , as a way to celebrate the get-go of corn time of year in Illinois , has acquire intoCorn Fest , a quintessential summer staple with bouncy music , United States Department of State fair - way food for thought , activity , art , and of line , all the boil corn whiskey you could eat .
In its current festival - style loop since 1977 , attract upwards of 100,000 one-year visitant , Corn Fest takes place in business district DeKalb , in the far westerly exurbs of Chicago . A volunteer - outpouring non - profits , it ’s fundamentally a colossal carnival fuse with a music fete , featuring a sound stage next to the historical Egyptian Theatre , a beer garden in Palmer Court , and a slew of vendor , games , and rides in between .
From its modest beginning to its present - day hoopla , Corn Fest has balloon into a requisite late - summertime attracter for folks of all years , along with cock-a-hoop - name musicians like Joan Jett , Lady Antebellum , and Phil Vassar . Taking place August 23–25 , this year ’s lineup fix to hit the soundstage includes rock- and state - centric bit like Sugar Ray , 7th Heaven , and a telephone number of covering band . Elsewhere , attendees can look forward to a full - blown carnival with required Midway - style game and rides , like Ferris roulette wheel , merry-go-round , and the kinds of high - velocity spinning drive you should probably not go on immediately after eating . deposit on the north ending of the fete , in the city and Frontier parking lots in between 2d and 3rd Street , rides require either coupons ( one voucher = $ 1.50 ) or an unlimited daily wristband for $ 33 . Meanwhile , the Kid Fest division contains face picture , organic Henna tattoos , and a rock climbing wall , while the family - friendly beer garden scarf bandage alcoholic beverages and various food vendor catapult everything from funnel cake and curly fries to barbeque and gargantuan turkey pegleg .
Corn|Shutterstock/Nakboon wannarak
And let ’s not forget about the headlining act : the corn . The chief draw on August 24 is the Chuck Siebrasse Corn Boil , named after a lifelong DeKalb resident and chairman of the Corn Boil for 25 years . From 11 am–2 promethium , invitee can get their fill of devoid steamed fresh corn , which collect to about 70 heaps of cob served . Festival hours are 3–11 postmortem examination August 23 , 11 am–11 pm August 24 , and 11 am–6 pm August 25 . worldwide admission to Corn Fest is free , but admission to insurance premium reckon region near the soundstage is $ 10 a day or $ 25 for the weekend .
Drive time:
1 hour from Chicago.2 hours from Milwaukee .
More things to do in DeKalb:
In gain to check out the historical Egyptian Theatre , correctly in the heart of Corn Fest and host to free - to - attend performances from local dance troop and music groups , there ’s enough more to see and do in DeKalb beyond corn whisky . For a different variety of history , the kind root in barbed wire , check out theEllwood House Museum , an ornate priggish dwelling house - turn - museum earlier owned by biting wire entrepreneur Isaac Ellwood . Today , the hall is open for tours and filled with effete architecture and art exhibits , along with lush gardens and wine tastings on the terrace .
Outside , visitors have pile of trails to stroll and woods to explore at parks and preserves likeAdee ’s Woods , theAfton Forest Preserve , and theChief Shabbona Forest Preserve , or you’re able to embark on a ego - guided go of the region’sbarn quilts — there are a lot of them !
In nearby Waterman , you ’ll findHoney Hill Orchard , one of thebest orchards for apple - picking in all of Chicagoland , and dwelling to quaint attractions like a nation depot , patrol wagon rides , and a vintage barn wafting with cyder donuts . There are alsonumerous other farms , home to corn mazes , Cucurbita pepo , and later in the twelvemonth , Christmas trees .
Where to stay in DeKalb:
In addition to the basic comforts of budget - friendly chain hotels and motel , DeKalb County is abode to somecharming B&Bs , likeParkside Bed & BreakfastandPaper Doll House , whileThe Montcler Hotelprovides a boutique - wye experience — and cozy lodge vibration — in the town of Sandwich .
Where to eat in DeKalb:
Since one probably should n’t subsist on clavus and jumbo Republic of Turkey leg alone , you ’d be wise to assay out some of the other dining options in Ithiel Town . In the morning , coffee shop and bakeries include homeyOpen Door Coffee , Angie ’s Sugar Buzz Bakery , andBarb City Bagels , where lolly - made flavour function the gamut from the classic ( everything , benny , etc . ) to the decidedly not classical ( Hawaiian , sun - dried love apple , etc . ) .
afterwards , dining options take all form of shapes . Like a vintage Pullman Palace dining railroad car from 1893.Bull Moose Bar & Grille , so named for the gearing that President Roosevelt used in his “ Bull Moose Party ” campaign in 1912 , features all - daytime consolation food for thought options , like yellowish brown banana hot cakes , country - fry steak and egg , mac & cheese , brisket luger , and electrocute cheesecake . For more odorous nostalgia , the iconicDairy Rippleis a longstanding institution known for its plunge ice emollient conoid , hustle , and malts , all adorned with googly eyes .
Another great selection isThe Dirty Bird , a deeply - fried fixture know for its hand - battered stamp , pork tenderloin sandwich , onion ring , and craft beer . Or you could veer upscale at theEllwood Steak and Fish House , a bounteous throwback of a dining room teeming with swanky Americana - like runt cocktail , rib - eye porc chop , and filet mignon .
DeKalb Corn Fest/JPM photography
To booze , DeKalb County boasts its fair share of drunken innovations . Sip for yourself atWaterman WineryandWhiskey Acres , a still and savoring room in a arcadian b - like background .
