A constant drizzle with occasional downpours did not stop Crown Point residents from enjoying the tastes and sights of the Annual Corn Roast on Friday, hosted by the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Going on three decades, the Corn Roast featured 33 restaurants and vendors from across Northwest Indiana, and of course, a lot of good corn and drinks. Held in Crown Point’s downtown square, the heart of the city, some standouts included the increasingly popular Tavern on Main and magician Nicky Jade’s show “Magic from the Asylum.”
“This is a way for the community to come together and kick off summer,” said Lee Hartsell, Office Manager for the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce. “It gets people out and having fun with the community and their families; it’s super family oriented.”
The Corn Roast is a two day event, lasting from 4pm to 11pm on Friday, and noon to 11pm on Saturday. Visitors on Saturday can participate in a variety of events, like Dolly’s Parade at noon, a Corn-on-the-Cob eating contest at 1pm, and a live performance by Pawnz starting at 7:30pm.
The vendors enjoyed the chance to show off and support the community all at once. Aside from restaurants, groups like Epic Limo and the Crown Point Bulldog Football Mom’s Club came out to join the Crossroads in Crown Point.
“These kinds of things bring the community together,” said Jacob Lobez, who is soon to attend Crown Point High School and is a volunteer for the Mom’s Club. “As an incoming freshman, it’s a chance to help out the town and get out and support for Crown Point football.”
The event has been popular and successful for so many years that it’s become a tradition for some residents to come out and enjoy the festival with their families. One popular aspect of the Roast is the Kids Zone, where children can ride huge slides, bounce in jump houses, and float in aquatic hamster balls. With a diverse and unique line-up of vendors and staple events like the Kids Zone, it’s a tradition that never gets old.
“I think this whole thing is a good idea, and it adds to the economy of Crown Point,” said Justin Ramstetter, who came out with his family. “It’s been a tradition for my fiancée’s family for years now. I like it, especially bringing the kids out.”
The Corn Roast is the first half of a two-week festival hosted in downtown by the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce. From June 16th to 17th, the Chamber will be hosting the Food and Arts Festival, where the food will move from fairgrounds style treats, to finer dining accompanied by the arts.
“There’s even more restaurants that participate in it, and they’ll bring more gourmet types of foods,” said Hartsell. “There’ll be all kinds of arts, with local vendors and crafters that make things by hand, and music all day long.”
To learn more about the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce, visit www.crossroadschamber.org.