The Crossroads Chamber’s annual Corn Roast opened its two-day festival Friday, May 30, filling Bulldog Park with the aromas of roasted corn, smoked barbecue, and freshly fried elephant ears as visitors arrived for the first night of a weekend of food, music, and family fun.
The weekend festival is one of Crossroads Chamber’s biggest events of the year, with them anticipating about 3,000 – 5,000 visitors stopping by Bulldog Park over the two-day celebration. In addition to endless ears of corn and more than 20 food vendors, the event featured bounce houses and live performances by Farmer Dan and Party Foul. Saturday’s lineup added a cornhole tournament, a corn eating contest, and music by DJ Dave Galt, Jack Cunningham, and the Crawpuppies.
“It’s a fantastic way for us to have a great kick-off to the summer season,” Jennifer Reed, Crossroads Chamber’s Director of Special Events, said. “It’s great to see the community come together and join in the festivities at the Corn Roast.”
Beyond the food and music, visitors also explored a number of booths set up by other local businesses and organizations, ones offering more than a bite to eat. One such group was the Crown Point Community Library, which hosted a duck-pond mini game for kids and shared an array of information about its services and programs.
“By getting outside of our four walls at the library, we’re able to engage with our community in a different way,” Julie Wendorf, director of Crown Point Community Library, said. “For those that don’t use the library, it’s a great way to show off all the things we’re doing that they might be interested in.”
South Shore CVA’s Alyssa Marrero, a travel concierge for the organization, noted that events like the Corn Roast also play a part in making the Region a draw to visitors from around the area and beyond.
“At South Shore, we’re all about the community and we want everyone to see what Northwest Indiana has to offer,” she said. “The Crossroads Chamber’s Corn Roast is one of those events that lets us reach as many people as possible, and it helps us bring as much business as we can to our partners. Today, we’re getting to meet people from all over, and that has to be my favorite thing about it.”
The lineup of live music is always one of the corn roast’s biggest draws, and this year proved no different.
“We’re super excited about the music this year,” Reed said. “We have some great local musical acts that bring a ton of energy to the park.”
Reed also gave a shout-out to the event’s sponsors, which included Presenting Sponsor Level 10 Coatings, Powers Health sponsored this year’s entertainment and new this year, Rytech Restoration and US Federal 1364 Credit Union were the Aww Shucks Sponsors. Liberty Siding and Windows and Plumbers Local 210 sponsored the Beer Garden and even set volunteers to help in the roast’s beer garden.
“We couldn’t have done this without them,” Reed said. “All of our sponsors, volunteers and the Corn Roast committee have been exceptional.”
