Main Street Party, Tour de Corn events combined with Festival for fun weekend

leonnah@standard-democrat.com

EAST PRAIRIE -- For the first time East Prairie's three largest annual events are being combined into one fun weekend.

This year's 39th Annual Sweet Corn Festival will include the 11th Annual Main Street Party on Friday and the 12th Annual Tour de Corn set for Saturday.

"We're trying to get people from over to come visit and enjoy activities we have for the weekend," said Cyndi Norton, director of East Prairie Chamber of Commerce. "... And I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

Norton said she's expecting a turnout of 3,000 people this weekend.

"We have 3,500 people who live here and we don't expect everyone who lives here to come, but if we can get 3,000 people to come downtown, we will be extremely happy," Norton said.

The Main Street Party will kick off the festival sponsored by the Sweet Corn Committee in cooperation with the East Prairie Chamber of Commerce. It take place from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and feature live music and street dancing. A corn-eating contest will begin at 8 p.m.

Plus, over 75 craft and food vendors will be on hand Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

"That's the most vendors we've ever had," Norton said.

Food will include crawdads (Friday night only), Buffalo ribs, pizza, quarter-pound hot dogs, pulled pork, nachos, shaved ice, cupcake bar and more. Crafts include anything from homemade pot holders to kitchen towels, jewelry and home decor.

"Tour de Corn is our charity bike ride, and that kicks off on Saturday," Norton said. "We've got as many riders as last year. Every year we have more riders than the year before."

Last year 1,162 cyclists from 22 states were pre-registered for the event, which is about the same for this year, according to Silvey Barker, ride coordinator. Same-day registration last year was 400.

The ride begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Family Life Center in downtown East Prairie. From there riders will follow one of four routes -- 15, 30, 65 or 100 miles -- which lead them through Mississippi and Scott Counties through towns such as Charleston, Diehlstadt, Morley, Benton, Commerce and Anniston. Everyone finishes at the starting point.

"Everything is similar. We've made some minor changes," Barker said about the routes.

Every route has at least one rest stop where riders can get snacks and drinks, depending on the stops, which are manned by local residents or groups such as churches.

"We've had some people who have ridden every single year," Barker said. "Groups who come for their family reunions gather here and ride in Tour de Corn."

Riders can register on site from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Main Street Party or the morning of the ride at 6. The registration fee is $25.

In addition to the bike ride, several activities are planned for Saturday, including a corn-tossing contest for two-person teams of all ages at 8:30 a.m. on Main Street.

Then at 9 a.m., children 12 and under can participate in a kiddy bike parade. Their bikes will be decorated to the theme of "Thank God for Farmers. Thank God for Sweet Corn." A 9:30 a.m. a kiddy parade will take place followed by outhouse races at 10:30 a.m. and pig races at 11 a.m.

A dog show, car and antique tractor show and bow-making class round out the day's activities.

The Chamber Fish Fry will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the East Prairie Nutrition Center, the "Putting on the Hits" program begins at 7 p.m. in the high school gym.

A quilt show and musical entertainment will take place both days at the East Prairie Nutrition. One festival event not taking place this weekend are the Sweet Corn Beauty Pageants, which are scheduled for June 29 and 30.

Meanwhile, Barker noted the impact the ride and festival have on the region.

"We have cyclists who've booked (lodging) in Sikeston, Cape, Charleston and East Prairie -- so it's not just Mississippi County's economy the ride affects," Barker said.

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