The 92nd Annual Corn Days Celebration Gets Underway This Evening in Downtown Carmi.
Corn Days will officially get underway on Friday with a Cornhole Tournament at 5:30 at the Floral Hall on the White County Fairgrounds. Clint Taylor and Thys Bax head that up. They can take up to 32 teams. You can just register this evening.This is the 12th year for that event.
At the same time at 5:30 pm this evening, the Carmi Women’s Charity Club Pageants will be held at the Carmi-White County High School. The night will end with a gospel sing set for 7:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church featuring lots of local talent. Jared and Hillary Mitchell, Bryan Cowling, Liz Rhinehardt, Tracy and Brian Orr along with Jenny Howard, Ashtyn Cowling & Kaylea Chappelle will all perform.
Saturday things will begin with the Candy Corn Run hosted by the Guardian Center at 8:15 am. The run will start and end at the First Christian Church. That will be followed up at 10:00 am with the pet parade. Participants should meet on Main Street in front of First Mid Bank at 9:30 am. Judging will begin at 9:45 am. The parade will go down Main Street until disbanding at Veterans Park. Categories will include Best Float, Best Decorated Bicycle, Best Decorated Tricycle, Prettiest Pet, Most Unusual Pet, Best Clown Costume, and Best TV/Movie Character Costume. All participants will be given a treat bag courtesy of the Kiwanis Club and local businesses.
From 10:00am – 2:00pm will be the annual Car Show at the First Mid Bank Parking Lot and stretching down in front of the Washington Attendance Center almost to the Oak Street turnoff. Mark Rogers and the Appetizers will be performing on the Car Show Stage at 10:30 am.
From 11:00 am – Noon will be the Chili Cook Off at Veterans Park. A dollar allows you to become a taste test judge and place your vote. Water will also be available for purchase. Awards will be handed out at 12:15pm.
At 11:30 am the Southern Illinois Showstoppers will be performing on the Main Stage, followed by the Corn Day King and Queen Coronation at Noon on the Main Stage. Another baton group, the All Star Twirlers will perform on the Main Stage at 1:00 pm.
The winner’s from Wednesday night’s Carmi’s Got Talent will perform on the Main Stage at 3:00 pm. That event will be followed by the big Corn Day Parade at 4:00 pm. The parade should last between an hour and a half to about 2 hours.
There will be a little bit of a lull from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm as crews get the stage set for the evening entertainment, then heat right back up at 7:00 pm with music from Tailgate Revival followed by Country star, Colt Ford.
And you will want to pick up a stylish Corn Cob Corn Day hat to really enjoy the festival! Hats are on sale for $20 at Dartt & Company, First Mid Illinois Bank and Trust, and Peoples National Bank. Hats will also be available for purchase at the Hospitality tent located to the right of the Main Stage on Saturday. Everyone who purchases a hat will be entered to win $100 cash!
On Corn Day in Carmi you will be able to visit three White County Historical Society museums from 11 am to 2 pm. In addition, you can include the ever-popular Corn Tasting event at Ratcliff Inn beginning at 11 am until 1 pm or until the food is gone. Tasting plates are $2 each and then you can view the exhibits upstairs in the old Ratcliff Inn where Abraham Lincoln once spent the night.
The L. Haas Store Museum on Main Street and the Robinson Stewart House on Main Cross will also be open 11 to 2. The original 2 rooms of Robinson Stewart House were built in 1814, making it the oldest house in White County, and the L. Haas Store includes countless relics from White County history as well as the local exhibits which were prepared when the Historical Society hosted traveling Smithsonian exhibits in 2005 and 2008.
The One-Room School located on E. Robinson Street in Carmi will hold an Open House on Corn Day, October 12, 2019 from 10:00 – 3:00. This one-room school (Rudolph School) was originally located east of Carmi on the Howard Ackerman farm. It was relocated to its present location by the White County Retired Teachers in November, 1994. After undergoing extensive renovation it looks very much like it did when it was built in 1882 except the original structure had a basement which was very rare for one-room schools. The museum was officially opened to the public on Corn Day 1997. There are many pictures, class registers, and other memorabilia that will bring back many memories to those who attended a one-room school. It will also intrigue and educate those who never experienced attending a one-room school. We hope you will stop by during Corn Day.
On Saturday morning, the CWCHS STEM Club will be hosting “Once Upon a Pancake.” Come enjoy a pancake and sausage, biscuits and gravy, and bacon and eggs breakfast to start your Corn Day off right. A variety of superheroes and princesses will be available to meet the kids and take pictures with them. The breakfast is$7.00 per plate with Pre-K and under eating free. Join us at the Lion’s Den from 7-10 am this Saturday, October 12. The Lions Club will also be selling homemade cinnamon rolls and pies during this time.
Carmi Kiwanis Corn Days 2019 is upon us again. With that comes some Road Closures and traffic detour patterns to allow for safe travels for through traffic and pedestrians. Church St. between Main and Cherry St. is blocked. Walnut St. between Main and Cherry St. is partially blocked to allow for the setup of the Main Stage. The set traffic detour pattern will be in place starting at 3:00 pm Friday at 10-11-19. After 3:00 pm Vendors will begin setting up on Main St. Vendors will NOT be allowed to set up prior to 3:00 pm due to State Regulations and traffic hazards. Any vehicles parked on Main St. between Main Cross and Jessup St. after 3:00 pm Friday are subject to being towed at the owner’s expense. No admittance is allowed during this time to any traffic other than vendors setting up. The detour traffic pattern will be the same as years past with the detour being from East Main St. to Locust, onto Cherry St., and then onto Oak St. Any vehicles parked along the detour route on Locust and Cherry after 3:00 pm Friday are subject to being towed at the owner’s expense. These routes will be visibly marked with no parking signs and detour route signs. This Detour will be in place until approximately 2:00 am on Sunday 10-13-19. Please feel free to call the Carmi Police Department at 618-382-4633 with any questions regarding the established routes.
The Parade begins at 4:00 pm on Saturday 10-12-19. At that time all traffic will be diverted at Main onto Fairground Road and then onto Oak St. for the Detour around Main until such time as the parade is over.
Please remember that alcohol is not allowed to be taken outside of the bar establishments unless there is a secured area that is not accessible to the general public. Further, NO alcohol is allowed in or adjacent to any street or alley or on or adjacent to the public sidewalks. This will be monitored and enforced with citations issued if necessary. Please be responsible and mindful of your actions. We hope everyone is able to attend and has a safe and enjoyable 2019 Corn Day!
