By JOLENE CRAIG
Ohio Correspondent

MARIETTA, Ohio — Coordinators of the annual Marietta Sweet Corn Festival are expecting between 4,000-5,000 people to attend the event’s third year.

“Last year we had 5,000 ears eaten and that’s what we’re expecting this year,” said Co-Chair Jessie Bighley.

Front Street will be closed to traffic beginning this Friday when the festival begins and will stay closed through Saturday, when the event ends. All of the sweet corn, which is locally grown and donated by Witten Farm Market, was planted in April and has been ready for a month.

“Last year they donated about 6,000 ears of corn, so we will see how many ears we will have this year,” Bighley said.
All of the corn is roasted on the cob and buttered before it is sold to hungry corn lovers.

“This is a unique festival for the entire area,” she said.
The festival has been compared to old-fashioned small town festivals where there are games and children’s crafts.

“We have a children’s corn eating contest and a free children’s area, which makes it a good event for families,” Bighley said.
The free admission also makes it easier on families. Not only is locally grown corn available for about $1 per ear, but there will be local food vendors as well as a farmers’ market stand.

“We want this to be about the community,” she said.

There is one problem with this year’s event – it’s outdoors.
“The one thing I’m worried about is the weather,” Bighley said. “It is supposed to rain, which can keep our numbers down.”
It rained during last year’s event, but the weather broke and more people poured onto the street.

“I hope this year turns into last year,” she said.

A portion of the proceeds from the festival goes to ReStore Marietta and to award area students scholarships.

Schedule of events
Friday
6-8:30 p.m. - Corn hole
Face painting
Merry-go-round

Saturday
11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. – Sack races for 12 years old and under
Noon – Corn eating contest, 8-12 years old
12:15 p.m. - Corn eating contest, 13-17 years old
12:30 p.m. – Corn eating contest, 18 years and up
1:30 p.m. – Presentation of FFA Sweet Corn Festival Scholarship recipients