2022 Board Meetings:
Meetings are held at the Eden-North Collins Rod & Gun Club beginning at 7pm located at 2404 Sandrock Road, Eden, NY 14057. Please email info@edencornfest.com for additional information. The Eden Corn Festival Board meeting dates are as follows:
February 28, 2022
History
In 1959, the Eden Chamber of Commerce discussed the idea of holding an annual festival to promote the town. The resulting Garden Festival was held that year, but did not become an annual event. In 1962, the town had a very successful 150th Sesquicentennial celebration.
Following the celebration, a man named John Munich brought up the idea to the Chamber of Commerce of a yearly corn festival aimed to make the town money and gain publicity. After further talk and planning, the Chamber President proposed the sweet corn festival in May, 1963, and the Eden Corn Festival was born. The dates were set for Saturday, August 15th, and Sunday, August 16th, due to this being the time of year that Eden’s sweet corn would be most tender.
Various committees were set up, and decisions had to be made regarding how big the festival should be, how much money would be required to finance it, and how the money could be raised, since the treasury balance at the time amounted to a mere few hundred dollars. The festival would be held on the grounds of the Newell Faulkner Post of the American Legion on Legion Drive and Route 62, and the committees received help from the American Legion and the Eden School District, who allowed the use of the parking lots on the school grounds and use of their athletic fields. The first corn festival was successful, featuring a carnival, corn judging and auction, a corn queen beauty contest, pet show, tug-of-war, and a parade. Corn was sold for 10 cents an ear, and had to be picked in the dark to keep up with the demand for the 6,000 ears sold. Swimming events, lacrosse and baseball games, square dancing, and a concert provided additional entertainment.
It was decided that the Eden Corn Festival would become an annual event, and it has been held every year since 1964.
2022 Eden Corn Festival Committee
Jeff Winter
President
Amusements Chairman
Media Contact
Keith Gannon
1st Vice President
Concessions Chairman
Entertainment Chairman
Rich Ventry
2nd Vice President
Go Green Chairman
Andrew Riedel
Treasurer
Information Technology Chairperson
Kristin Howie
Secretary
Gary Eye
Financial Advisor
Sallie Bigelow
Advertising Chairperson
Marketing Chairperson
Mike Dau
Grounds Chairman
Dale Hess
Tractor Pull Chairman
Assistant to Concession Manager
Kris Scheetz
Craft Show Chairman
Linda Prell
Trade Show Chairman
Joni Dau
Parking Chairman
Special Events Chairman