Autumn proves to be an exciting time for Forest Grove with the celebration of its 55th Annual Corn Roast and Fall Festival. On Saturday Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the city encourages all to bring good spirits and empty stomachs as they make their way over to Marsh East Lawn to celebrate the community.
Forest Grove was built on two main purposes: education and agriculture, and the Corn Roast Festival honors both, according to Forest Grove’s Chamber of Commerce leader Howard Sullivan. Beginning as a way to meet the new educators of Forest Grove, this free event has grown into a lively tradition full of music, artisan vendors and of course — the all-you-can-eat corn.
Students attending this year can look forward to live music from the Tualatin Valley Harmony Masters, Straw Boss and Trask River Redemption, offering sound variety to drown out corn-crunching. The Corn Roast will also feature carnival booths, an artisan fair and other games for attendees to enjoy.
However, the star of the day will undoubtedly be the corn itself. The morning of the fest, 4,000 pounds of fresh corn is picked and delivered to be roasted for the afternoon, says Sullivan. The festival will also be hosting its famous barbeque. The menu offers a wide variety of choices, with hamburgers, hotdogs, strawberry milkshakes and even vegetarian alternatives — all of which are available for purchase at the event.
Alongside entertainment, the famous Hometown Hero Awards will also honor key community members during the event. The Hometown Heroes are decided by local Forest Grove news, and recognize outstanding citizens who have gone above and beyond making the tight-knit area a better place. This heartfelt recognition is treasured by the current Chamber of Commerce.
When visitors find themselves too stuffed to continue, a walk around downtown any time from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. might provide some relief in addition to artistic inspiration.
The city’s 29th Annual Chalk Art Festival will be occurring concurrent to the Corn Roast, just down the street. Artists can receive more information from Valley Art Gallery at 2022 Main St. or even purchase chalk and a sidewalk spot to decorate for themselves.
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