For the first time since World War II, there will be no sweetcorn festival in Hoopeston this fall.
The decision was announced last night on Facebook by the Hoopeston Jaycees, which put on the annual event. The group said it made the decision to cancel this year’s event due to insurance companies not wanting to cover the event during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hoopeston Sweetcorn Festival was first held in 1938 and has been under the control of the Jaycees since the 1940’s. The National Sweetheart Pageant has also been canceled this year and the group is raising the entry age up to 27 for next year’s competition to accommodate people who intended to compete this year.
This year’s event would have been the 77th edition of the Sweetcorn Festival. Next year’s festival will be held during the first weekend of September.
