Welcome to the Urbana Business Association

For more information on the Sweetcorn Festival, email Katie Hansen at katie@urbanabusiness.com or call the Urbana Business Association at (217) 344-3872

Thank you for your interest in the 35th Annual Sweecorn Festival. We are currently all booked up with vendors so please join us next year during our Sweetcorn Festival by getting an application in early. Booth spaces begin to fill up as early as March. Make sure you get a jump start as a vendor in 2011!

Festival Rules

In order for things to go smoothly, we ask that no dogs, no outside food or drink, and no bicycling be on the Sweetcorn Festival grounds. There will be bicycle parking in designated areas so feel free to ride your bikes to the festival! This is for courtesy of other participants as well as for the success of the event. Thank you all very much and let's make this festival a great one!

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Suites at Sweetcorn

Take advantage of great hotel deals at Eastland Suites, starting at $69 nightly during the Sweetcorn Festival! Service includes shuttle rides to and from the event along with a complimentary breakfast buffet! Simply mention the Motor Muster Block when booking.

Eastland Suites Hotel and Conference Center

All-New Green Initiatives this year!

With help from Solo Cup Company, organizers of the 35th annual Urbana Sweetcorn Festival have made a special effort to reduce the environmental footprint of the event! Green efforts include recycling for cups and other materials, incentives for bicyclists and all-new corn composting. Patrons are encouraged to recycle at each of the six designated booths stationed around the festival. Those who ride their bikes to the event receive a free corn buck!

Plus, hear eco-oriented beats by Tree Thump along with Chad Dunn and the Recycled Rhythms — and make sure to visit Green Alley for a full block devoted to earth-friendly outreaches!

In 2009, 16 cubic yards of plastic cups were recycled at the festival – that is the same as filling the beds of 16 small pick-up trucks with plastic cups! We want to recycle even more this year. Help us achieve our goal by depositing your beverage cup in the green recycling toter located at the recycling booths!

Highlights

The Urbana Sweetcorn Festival has returned this year with more excitement than ever for its 35th anniversary! Ladies and gentlemen, families and friends, students and visitors: Get ready for an unforgettable weekend! Happening from 5:00 to 11:00 pm on Friday, August 27, and from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm on Saturday, August 28, in the heart of downtown Urbana, the event will feature a traditional festivity lineup that event enthusiasts have come to enjoy, all-new water activities, a special performance by Soul Asylum, environmental initiatives — and, who could forget — a healthy portion of delicious sweetcorn! Enjoy food, beverages, arts, crafts and more from local businesses and 30+ vendors dotting the sidewalks. We expect this event to draw a crowd of more than 65,000 people, and as always, admission is free! Festivities will take place on Main Street between Race and Vine in downtown Urbana. The Urbana Business Association is happy to answer any questions you have about this exciting event.

Music

Hear a full lineup of big names in great music at the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival! Grammy Award-winning alternative rock band, Soul Asylum, well known for the hit single “Runaway Train” will headline the Main Stage on Saturday. Friday night performances will shine the spotlight on local bands, including the Brat Pack, Boat Drunks, Tons of Fun Band and the Feudin’ Hillbillies. Plus, hear eco-oriented beats by Tree Thump along with Chad Dunn and the Recycled Rhythms!

For an entire list of entertainment at this years Sweetcorn Festival, please go to our Sweetcorn Facebook page and go to the info box!

One Community Together

Hear a special performance of Al Hayes’ “America,” by Urbana, Central and Centennial high school students, under the direction of University of Illinois Director of Bands Dr. Robert Rumbelow. Also, enjoy a series of acts presented in partnership with Museums at the Crossroads! Performers will include the Bow-Dacious String Band, the Mo' Betta Jazz Band, The Prairie Dogs and more!

Fun for Kids

Kids and adults alike can have tons of fun with inflatable attractions, laser tag and pony rides! Stop by the water games area for a cool-down, and don’t miss our family-friendly pro-wrestling show. A Touch-A-Truck display will offer an up-close look at a fire truck, police car, street sweeper, monster tow truck and more. In Green Alley, catch a glimpse of an earth-friendly hybrid bus from Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District and a Prius ZIP Car!

Motor Muster

The 2010 Urbana Motor Muster will feature vintage alternative-powered vehicles. Two steam-powered vehicles - a 1920 Stanley Steamer and a 1925 Stanley Steam Vehicle will be displayed. For electrics: we will have a 1927 Auto Red Bug, a buckboard sized vehicle powered by an electric motor, that has been in the same family since new and a 1975 Citicar by Vanguard. Two of these vehicles are fresh restorations. Also among the special displays will be a 1956 Kurtis 500M race car, with a one-off body. This car is being shown at prestigious concours shows around the country. As always, we will have a great selection and variety of vintage vehicles on display. Come and vote for your favorite for the Peoples Choice Awards from the over 100 vehicles. The show is free and open to the public on Saturday, August 28th, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 pm at Race and Main Streets. Visit www.illinicollectorcarclub.com for registration information and photos of 2009 Muster vehicles.