Event features wood carving contests
By Holly Neumann
The 50th annual Corn Roast will be held Friday through Sunday, Aug. 3-5, at Ellison Memorial Park, 110 Industrial Park Drive, in Scandinavia.
“Having been here for 50 years, the Scandinavia Corn Roast has become one of the more premier, well-established events in the area,” said Mike Hayes, president of the Scandinavia Booster Club. “It is completely community and volunteer driven and you can tell every single person involved in it shows a lot of community pride. That sense of pride makes the event successful.”
Sheridan Amusement of Waupaca will be providing rides.
“They will have all the crowd favorites plus the typical carnival games,” said Hayes.
Wood carvers will be back again this year, with 12 of the best carvers in the nation.
Each carver will receive a large diameter 8-foot white pine log which they have all weekend to work on to create their carving.
“These are incredible to watch transform from a massive log into a work of art created with a chainsaw,” said Hayes. “These are sold at an auction onsite on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The highest priced masterpiece is declared the winner.”
Carvers will also receive white pine logs that they carve in a one hour timed event each day. These “quick-carves” are auctioned off immediately following the competition, and the highest priced carving is declared the winner for the day and receives a free chainsaw.
Family Night will take place on Friday, Aug. 3, with the gates open from 4 p.m. until midnight.
“We will focus on a true family night with free admission to the park,” said Hayes.
Attendees may purchase $20 wristbands for unlimited rides.
Registration will begin at 5 p.m. for the first annual 5K Cob Run/Walk, with race time at 6 p.m.
“The 5K walk/run is something brand new to the Scandinavia Corn Roast this year, and the interest in it is amazing,” Hayes said.
A mini quick carve auction will take place at 6:30 p.m., followed by music by Northern Lights DJ at 7 p.m.
Festivities will kick off Saturday, Aug. 4, with the gates opening at 8 a.m. Admission will be $5.
Tractor pull registration will take place from 8-11 a.m.
Both the Corn Roast Parade and tractor pull will begin at 11 a.m.
“The pull will be starting at the same time as the parade starts,” said Hayes. “The tractor parade entries will be at the front of the parade to allow them to get back to the park to pull. Anyone under 18 can pull if they have the required Tractor Safety Certificate. Any person over 18 with a tractor is allowed to pull in the respective weight class.”
There will be prizes specific to each weight class. The hook fee is $20.
Another addition to the Corn Roast this year is a Craft Fair that will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“We wanted to get some vendors back on the park grounds again similar to what had been at the old Scandinavia Free Fair,” said Hayes. “We are anticipating 10-15 vendors with the requirement that all products need to be handmade and preferably by local folks.”
An all-year Iola-Scandinavia High School reunion will begin at 2 p.m.
“We decided that the Corn Roast would be an absolute grand place to get all age groups and classes together,” said Hayes. “This will be from 2-7 p.m. on Saturday and will be held in a tent on the park grounds.”
Rick Ertl will DJ the event with music from different eras.
The annual Firemen’s Dance will also take place with music provided by Grand Union and Boom Boxx.
A second quick carve auction will take place that day at 7:30 p.m.
Corn will be available on both Saturday and Sunday this year.
“On Saturday it will be sold for $1 per ear,” said Hayes. “Sunday of course will be free. We will have charcoal roasted and boiled corn Sunday with unlimited salt, butter and napkins. Bring your own toothpicks.”
The gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Admission will once again be $5 and will include free corn, live bands and the truck pull.
A church service will be held at 9:30 a.m. followed by a pie and ice cream social at 10:30 a.m., in the Trade Show Building.
Pies are donated by many local pie makers and served with ice cream for those who want it. There will be a charge of $2.50 per slice of pie, $1 scoop of ice cream and $1 per cup of coffee or a bottle of water.
Free boiled or roasted corn will be served beginning at 11 a.m.
Dizzy D Clown will make an appearance at noon, and the I-S Art Club will do face painting, followed by Truck Pulls at 1 p.m., and music by Swing Crew and No Vacancy.
A final Mini Quick Carve Auction will be held at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Masterpiece Auction.
Softball and baseball games will be going on throughout the weekend.
“This year, we also would like to remember Donna Swenson who was very instrumental in the success of the Scandinavia Booster Club, especially as chairperson of the foodstand and an overall Corn Roast supporter,” said Hayes. “She passed away July 4, 2018 at the age of 89.”