In downtown Urbana, the sounds of “Sweet Home Alabama” echoed throughout the streets and provided background music for food vendors at the 38th annual Urbana Sweetcorn Festival this weekend. The event drew in nearly 50,000 people from Champaign-Urbana and surrounding communities with sweetcorn, specialty foods and merchandise Friday and Saturday.  

A tradition since August 1975, the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival was originally run by employees of Busey Bank and set up in the bank’s parking lot. Today, the festival is run by the Urbana Business Association and has grown to include a car show, additional family activities, live music and an assortment of unique vendors. 

Calynn Green and Kansas headlined this year’s festival, followed by a diverse mix of regional and national performers with ranging cultural themes on the festival’s two stages. The festival also hosted the 17th annual Motor Muster Car Show, featuring the 100th anniversary of the Chandler Car, and the new Farm Bureau Ag Zone’s collection of agricultural activities.

While sweet corn was the most popular attraction, foods such as southern BBQ, Chinese cuisine and Greek Gryos were also available. As the largest Champaign County festival, the Sweetcorn Festival provided a variety of vendors, such as Coco Bongos, a third-time veteran for the festival. The mobile bar company sells piña coladas with real coconuts and creates original mixes, cups and containers. Today, the business attends about 400 events a year. 

“I’ve knocked off a lot of sports bucket lists — Indy 500, Kentucky Derby and Superbowls,” said Eric Seastrunk, owner of Coco Bongos. “I’ve personally worked in 27 states, but company-wide we’ve been in 42 states.”

In addition to food vendors, the festival also featured Robin Walker, who was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records for drawing 138 portraits within 24 hours. 

“It’s a magic marker — that’s an artistic tool — and only Robin Walker can handle it,” Walker said. “It allows no mistakes. So when I draw your picture, and it looks like you, it’s actually a perfect picture.”

Walker will have a booth at the Market Place Mall this fall.

“I’ve been all over the United States. I get to meet people and create their identity. That’s rare in my career,” he said.

Many University students attended the festival, many of who volunteered at different booths.

“I got involved with the Illinois MBA program … and I just wanted to give back,” said Brad Simmons, graduate student. “I’ve been here since my freshman year, and I hear about it every year, but this is the first time I’ve actually gone.”

Members of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity also volunteered at the event.

“We think this is a great festival and we’re glad to be here to help out,” said Josh Carley, senior in Engineering. 

Alice can be reached at [email protected].