Dust off those Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin records, start growing out your hair, dig out your bell bottoms, and start tie-dying your t shirts and hoodies. Carmi Kiwanis President Amanda Nelson says we have a theme for this year’s Corn Day festivities. With a nod to the 1969 event, those celebrating Corn Day in Carmi on the second weekend of October will be tasked with putting their creativity to the test with the 2025 theme: CornStalk: Peace, Love, and Hominy. Just like 56 years ago, Nelson says what the world needs is a sense of community and unity with a heavy dose of love and for fun, a dash of all that makes you feel groovy. The annual Corn Day theme is encouraged to be tapped into however community members decide to celebrate the festival, none more evident than the annual parade, set for 4pm on Saturday, October 11th.
Congratulations go to both Alexa Talley and Jara Mitchell who both submitted some iteration of this year’s theme in the call for submissions earlier this year. In addition to obvious bragging rights, the pair will also receive free carnival armbands for submitting the winning theme.
Beyond that, Nelson says the Corn Day headline entertainment has been booked. More information on that front is expected in the coming weeks. The Carmi Kiwanis Club has been around 102 years and will be celebrating its 96th annual celebration over the last 97 years on October 10th and 11th. Other highlights expected at this year’s festival include the annual car show and chili cook off, corn hole tournament, Corn Day pageant and coronation of the new Corn King and Corn Queen.
For the latest information, stay tuned to WROY/WRUL News on air, online at wrul.com, and on social media. You should also consider liking the Carmi Kiwanis Club on Facebook for updates.