Barker bringing back Corn Festival on July 27

BARKER – Organizers of the 2024 Barker Corn Festival are pulling out all the stops to make this best and most exciting one ever, according to organizer Heidi Dergel.

The Corn Festival had been a popular annual event in Barker for many years as a project of Barker Lions, Dergel said.

It had been discontinued for a number of years when in 2022 after a successful bicentennial event, Dergel and Ruth Dent got the idea to revive the Corn Festival.

“This year we doubled our fundraising, and it was incredible the people who came out to help,” Dergel said. “They want to see Barker growing.”

The 2024 Corn Festival on July 27 will begin with a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. on Main Street. The festival will take place from noon to 6 p.m. at the Barker Village Park on Main Street, and will have all the old favorite features and a lot of new ones, Dergel said.

New events include a corn eating contest at the Hideaway in town, a strong man competition there at 10 a.m., a petting zoo at the Farmer’s Market, a car cruise, a beer tent from the Grain House, fireworks at 10 p.m. by the Hartland Independence Day Committee at the Somerset Town Hall, more live music all day and dog training demonstrations.

Old favorites are a corn roast, activities for kids and adults, food trucks and corn hole in the Barker Fire Hall open air pavilion, local brews of wine and cider and live music under the stars by the Bad Influence Band.

Music in the afternoon will be provided in the gazebo by Evan Anstey Trio, Dark Road Duo and Barker Community Band.