Everything You Need to Know for the 2025 St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival

The 2025 St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival is coming up this Friday through Sunday at 50 Edgewood Rd NW in Cedar Rapids! Here's a rundown of all the information you need ahead of this weekend's event:

When is It?

• Friday, August 8th from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, August  9th from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, August 10th from 12 p.m.to 6 p.m.

Where Do I Park?

There is some parking available on the festival grounds near the Edgewood Rd
entrance and 1st Ave entrance, but during the busy hours of the festival, your best bet would be to use the off-site parking and take a shuttle.

The off-site parking lot is the MidAmerican Aerospace lot at Williams Blvd SW and 16th Ave SW (the former K-Mart). Shuttles hours are:

• Friday, August 8th from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Saturday, August 9th from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Sunday, August 10th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The website also notes that the shuttles "may run later if necessary to get patrons back to their vehicles."

For handicap or motorcycle parking, use the lot near the 1st Ave entrance.

How Much is Admission?

Admission into the Sweet Corn Festival is $5 for ages 11 to 59 and can only be purchased at the gate (debit/credit cards will be accepted). If you come on Friday or Saturday and plan to return on Sunday, be sure to keep your wristband on for free admission. Anyone 10 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult.

What's the Bag Policy?

According to the website, there is a clear bag policy for anyone coming onto the festival grounds. It reads:

"Any bags entering the festival that are larger than 5” x 7” will be required to be a clear bag.  All bags are subject to inspection at any time on church grounds.  An exception may be made for medically and family necessary items after proper inspection."

Items that are NOT permitted into the festival include weapons of any kind, pets (aside from service animals), bikes/scooters, and outside food or beverages. There is also no smoking/vaping allowed inside the festival grounds.

What's the Entertainment Schedule?

There are two stages at the St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival: the Family Entertainment Stage and the Beverage Tent Stage:

• Family Entertainment Stage Schedule
  • Friday, August 8th
    • Jasmine - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    • Hayden Ostwinkle - 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 9th​
    • Cherie's Dance Studio - 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    • Meric Gabrielson - 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Line Dance Lessons by Kate - 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Greg Helton - 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Ice Cream and the Cones - 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    • Relaxed Fit - 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Sunday, August 10th
    • Echoes of Mercy - 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Hayden Ostwinkle - 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    • Kirkwood Groove - 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Beverage Tent Schedule (Ages 21+)
  • Friday, August 8th
    • Slap n Tickle - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 9th
    • Fork in the Road - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • The Detour Band - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Sunday, August 10th
    • Dogs on Skis - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

What Are This Year's Raffle Prizes?

The grand prize for the 2025 raffle is your choice of a 2025 Chevy Trailblazer or $20,000! There will also be five winners of $1,000 prizes.

Each raffle ticket costs $10 (cash only) and you must be 18+ to purchase one. There will be a Car Raffle Booth located in the middle of the food tent. The drawing will be Sunday, August 10th at 6 p.m.

What Else is There to Do?

• Bags Tournament
  • Saturday, August 9th at 12 p.m. at the Beverage Tent
  • Must be 21+
  • Entry fee is $20 - you can preregister online HERE, or just show up Saturday before the tournament starts
• BINGO
  • $.50 per card with specials throughout the day
  • Blackout the last game of each day
  • Sunday only - last game of blackout is 100% payout

• Carnival Rides
  • Tickets are $1 each - rides cost 2 to 5 tickets each
  • Ticket sales end at 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday and at 5 p.m. Sunday
  • Debit/Credit cards are accepted

• Game Zone
  • Hours
    • Friday, August 8th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Saturday, August 9th from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    • Sunday, August 10th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Featuring games for all ages and a prize redemption corner

• Silent Auction
  • Located inside the Community Center
  • Hours
    • Friday, August 8th from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
    • Saturday, August 9th from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    • Sunday, August 10th from 12 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Bidding ends at 4:30 p.m.)
  • 500+ items
  • Daily 50/50 raffles

Who Will Husk All the Corn?

Volunteers like YOU! If you'd like to help shuck 18,000 (!!!) ears of corn, just come by the food canopy on Thursday, August 7th at 9 a.m. All ages are welcome!

What Else is There to Eat?

In addition to hot, buttered sweet corn for $1 an ear, you can also get a variety of other foods from several other tents/stands at the festival.

At Jude's Grill, all menu items range from $4 to $8. The menu includes Walking Tacos, Breaded Tenderloins, Cheeseburgers, Brats, Mac & Cheese, Chicken Strips, Nachos, Onion Rings, Sweet Corn Nuggets, and more.

At the Food Canopy, sandwiches range from $2.50 to $4, with sides available for $1 to $1.50. Some of your options include Sloppy Joes, BBQ Pork, Chili Dogs, Corn Dogs, Baked Beans, Sloppy Dogs, and Potato Salad.

At the Snack Shack, you can choose from items like pizza, breadsticks, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, root beer floats, and soft serve ice cream.

If you're in the mood for dessert, you can check out the Pie & Ice Cream tent, which offers a variety of different pies from Kathy’s Pies that are served with ice cream. Or, check out the Funnel Cake Stand, which also sells deep-fried Snickers and Twinkies!

Debit/Credit cards are accepted as payment.

For more information about the 2025 St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival in Cedar Rapids, you can check out the official website HERE!

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READ MORE: A Giant List of August 2025 Events in Eastern Iowa