Photos: St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival

Volunteers prepare 18,000 ears for the annual church event

Aug. 8, 2024 5:39 pm, Updated: Aug. 8, 2024 7:34 pm

Eva Hutchins (left), 11, of Cedar Rapids, pushes an ear of sweet corn toward Beckett Simanek, 12, of Cedar Rapids, as they compact corn husks in dumpsters. The two, dressed as The Nuggets, mascots for the annual St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival, were among the volunteers preparing 18,000 ears of sweet corn for the festival, which runs through the weekend at the church, 50 Edgewood Rd. NW in Cedar Rapids. Hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for ages 11 to 59. The sweet corn comes from the Oelwein farm of Blake Kerns. (Jim Slosiarek photos/The Gazette)

Andrea Kann, 17, of Ryan, chops off the ends of ears of sweet corn as volunteers prepare the ears for the annual St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival, that starts Friday at the church in northwest Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Gavin Pash of Walford tosses a bag full of sweet corn as volunteers prepare the 49th annual St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival at the church in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Volunteers shucked 18,000 ears of sweet corn for the annual festival, which starts Friday and runs through Sunday. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Volunteers remove the silk from ears of sweet corn Thursday as they prepare 18,000 ears of corn for the annual St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival. The festival runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the church, 50 Edgewood Rd. NW. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Sharon Volz of Cedar Rapids joins other volunteers as they shuck sweet corn for the annual St. Jude Sweet Corn Festival that will be Friday through Sunday at the church, 50 Edgewood Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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