NORMAL -- The sounds of the Joe Zaklan Band and the smell of kettle corn filled the air Saturday afternoon at the Sweet Corn Blues Festival in uptown Normal.

"It's nice to see live music in uptown Normal, something that's lacking, in my opinion," said Adam Gogola of Normal as he enjoyed an ear of corn.

This year's two-day festival is the first one held in uptown Normal since the reopening of North Street from Fell Avenue to the new traffic circle.

While organizers do not keep count of the number of attendees at the free event, North Street was crowded with folks passing booths, perusing clothes, jewelry or sunglasses for sale while they enjoyed sweet corn, kettle corn and corn dogs.

"I love the corn, but we really enjoy the local blues groups," said Pam Rost of Bloomington, who held a funnel cake she described as a "have to-have." Rost added that she particularly enjoyed Chicken Shack, which took the stage early in the afternoon, and was among five acts that entertained Saturday.

Festival corn is fresh-boiled for nine minutes in an antique steam engine to bring the sweet goodness out of it, said Bert Clark of Downs, who was assisting with the cooking. His brother, Bob Clark, coordinator of the local chapter of Boy Scouts of America, brought together 250 volunteers from his group and the Girl Scouts of the USA to shuck the 12 tons of corn from Mendota's Del Monte Co. that was sold Saturday.

"This group, we get together once a year," said Bob Clark. "It's just a really neat thing."

The festival, which has been held in McLean County for roughly 40 years, began as a tribute to local farmers. Corn was given away in downtown Bloomington for free in the festival's first years. While a cooked ear cost 50 cents at this year's festival, sponsors gave away free toothpicks.

Seven tons of corn will be brought to the festival today to be sold, cooked and uncooked.

---

Go!

What: Sweet Corn Blues Festival

When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today

Where: Uptown Normal

Cost: Free admission

More information: (309) 454-2444