St. Jude hosted their 50th annual Sweet Corn Festival Friday August 8th (5PM-11PM), Saturday August 9th (11AM-11PM), and Sunday August 10th (12PM-6PM). The Sweet Corn Festival is the biggest fundraiser in the St. Jude Parish, and takes place during the second weekend of August every year. The Current St. Jude church was dedicated on March 12th 1989. At that time there were 1,400 families attending the church.
The dance team from Cherie’s Dance Studio performs for the crowd in front of the family friendly stage during St. Jude’s Sweet Corn Festival on Saturday August 9th. Cherie’s Dance Studio has been teaching dance in the Cedar Rapids area for 78 years. The instructors at Cherie’s Dance Studio teach all ages starting at two years old. They also teach all genres of dance including Tumbling, Tap, Pointe, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Modern, and Musical Theater.
Kyle Porter (left) and Andrew Cheney participate in the Bags tournament held in the beer tent during St. Jude’s Sweet Corn Festival on Saturday August 9th. Porter and Cheney both participate in a Bags league that meets every Wednesday night, and attend the Sweet Corn Festival every year.
St. Jude volunteer Nancy Maher makes a funnel cake for a customer during the Sweet Corn Festival on Saturday August 9th.
Cedar Rapids based musician Meric Gabrielson performs a mix of pop, rock, and country music on the family friendly stage during the Sweet Corn Festival.
Siblings Jaion Bell (left) and Jocelyn Bell go down the Super Slide provided by Next Generation Shows INC. Also pictured is Next Generation shows employee Michelle Kauffman.
Raven Ellis rides the Hurricane with her son DeVasier Cungtion while enjoying the day with the rest of their family. The Hurricane was bought by Next Generation Shows INC from Adventureland Resort where it was known as the Lighthouse.
Charity Jackson rides the Tea Cups with her son Desmond Jackson during St. Jude’s Sweet Corn Festival. Desmond’s ride on the Tea Cups was his first time riding a carnival ride.
Sweet Corn Festival volunteers Killian Simanek (left) and Griffin Happel assist a group of other volunteers with preparing sweet corn for customers during the festival. Each year St. Jude goes through 18,000 ears of corn, and provides 15,000 volunteer opportunities during the Sweet Corn Festival.
Cooper Hardin drives one of the Bumper Boats available at St. Jude’s Sweet Corn Festival on Saturday August 9th.
Kate Rogers leads a line Dance by the Family Friendly Stage during St. Jude’s Sweet Corn Festival on Saturday August 9th. The Sweet Corn Festival is held in the parking lot outside of St. Jude Catholic Church on the second weekend of August every year.