Future Of The Tecumseh Corn Fest Under Discussion

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Discussions are taking place for a re-imagined Corn Festival in Tecumseh.

The Festival began in 1975 when the local Kinsmen Club, with the help of Green Giant of Canada LTD., hosted a family-oriented weekend event in Lacasse Park that would showcase and support the local farming community.

Due to pandemic restrictions in 2020 and 2021, the Corn Festival did not operate. This year, the event was forfeited in lieu of the Town’s 100th Anniversary Celebration that took place in July 2022.

According to a town report, over the years, the Festival has operated under a variety of organizational structures and management committees. From 1975 to 2007, the Festival was operated through community-led committees. From 2008 to 2017, the Festival was run by a Council-appointed committee with representation from Council, Administration and the community.

Town officials say that the Festival over the years has required greater commitments of Town staffing and budget resources have been required. In 2018 and 2019, the Festival was managed and hosted directly through the Town.

“The Festival has evolved over time, ranging between a 3-day and 4-day event and featured family-friendly activities, exciting entertainment, midway carnival, parade, pageant, vendors and hot buttered corn. Attendance at the Festival has varied from around 10,000 to 15,000 individuals annually. The growth in scope and duration of the Corn Festival has surpassed Town staff capacity to host it and the other event and program offerings,” the council report notes.

Currently, Administration is in discussions with the Optimist Club of St. Clair Beach (Optimist Club) to re-invent the Corn Festival. Under the assumed leadership of the Optimist Club, a re-imagined festival is being considered, with plans to reintroduce it in the next year or two.