McLean County Times

Sweet Corn Circus will return to Uptown Normal on August 23 and 24, bringing a weekend of performances and activities to the area. The event, which celebrates the circus and agricultural history of Bloomington-Normal, will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

To prepare for the festival, several street closures and parking restrictions will be in place. Constitution Boulevard will be signed as No Parking starting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, and closed at 5 p.m. that day. Additional streets and parking areas—including sections of East Beaufort Street, Uptown Circle, West Beaufort Street, North Street, Broadway, and part of the Trail East parking lot—will be signed No Parking after 11 a.m. and closed at noon on Friday, August 22. The Constitution Trail along West Beaufort Street through Uptown Circle to College Avenue will also be closed to through-traffic during the event. Riders are asked to use extra caution during setup on Friday.

Accessible parking will be available in the Trail West parking lot and along Broadway south of North Street. The Trail East lot will be reserved for vendor parking. All closed areas are expected to reopen to vehicles by around 6 p.m. on Sunday after the event concludes. An online map showing road closures is available at https://arcg.is/1TT85P.

The festival will include live performances from acrobats, clowns, aerial artists, professional wrestling, live music, and other acts. Performers include Gamma Phi Circus, CirqueMania, Iron Spirit Pro Wrestling, Maestro Jones, and others. Admission is free for all performances.

Maddox Sweet Corn Farm will provide locally grown Illinois sweet corn for purchase. Cooked corn will be sold for $1 per ear at the intersection of Broadway and North Street. Uncooked shucked corn can be bought for $7 per dozen ears via drive-up sales on Broadway (accessible from College Avenue). College students with valid student IDs can receive one free ear of corn while supplies last.

Festival-goers can also visit more than 120 vendor and community booths. A food court with food trucks and concessionaires will be located around Uptown Circle. Uptown Normal shops, restaurants, and businesses will remain open and accessible during the event. The full festival schedule is available at uptownnormal.com/sweetcorncircus.

For more information or questions about the event, contact Adam Fox at (309) 454-9720 or afox@normalil.gov.

“All Town of Normal facilities are fully accessible. If you require assistance or accommodation to access programs, services or events provided by the Town of Normal, please email ADA Coordinator Mark Clinch or call 309-454-9580. The Town of Normal wants all residents to be able to participate equally in Town efforts and initiatives. We welcome your feedback.”