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THEPRESS.NET
JULY 3, 2009
COMMUNITY
2009 CornFest to be bigger than ever by Samie Hartley Staff Writer When the sweltering summer heat surpasses the hundred-degree mark, one thing is certain: CornFest is coming. The popular festival will return to Brentwood next weekend to its usual spot downtown, bringing with it all the favorite activities that have made the CornFest a “staycation” destination. “The CornFest is back with more booths, food, arts and crafts than ever before,” said Harry York, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce CEO. “It will be a lot of fun this year, and there will be plenty of activities, so people will be able to have a good time without having to spend money on gas. There will be lots of corn and corn-centered activities like the corn-shucking contest. And of course, we have the fireworks show on Friday to kick things off.” York said that while other cities have canceled their fireworks presentations this year as a result of budget cuts, it was important to bring back the colorful light display that people have come to look forward to every year. “People love the fireworks,” York said. “People not only fill City Park, but they park out on Sellers (Avenue) to watch them. People come from all over to see our fireworks because they know we put on a great show – one of the best in the county, so it’s great that the city has sponsored the fireworks again this year.” Chamber of Commerce Board member Ken Seamann said 190 booths will line Second and Oak streets – a CornFest record. “A lot of events and festivals have been canceled due to the economy, and vendors are looking for places to set up. There’s been a great response, so we’ve got all
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This year’s CornFest, complete with fireworks, is expected to one of the brigthest festivals you’ll find in Contra Costa County this year. our spaces filled up. It’s going to be a great year.” The biggest change to this year’s CornFest is the expansion of the Kids Zone. Sponsored by Kohl’s and Home Depot, the Zone boasts new activities to amp up the fun, such as the new petting zoo featuring more ani-
mals, and a guest appearance by Chuck E. Cheese and his pals, who will perform mini shows throughout the weekend. “There will be a lot of new things for the kids to do this year,” said CornFest committee member Lyle Miller. “There will be a video game booth sponsored by Best Buy, and we’ve got a lot of fun arts and craft type things for the kids, too. And the tractor races will be back. We want to make it fun for the little guys.” While the CornFest has brought joy to visitors of all ages for nearly 20 years, the future of the festival is unknown. The CornFest might go on hiatus during the anticipated two-year construction of the Brentwood Civic Center, but York said the city and the chamber are looking for ways to continue the CornFest tradition next summer. “We have every intention to have the CornFest next year,” York said. “We are looking at ways to keep it downtown. One of the biggest factors is figuring out what to do with the main stage because it won’t be able to go where we normally put it in the park. It’s a matter of timing and scheduling, but we’ll do everything we can to bring it back year after year.” If this is the last year for the main stage to be nestled in City Park, it’s going out with a bang, as an impressive lineup is planned for this year’s live entertainment. While favorites Public Eye and the California Cowboys will return this year, some new local faces will also take the stage. Far East County performers Jessica Bunting of Antioch, Shawna Lynn of Oakley, and The Big Fat Swing Company from Brentwood will perform next weekend, and this year’s CornFest will feature the music of Pablo Cruise, a band that rose to fame in the see CornFest page 10A