Feast on This Northern Colorado Festival Tradition

Loveland's hundred-year tradition returns Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24.

It's Corn Roast Festival time.

The day-and-a-half event centers on Colorado corn and community with competitions, food, beer, family fun, music and vendors at Fairgrounds Park, 700 S. Railroad Ave., Loveland, Colorado.

5 Fun Loveland Corn Roast Festival Traditions

5. A BIG Parade

When we say big, we mean it. The annual Corn Roast parade is the longest one in Northern Colorado when it comes to entries. Expect corny fun on floats and foot as well as talented marching bands, dancers and the requisite stumping politicians, we're guessing. We did say marching bands, didn't we? The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

4. Shucking Insanity

The festival kicks off at 5:30 Friday evening with the corn shucking contest, which pits business and community teams against each other in a timed contest to see which can shuck the most bags of corn. Whether you have a team to cheer on or not, the competition's splashes, spills and thrills will capture you and the family.

3. Duck, Duck Rubber Ducky

Rotary Club of Loveland's annual Duck Race in the Big Thompson River is worth a gander. The sight of hundreds of rubber ducks "racing" 'round the fairgrounds is one to behold. Contestants "buy" a duck or seven for charity. The ducks then float down the river, and the first, second and third place duck "owners" win claim to fame. Be sure to visit the Rotary booth at the festival to check out the decorated duck contest, too. Think Cows on Parade or the Loveland hearts art installations on a smaller scale.

2. Dancing in the Park

Headlining acts bring out the community on both Friday and Saturday nights to move and groove.

This year's acts are the Jacob Larson Band from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday and Duey and Unbroken from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

1. Sweet, Roasted Corn

Corn Roast Festival features plenty of food trucks, but corn is the star. Loveland Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the whole event, roasts up 10,000 ears of corn over an open flame. The roasting accentuates the sweetness of the Colorado harvest.

The event takes over the community park from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Get all the Loveland Corn Roast Festival details at the Loveland Chamber of Commerce website.