This weekend, Uptown Normal hosts the Sweet Corn Circus, an annual tradition that brings the community together to celebrate Bloomington-Normal’s rich history in both… agriculture and the circus arts. (What a unique combo!) As Normal welcomes back Illinois State University students, the town will be alive with plenty of corn and circus performances, making it a weekend that’s fun for all ages!
The Sweet Corn Circus has been a local favorite for the past 40 years. Originally known as the “Sweet Corn Blues Festival,” the event was rebranded in 2019 to emphasize the area’s deep and intertwined history with corn farming and the circus. Today, this free, all-ages community festival is a celebration of Bloomington-Normal’s unique dual heritage.
Agricultural Roots: The Heart of Bloomington-Normal
Nestled in the plains of Central Illinois, Bloomington-Normal has long been a hub of agricultural activity, with corn playing a central role in the local economy. The Sweet Corn Circus honors this tradition by offering fresh, locally grown Illinois sweet corn, a highlight for festival-goers. The Pantagraph photo below shows over 10 tons of free sweet corn that was cooked by an old steam engine and served on the 200 block of N. Center St., August 14, 1980. There was also a tomato festival around that time too. In the 1980s corn festivals around the county became more popular. They happened in both Uptown and Downtown.
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A Storied Circus Legacy
Bloomington-Normal’s connection to the circus stretches back to the 1880s, when the community became the winter quarters for some of the most famous trapeze acts of the time, including the Flying Wards and the Concellos. The town’s reputation for cultivating top-tier circus talent was so strong that a curator of the Circus Collection at Illinois State University’s Milner Library noted, “In the last quarter of the 19th century, a few talented young men left Bloomington, Illinois, to pursue careers performing aerial acts in the circus ring. At the end of each circus season, they would return to their hometown to practice. As artists, they developed their skills and perfected new tricks during these winter months. As businessmen, they sought new talent to expand their acts and offer more sensational performances. In time, Bloomington became the leading community for training performers for trapeze and other aerial acts.”
Gamma Phi Circus: A Legacy of Excellence
This circus tradition is best embodied by Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus, the oldest collegiate circus in the United States, founded in 1926. The circus has a rich legacy, originating from the efforts of Clifford “Pop” Horton, Illinois State’s Athletic Director, who began organizing student performances at university sports events. These performances led to the formation of Gamma Phi Circus in 1931, which has since become a fixture in the community, with annual shows attracting crowds of up to 7,000 people each April.
Gamma Phi Circus is part of Illinois State’s College of Applied Science and Technology and is not affiliated with the Greek system, despite retaining the name “Gamma Phi” for historical reasons. The circus’s members and alumni have gone on to perform with numerous circuses across North America, continuing to spread the influence of Bloomington-Normal’s circus heritage.
This Weekend: Celebrate at the Sweet Corn Circus
This weekend’s Sweet Corn Circus is more than just a festival—it’s a celebration of everything that makes Bloomington-Normal special. With acrobats, clowns, pro wrestlers, and more, the event promises non-stop entertainment for all ages. The vendor marketplace will offer a variety of goods, and of course, there will be plenty of delicious Illinois sweet corn to enjoy.
Whether you’re a long-time resident or a newcomer, the Sweet Corn Circus is the perfect way to experience the unique blend of agriculture and artistry that defines Bloomington-Normal. Join in the fun and become part of a tradition that honors the past while embracing the present.
