LA HABRA : City Is All Ears on Eve of Corn Festival

Organizers of the 42nd annual La Habra Corn Festival plan to serve about 20,000 ears of corn during the two-day celebration that begins today.

The charity event will also feature carnival rides, food booths and live entertainment, according to Chuck Overbey, who is in charge of the event for the host Lions Club.

“The whole intent is to raise funds to help those who are less fortunate than we are,” he said.

Three local musical groups will perform tonight, each playing ‘50s-style music. Saturday afternoon’s entertainment will include a bluegrass group.

Saturday’s celebration begins at 9 a.m. with a parade on La Habra Boulevard featuring marching bands, floats, horseback riders and corn festival dignitaries. A reviewing stand with an announcer will be at Euclid Street.

Reigning over the parade and festival will be Miss La Habra, Kimberly Haerens, and her court: Erica Sapico, Adriana Sanchez and Lorianna Dietrich.

Overbey described the festival as “a full family event. There is absolutely no alcohol.”

As part of the celebration, sweet corn will be prepared in a huge vat that cooks 72 ears per minute. “We will sell some 20,000 ears of probably the best corn you’ve ever eaten,” he said.

A drawing will also be held for a 1990 Chevrolet Camaro, and is expected to generate several thousand dollars for charitable organizations, Overbey said.

The festival is to be held in a park one block north of La Habra Boulevard on Cypress Street in downtown La Habra, and will run from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. today and from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Overbey predicted that up to 60,000 people will attend.