Good food, entertainment, and good works sum up the Shippensburg Corn Festival, held annually on the last Saturday in August. This year's edition is set for Saturday, August 30, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is held rain or shine. This year, the festival is held on Saturday during Labor Day weekend. Check out other ideas and suggestions for a fun-filled weekend getaway to mark the unofficial end of summer.
Food, Shopping & Entertainment
Held in downtown Shippensburg, you'll find a street fair atmosphere with over 250 craft and food vendors. Food booths feature corn in every available form, plus vendors selling other delicious options such as freeze-dried sweets, wines and ciders, teas, jerky, honey, and more.
Attendees will also enjoy demonstrations and children's activities, as well as musical entertainment throughout the day on the main stage and at the gazebo. During the morning hours, the swing band and the town band will be performing at the Fogelsanger Bricker Funeral Home.
Don't miss the Corn Fest Cruz-In at the Shippensburg First Church of God (121 E. King St.) and the Corn Eating Contest, taking place at the Main Stage (King/Earl Streets square) around 11:45 am to 12 pm. Contestants may sign up until about 11 am, but seating is limited at the contestants’ table, so sign up early to ensure a spot. Winners get fame, prestige, cash prizes, photos with local royalty, and all the corn they can eat in three minutes. Losers also get as much corn as they can eat in three minutes.
All events at the festival are free, so bring the family for a day of fun. Check the Shippensburg Corn Festival website for the latest updates to the event schedule.
Corn Festival Map
Click here to view a map of the Shippensburg Corn Festival.
Giving Back
So, where do the good works come in? Each year, the Corn Festival Committee donates money to preservation and enhancement projects throughout the Shippensburg area. From 1981 through 2019, the committee donated almost $400,000 to worthy projects and organizations, including the local library, Locust Grove Cemetery, the Middle Spring Watershed Association, and the Shippensburg Historical Society. Since 2023, donations have totaled over $22,000. And, two special donations were given. The first was a $40,000 donation to the Coy Public Library for an amphitheater. The second was $10,000 to the Shippensburg Area Athletic Association for renovations at Veterans Stadium/Memorial Park.
Other Things to See & Do
Make it a weekend getaway to the Cumberland Valley. If you enjoyed the craft booths at the Corn Festival, explore all the arts and artisans the Valley offers by following the Artisan Adventure Trail. In downtown Shippensburg, you'll find The Cumberland Shop, offering unique and locally made artisan crafts. If you are searching for antique treasures, you'll find them at The Red Rocker. Or find a moment of peace and quiet away from the crowds along the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, which features the Cumberland Valley Railroad Museum and the Conrail Museum at the Shippensburg Station trailhead. If you brought the kids, check out indoor and outdoor fun for the whole family.
The nearby Luhrs Center, on the campus of Shippensburg University, is hosting the PA Gospel Festival from August 29 to August 31, 2025, featuring gospel music's most well-known artists.
Be sure to review our online events calendar to see what other fun activities are happening in the area.
Dining & Lodging
If you are hungry before or after the festival, head to Maxie's Brew House or Arooga's for casual pub food and drinks. For breakfast or lunch, enjoy fresh quiche, artisan pies, bagels, and more at Jane's Art of Pie Cafe. Cool off with ice cream treats at Goose Bros or The Inside Scoop, which is a participating location on the Cumberland Valley Ice Cream Trail.
If you plan to stay for the weekend, you can find several comfortable hotel accommodations from the Clarion Inn & Suites downtown and the Courtyard by Marriott adjacent to the Shippensburg University campus to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites and the Best Western, both conveniently located off of I-81. View all lodging accommodations in Shippensburg.
