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 31, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is held rain or shine.
Held in downtown Shippensburg, you'll find a street fair atmosphere with more than 250 craft and food vendors. Food booths feature corn in every available form. Attendees will also enjoy live entertainment, demonstrations, and children's activities. All events at the festival are free, so bring the family for a day of fun. Check the Shippensburg Corn Festival Facebook page for the latest updates to the events schedule.
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. The committee also has pledged $30,000 over the next 3 years toward the proposed stage at Library Square.
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 what you are looking for at Interstate 81 Antiques. 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.
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, both participating locations 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.
