The Morden Corn and Apple Festival has grown from one block to eight since it sprouted in 1967.

“What hasn’t changed is that it’s always fun and it’s free,” festival administrator Cheryl Link says.

During the festival on the weekend of Aug. 26 to 28, Link says attendees can spend an entire day enjoying music, dancing, eating corn and drinking apple juice on the streets of the small Manitoba town without paying a cent.

Her personal favourite part of the festival is the parade, which includes everything from small local businesses and corporate companies.

What makes this year’s celebration special is that it’s the 50th anniversary.

“We’ve invited back our chairs and old queens,” Link says.

The queen pageant is no more at this festival, but Link says some of the town’s young people came together to organize the Youth Ambassador Project.

Similar to a traditional queen pageant, young people compete for top place, but this competition isn’t about looks and it’s for people of all genders.

“It’s more about preparing for the workplace, being a good citizen, volunteering, event planning, public speaking, how to do an interview and all those types of things,” Link says.

Also new this year is the Wind Warrior Challenge.

Teams of two wind turbine technicians and crane operators will compete in the blind crane lift, troubleshooting, first aid, confined space and rescue from heights challenges while attendees gain a better understanding of what it’s like to work at windy heights. 

Link says the Morden Corn and Apple Festival has been named a star celebration in Manitoba, making it an event people don’t want to miss.

Published in Volume 70, Number 27 of The Uniter (June 2, 2016)