2026 Schedule
No ATM available on festival grounds.
Thursday | July 23, 2026
Friends of the Library Book Sale 12pm – 6pm | Central State Bank Community Room
Chalk the Walk 4 – 8pm | Founders’ Park | No registration | All ages | We provide the chalk, you provide the art.
Judging of Sweet Corn Days Royalty 5pm | St. Joseph’s Parish Hall | Royalty details
MUSIC + MARKET ON MAIN | 200 block of S Main Street
- MUSIC: No Turnin’ Back Hosted by TD’s Sports Bar & Grill
- Ice Cream Social Hosted by Main Street Elkader
- Vendor + Street Fair
- Food + Drinks
Movie in the Park: Sonic 3 9pm | Founders’ Park | Hosted by Elkader Cinema
Friday | July 24, 2026
Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament 8am & 1:30pm| Elkader Golf & Country Club | Sign up by calling 563-245-2230 | Hosted by the Elkader Area Chamber of Commerce
Friends of the Library Book Sale 10am – 5pm | Central State Bank Community Room
Crowning of Sweet Corn Days Royalty & Grand Marshal(s) Announcement 5:45pm | Founders’ Park
MUSIC: Before I Met You 5:45pm – 7:45pm | Founders’ Park
Food Vendors & Drink Tent 6pm – 12am | Founders’ Park | NO sweet corn on Friday
Carnival: Kids Rides & Amusement 6pm – 9pm | Founders’ Park | $10 daily wristband or $15 weekend wristband
MUSIC: Lonesome Road 8pm – 12am | Founders’ Park
Fireworks at dusk | Founders’ Park
Saturday | July 25, 2026
5K Walk/Run 7:30am | S. Main Street by Wilke’s | Registration at 7:00
Softball Tournament 8am | Elkader City Park | Sign up by calling Joe at 563-880-5405
Shot Gun Run 8:30am | S. Main Street by Wilke’s | Shotgun a beer then run 0.08 miles | Must sign waiver prior to start | Must be 21 or older to consume alcohol | Hosted by Elkader Fitness Center
Bend & Booze: Yoga in the Park 9am | Founders’ Park | All ages welcome for yoga | Please bring your own yoga mat | Must be 21 or older to consume alcohol | Guided by Teri Ann Marting with Inhale Exhale Pilates & Yoga Studio
Friends of the Library Book Sale 9:30 – 11:30am | Central State Bank Community Room
Food Vendors & Drink Tent 11am – 1am | Founders’ Park | At 4pm Fire Dept. will be selling chicken halves and serving FREE sweet corn
Kiddie Tractor Pull 11am | Founders’ Park | Registration at 10:30 | Ages 4 – 11 | Sanctioned by the Iowa State Pedal Pull Association
Bean Bag Tournament 11am | S Main St next to Founders’ Park | Registration at 10:30 | Double elimination | $20 registration fee per team | Cash payback | Bring your own bags | Event will be ran by McGregor Fun Bags | Cold beer will be available at the beer tent
Central PTO Bingo 11am – 1:30pm & 3-6pm| Founders’ Park | Fundraiser for Central Warrior PTO (parent teacher organization) | Closed during parade
Carnival: Kids Rides & Amusement 11am – 6pm | Founders’ Park | $10 daily wristband or $15 weekend wristband | Closed during parade
Sweet Corn Days Parade 2pm | Main St | 1:30pm Line up at the intersection of Davis St & N 1st St where volunteer firefighters will direct you | No theme | No registration | Regulations for Parade Entries
Car, Truck, & Jeep Show & Shine 3pm – 6pm | S Main St | Located on South Main Street in Elkader. Either pull in & park after the 2pm parade or be in the parade (at the very end) by lining up at the intersection of Davis St & N 1st St at 1:30 & then park on S Main St towards at the end of the parade route- see map. Cards will be provided to place in dashboard. Card can be found at the table next to FreedomBank parking lot adjacent to S Main St. just south of Wilke’s. No contest or awards. | Show & Shine Map
MUSIC: Bad Dog 20/20 3pm – 7pm | Founders’ Park
FREE Sweet Corn 4pm | South Main Street just north of Founders’ Park | Also serving chicken halves for sale | Sponsored by the Elkader Fire Department | Did you know that all of the FREE sweet corn is purchased, husked, cleaned, cooked, buttered, and served by the Elkader Fire Department? Check out this short video that Iowa Public Television created Click here. | Help fill the boot by donating
Moonlight Swim 8pm – 11pm | Elkader City Pool | $6 Entry Fee | open to all ages — families included | Maximum occupancy for safety reasons is 150 patrons | Season/weekend passes are not accepted at this event
Teen Sand Volleyball Tournament 8pm – 11pm | Elkader City Park | Team of 6 to 8 teenagers with a minimum of 3 girls
CORNSTOCK 2026 6:30pm – 1:00am | Cornstock is a music event for ages 19 or older on Saturday night | Free entry
MUSIC: Doubting Thomas 7pm – 9pm
MUSIC: Wildcard 9pm – 1am
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Sunday| July 26, 2026
Pickleball Tournament 9am | Elkader City Park | Registration required | Registration Form | Contact Kelly with questions at 319-240-3854 or KellyFromIowa@gmail.com
If you have an event you wish to add to the event schedule, please submit it to us at elkaderscd@gmail.com or call (563) 920-2336 PRIOR to May 1st each year.