The 48th annual Scandinavia Corn Roast promises something for everyone in the family – and individuals as well.

The event will begin at noon Friday, Aug. 5 and run through 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at Ellison Memorial Park in Scandinavia. Admission is $5 for adults each day, $3 ages 13 to 20, and free for children 12 and younger. Friday’s admission will go to the Scandinavia Volunteer Fire Department.

“We have expanded to a three-day event and try to keep the event very family-oriented with something for everyone,” said Mitchell Swenson, Scandinavia Corn Roast coordinator and president of the Scandinavia Booster Club.

“There is a variety of musical entertainment all weekend, ball games, we added tractor and truck pulls and chainsaw wood sculpting competitions and auctions over the past few years, and we have many activities for children,” he said.

Each day will feature food and refreshments, bounce houses, entertainment, a petting zoo and pony rides. A variety of activities, contests and music also will be available daily, and Friday and Saturday also highlight the softball tournament.

The biggest factor that sets this festival-type event above the rest, he said, is the corn.

“We still have many volunteers that roast corn over charcoal grills (on Sunday). We also boil sweet corn and serve with melted butter”, he said.

The event draws between 5,000 and 6,000 people from across the state – even outside of the state in some instances – but really continues to have an at-home feel for people coming in.

“The unique thing about the Scandinavia Corn Roast … this is like a grand reunion for current and past residents of the Scandinavia, Iola and surrounding areas,” Swenson said. “Many class and family reunions are scheduled around this event so they can also attend the corn roast weekend.”

Another long-standing staple of the festival is the pie and ice cream social on Sunday. Many area residents donate baked goods for the event, which offers another opportunity to socialize and catch up.

The weekend itinerary:

Friday: At noon Friday, the chainsaw artist wood sculpting competition will take place followed by the mini/quick carve wood sculpting contest from 1 to 2 p.m. The main wood sculpting event will be from 2 to 8 p.m.

Fish fry will begin service at 5 p.m. with Unlimited Pro Activities from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Cost is $12 for the activities, $5 for the toddler area.

The quick carve wood sculpture auction begins at 7 p.m. and music by Highlight Drive Band will be from 8 to midnight. The Scandinavia Volunteer Fire Department will hold its raffle drawing at 10 p.m.

Saturday: Saturday will see many of the same items, with the day starting with a 10:30 a.m. parade. Theme this year is “Super Heroes: Who’s Your Superhero?”

The chainsaw artist wood sculpting will be at 11 a.m., with the mini/quick sculpting from 11 a.m. to noon. Unlimited Pros Activities cost $15, with the toddler area $10 this day and will run from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

More for kids takes place with Mr. Steve Kids’ Music Show at 11:30 a.m. and Dizzy D Balloon Twister from noon to 3 p.m. Mr. Steve ballooning will be at 1:30 p.m. and his magic show will be at 4 p.m.

From noon to 8 p.m. is the main wood sculpting event, with the quick carve sculpture auction at 7 p.m.

At 1:30 p.m. the sixth annual Scandinavia Corn Roast Truck Pull takes place. At 5 p.m., the tractor pull “9,500-pound altered” occurs.

The Wisconsin Spudmobile will be on hand from noon to 5 p.m.; at noon the Iola-Scandinavia School Band will perform; Orlow and the CWB Band will entertain from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Railroad Ron variety show will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m.; and Ask Your Mother band will play from 8 to midnight.

Sunday: Sunday starts with the chainsaw wood sculpting competition beginning at 9 a.m. and the mini/quick sculpt from 9 to 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the main wood sculpting event. At 2 p.m., the quick carve and main wood sculpting events will be judged, followed at 3:30 p.m. with an awards ceremony and wood sculpture auctions at 4 p.m.

At 9:30 a.m., there will be a church service in the park, with music by Shepherd’s Quartet, followed by Unlimited Pro Activities from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $12 for the activities, $5 for the toddler area. Other kids’ activities include Mr. Steve magic at 11 a.m. and again at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. and Dizzy D Balloon Twister from noon to 3 p.m.

Beginning at 11 a.m. is the reason for the festival: free roasted and boiled corn until it is gone. An ice cream and pie social will be at noon, also until it is gone.

Also at 11 a.m. is the 11th annual Scandinavia Tractor Pull.

The BABA baseball games will be at noon and 3 p.m., the first with New London and Omro facing off, the second is Lanark vs. Scandinavia.

Music begins at 11 a.m. with Old Time Sounds Band, which runs until 3 p.m., then Horseshoes and Hand Grenades finishes out the weekend from 4 to 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.cornroast.net