36th Annual Bixby Green Corn Festival

The three-day festival celebrates Bixby’s annual corn harvest. It is free and open to the public. “The festival draws people from all areas,” said Jackie Benway, marketing and PR chair for the Bixby Green Corn Festival. “We have visitors from Broken Arrow

Bixby Green Corn Festival marketing and PR committee chair Jackie Benway.

The 36th annual Bixby Green Corn Festival will be held June 23 through June 25 at Charley Young Park, located in Old Town Bixby at 12 W. Dawes.

The three-day festival celebrates Bixby’s annual corn harvest. It is free and open to the public. “The festival draws people from all areas,” said Jackie Benway, marketing and PR chair for the Bixby Green Corn Festival. “We have visitors from Broken Arrow, Jenks, Glenpool and Owasso, and the live bands draw followers from out of state.”

Festival goers will enjoy a wide variety of food vendors offering items such as corn on the cob, hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, Indian tacos and funnel cakes. There will also be plenty of arts and crafts booths, live music, carnival rides and games in the park. “The festival offers entertainment for the entire family,” said Benway. “With so many different events, there is something for everyone from little kids to adults to enjoy.”

According to Benway, the children’s frog jumping contest is quite an entertaining event. “The kids have fun participating and it’s amusing for adults,” she said. “Watching kids trying to make their frogs jump is so funny to see.”

A talent show will be held during the festival; performances are limited to three to five minutes each, and awards will be given for first, second and third place. Applications are available online at www.bixbyoptimist.org. There is a $10 entry fee.

The Bixby Optimist Club hosts the Green Corn Festival; corporate sponsors include Grand Bank and BTC Broadband. Proceeds from the event benefit Bixby youth. “The Bixby Optimist Club is an organization devoted to helping youth in our community any way we can,” Benway said. “We offer support wherever it is needed.”

The club offers support by providing scholarships, eyeglasses and eye appointments for children that otherwise could not afford them, and organizing a shoe drive during the year. Most recently, the Optimist Club hosted a leadership luncheon. Twenty-five students were selected for their leadership qualities and enjoyed a lunch with local business leaders. Other events the Bixby Optimists sponsor throughout the year are the Oratorical Contest, Essay Contest, Fishing Derby, and Miss Bixby Scholarship Pageant.

A group motivated by the desire to contribute to the community from which they and their families drew daily benefits founded the Bixby Optimist Club in 1975. Optimists are interested in helping the youth and the community reach those less fortunate children who have needs such as vision or hearing problems. Since its founding, the Bixby Optimist Club has been continually involved in youth and civic activities. No other club in Bixby’s history has had a greater impact and involvement in the development of its youth and the community.

The 36th annual Bixby Green Corn Festival takes place Thursday, June 23 and Friday, June 24 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, June 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.bixbyoptimist.org.

For more information, contact

Bixby Green Corn Festival 

(918) 366-0228

www.bixbyoptimist.org