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Five things you need to know about this weekend's Darien Cornfest

DARIEN — This weekend is the 52nd anniversary of the Darien Cornfest, a three-day event featuring free corn on the cob, a carnival, live music, a German drinking game best done without drinking and, new this year, outhouse races.

Here are five things you need to know about the Cornfest.

1. Free corn is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The corn comes courtesy of Birds Eye Foods. Traditional sides, including butter and salt, and napkins will be available.

2. Organizers like to keep the event fresh, and this year's addition is outhouse races. The races begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, just before the traditional parade.

Should you like to enter the races, please keep in mind that all outhouses must be at least 6 feet high—chimneys, flags and signs don't count—and have a minimum of 9 square feet of floor space.

All outhouses must also contain a toilet seat, toilet paper and be able, if necessary, to function as an outhouse. The rules do not say if the toilet paper should hang over or under the roll.

For more information or to see the complete specs, go online to dariencornfest.us.

3. Hammerschlagen will be played on all three days. Here's how it works: Each contestant is assigned a nail already driven about a half-inch into a log. The players take turns hitting their nails once each turn. The person who drives his or her nail into the log first, wins.

The audience thinks it's hilarious when a drinker misses a nail completely. This is a game where sobriety helps.

4. Sunday's parade always starts with the Liberty Bike Ride at 12:15 p.m. The ride is a group of military veterans on motorcycles who ride as a tribute to the troops and those who have given their lives.

If you're a veteran who would like to participate, be in front of the Farmers Inn, 15 Wisconsin St., Darien, before 11:45 a.m.

The regular parade starts at 1 p.m.

5. What else is there to do? Anyone can sign up for the milk-chugging and corn-eating contest or the cornhole or horseshoe tournaments. Bingo runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and the stock and rod tractor pull starts at noon Saturday.

IF YOU GO

What: 52nd annual Darien Cornfest

When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Where: Darien West Park, unless otherwise noted.

Friday

All evening: Hammerschlagn games and carnival

6 p.m.: Princess pageant at the fire station

7 p.m.: Fireman's softball

8 p.m.: Rainbow Bridge band

9 p.m.: Fireworks

Saturday

All day: Carnival, softball tournament, craft sale, bingo and hammerschlagen games.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Free sweet corn from Birds Eye

11:30 a.m.: Horseshoe tournament

Noon: Stock and rod tractor pull

Noon-4 p.m.: Stateline Playboys band

2 p.m.: Corny cookie decorating contest

4 p.m.: Milk chug contest

5 p.m.: Walworth County Cloggers

8 p.m.: 76 Juliet band

Sunday

All day: Carnival, softball tournament and bingo

10 a.m.: Outhouse races downtown

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Free sweet corn from Birds Eye

2 p.m.: Cornhole tournament

11:30 p.m.: Horseshoe tournament

12:15 p.m.: Liberty bike ride

1 p.m.: Parade starting downtown

2 p.m.: Cornhole tournament

4 p.m.: Auction