Last weekend, Uptown Normal had jugglers, tumblers, fire dancers and clowns around every corner. Visitors saw a wrestling ring and vendor booths. And of course, no Sweet Corn Circus is complete without corn. So. Much. Corn.
It was a super sweaty Sweet Corn Circus this year, but thousands braved the heat and humidity to join in the fun. That includes WGLT reporter Lauren Warnecke, who produced this installment of WGLT's Sounds of Summer series.
Listen to this audio-rich story using the play button above or read the transcript below.
Gamma Phi fire dancer: And now, the Gamma Phi Circus is proud to present our fire show!
Jacqueline Eyler, Peoria resident: I’m actually a Gamma Phi alumnus. And so, we have been coming to the Sweet Corn Festival since I was in ISU. Then my younger brother went to ISU. Then my younger cousin went to ISU. We have just turned this into a mini family reunion while we’re here. We make ridiculous shirts and make a weekend of it — and come support Gamma Phi and eat a lot of sweet corn.
A clown named Officer Sydney Sluthy, who is friends with ISU student Sam Skinner: Where’s the circus?
Another clown, Listerine, who is friends with Luis Rivera de Leon: Have you seen it?
Sluthy: Have you see the circus?
WGLT reporter Lauren Warnecke: I’m looking for it. Help me.
Listerine: Oh yeah, I’m sorry, Troupay, have you seen the circus? Do you know where the circus is?
Troupay, a helper (not a clown): No, I think it ran away.
Listerine: Ah, darn it. You just missed it. I’m sorry. I think they’re gonna be back though.
Sluthy: At 4 p.m. today
Listerine: 4 p.m.?
Sluthy: Yes!
Listerine: Oh my gosh!
Andrew Garcia of Normal, nominated by his group as “the corn guy”: It seems like it’s always gotten busier. Definitely more food trucks. Yeah, it’s been great to see the community come out for this, for sure.
Iron Spirit Pro announcer: Are we ready to have some fun? Your opening contest is a singles contest scheduled for one fall.
Crowd: One fall!
Alfonso Gonzalez, a heel: I’m one of the wrestlers here at Iron Spirit Pro. People think I’m a bad guy, but I think I’m pretty decent. You go through life doing your best. And your best, sometimes people think, isn’t good enough, you know? They look down on you because they’re jealous of you. They’re jealous of all the notoriety — all the wins you get. There may be little cheeky things here and there, the referee doesn’t see. But regardless, if you win, who cares?
Iron Spirit Pro announcer: From the South Side of Chicago, this is Stampede Larkin!
Stampede Larkin, a big person: Well, Iron Spirit needed a big person to beat people up, so they called me. I said yeah, they gave me some money and, lo and behold, here I am.
Alfonso Gonzalez: Wrestling fans are hungry for any action they can get. Luckily Iron Spirit Pro is feeding all the people here in Bloomington and Normal. They’re blessed to have a great company here with great talent — so many underrated people, especially myself. Like, honestly. You’re alright [pointing at Stampede Larkin], but myself. Like, you see this?
Sluthy: Can you juggle?
Listerine: No, I can’t juggle. Can you juggle?
Sluthy: I can try.
Listerine: Oh! I have this really good friend, though, who knows how to do “corntortion.”
Sluthy: I can do corntortion.
Listerine: You can do corntortion?!
Sluthy: Would you like to see some corntortion?
WGLT reporter Lauren Warnecke: One hundred precent. We want to see corntortion.
Listerine, patting thighs: Drumroll, drumroll, drumroll… oh my gosh!
Rich Martinez, Yorkville resident: It’s a great event. It’s a one-stop shop for everything. You get entertainment. Great food. The people are nice. It’s a great event.
@wgltnews Who made it out to this weekend's Sweet Corn Circus in Uptown Normal? Check out our video recap featuring performances by ISU's Gamma Phi Circus and Iron Spirit Pro wrestling. Produced by WGLT's Katie Cerveny and Lauren Warnecke. See more photos at WGLT.org. #BloNo #BloomingtonNormal #CornFest #ilstu #Wrestling #Festival #Circus ♬ original sound - WGLT - Bloomington-Normal NPR
