The whistle of a steam engine at noon Friday will officially open the 31st annual Clinton County Corn Festival at the Clinton County Fairground. The event is sponsored by the Antique Power Club of Clinton County and the Corn Festival Committee.

The opening ceremony and flag-raising willl get underway at 11:30 a.m. at the sound stage. American Legion Post 49 will raise the flag and the Wilmington High School Band will perform.

A variety of entertainment, men’s, women’s and tweens’ games, craft and flea market booths, special demonstrations and displays and a variety of food will highlight the three- day festival. The annual parade and Corn Olympics will again be special features on Saturday.

Hours for the festival are noon to 10 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is $3 per person per day or $5 for a weekend pass. Children 12 and under will be admitted free.

For the early risers, Sugartree Ministry will begin serving breakfast at 7 a.m. at the Junior Fair Building. Breakfast will be served until 10 a.m. A chicken dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

“There is so much to see and do you’ll have to attend all three days just to take it all in,” said Janet Florea, co-chair of the festival with her husband Larry Florea.

Always one of the largest in southwest Ohio, the parade on Saturday will line up at the fairground and move out at 10 a.m., traveling down Main Street to Mulberry Street, turning left on Mulberry to Locust Street and back to the fairground. Anyone driving in the parade must have a valid driver’s license. Passengers will not be allowed to ride on tractors.

The Corn Olympics, with Grant Peelle as emcee, will provide a barrel of laughs as teams compete in everything from outhouse races to a tricycle race, obstacle course and a hula hoop competition. The competition will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in front of the grandstand. The theme is “Indiana Jones: Raider of the Lost Cob.”

Anyone who likes tractors will want to see the many makes and models on display at the fairground. Two antique tractor pulls will be held, one at 7 p.m. Friday and the other at noon on Saturday. Both will be held at the pulling track. “The Antique Power Club is responsible to put this on every year,” Janet said. “They always have a lot of fun.” The Friday pull is for 1 plow old, new light and new, and 2 plow old, new light and new. On Saturday, the pull will be for 3 plow old and new, 4 plow old and new, and 2 and 3 plow doubletree. Anyone who pulls must be a member of the Antique Power Club. To participate, register at the office located on the midway.

Janet Florea says you won’t want to miss the tractor awards parade on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on the race track. “The kids love this parade because there’s no age limit to driving the tractor for this closing parade.” Participants must be 14 or older.

A draft horse pull will be held on the pulling track at 1 p.m. Sunday. “The horses pull and compete on how much weight each team can pull,” Janet explained.

Helicopter rides will be offered Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $35 for a seven-minute flight. The location will be at the south end of the infield.

The theme for the three-day quilt show is “Freezin’ Season” and will be held in Floral Hall. A variety of quilting demonstrations will be held each day and miscellaneous items will be available for purchase.

“The Expo Center will house Children’s Corner,” said Janet. Children’s Corner activities will be held Friday from 7 to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 1 p.m.

Free bingo, under the direction of Tom and Rosalie Waldren, will be held in the Expo Center from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday; 2 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m. and at 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded the winners.

Dr. Tom Stillwell of Wilmington will hold a show and tell, giving the history of corn, also in the Expo Center.

The 4-H building will be filled with craft booths. Antiques will be in the Peterson Building. Vendors also will be set up in the hog barn and the sheep barn. A swap area in the goat barn will be operated by the power club.

The East Clinton FFA will have a petting zoo in the rabbit barn. “The FFA sets this up, hauls the animals in and feeds, cleans and cares for the animals every day,” Janet said. “You’ll always find a lot of the kids there. This group of young people do a great job.

An antique truck show will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the infield. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday for the antique car show in the infield. The show is open to vehicles 1972 and older.

The Tolliver train will be back again this year.

The slate of entertainment includes the YMCA karate team, G&M Cloggers, square dancing, Chuck Pinney and Donnie King, Signs of Salvation, Surrender, Carol and Johnie Duo, Jericho Road, Lauren Kelly, Clinton County Squares, Stacey Witt, George Brothers Band, Bluegrass Sterling Boys, magician Steve Faris, Willow Creek and 3 Old Guys Plus Friends.

The 33 food booths will offer a variety of food, including some that are new.

“The corn festival is about family, fun and food,” said Janet. “Just relax, enjoy yourselves and visit with everyone. Let’s remember our older generation and make memories with the younger ones.”