Leaside Rotary’s 28th annual corn roast – a great family outing!

What event serves more than 1,000 cobs of corn and over 800 hot dogs? It’s the annual Leaside Rotary Corn Roast, celebrating its 28th year on Sun., Sept. 15, 2024 at Trace Manes Park. This is Leaside’s largest – and most fun – family-friendly event. Photo Paige Fernandes.
What event serves more than 1,000 cobs of corn and over 800 hot dogs? It’s the annual Leaside Rotary Corn Roast, celebrating its 28th year on Sun., Sept. 15, 2024 at Trace Manes Park. This is Leaside’s largest – and most fun – family-friendly event. Photo Paige Fernandes.

Leaside Rotary’s 28th annual corn roast – a great family outing!

SUN., Sept. 15, 2024, TRACE MANES PARK

What event serves more than 1,000 cobs of corn and over 800 hot dogs? It’s the annual Leaside Rotary Corn Roast, celebrating its 28th year on Sun., Sept. 15, 2024 at Trace Manes Park. This is Leaside’s largest – and most fun – family-friendly event. 

Some history 

The corn roast was originally set up to build a community event, generate funds for local charities and attract new members to Rotary. These principles remain today. The corn roast has a strong history of building popular activities. Some years it featured car shows, a petting zoo/pony rides (City bylaws stopped this popular event), stage set up with brass band, puppet shows and various other performers. 

Recently the corn roast has showcased huge fun inflatables, face painting, a fishing pond, guessing jars and raffle, and a 50/50 draw.

Some amazing facts

The corn is sourced from a local GTA farmer who has been supplying the corn for the entire 28 years. The corn is picked the morning of the event so it’s as fresh as possible. There has never been a total rain-out. Last year there was beautiful sunshine throughout the entire day. Many of the sponsors have been with the event since Day 1. The food – fresh corn, hot dogs and ice cream – has remained the same since that first year. 

The Leaside Rotary Corn Roast has raised over $75K in revenue over the past five years alone (excluding the two Covid years). This money has gone to support numerous local charities.

So, set aside Sept. 15, 2024 as a fun-filled day to enjoy Leaside’s largest family-friendly event.

Leaside Rotary – Passionately supporting Leaside since 1940.

This article was guest contributed by Craig Hutchinson.