The Corn and Apple Festival, featuring free corn-on-the cob and apple cider, a main street packed with vendors and a midway, will cause the city's population to balloon this weekend. .

The annual event, running from Friday through Sunday, will feature street vendors, a midway, buskers, food trucks, and a wide range of entertainers.    

"A lot of people from out of town, so we can say, hey, look what we have in our backyard," said Nathan Knight, the festival's committee chair. "So we've got the M’Ladies on the stage on Friday evening. Kendra Kay - she's a Manitoba girl - she's going to be there as well. And then Epic Eagles, a tribute band based out of Toronto. And then we're super pumped about Saturday. It's going to be BK and The Bad Habits, another local act. There’s a Manitoba connection to Econoline Crush. And then we're going to finish off the night with Sloan."

Comedian Matt Falk will host "The Not Very Late Show' on the Friday night youth stage, followed by the Corn & Apple Film Fest, a series of short films produced by local youth.

For those looking to get involved "backstage," it's much easier to volunteer for this year's event.

"We have added a piece to our website. We've bolstered that," explained Knight. "What we find is a lot of people who are apprehensive about signing up or volunteering think it's such a large commitment for the course of the weekend. But we have roles to fill that could take you 2 hours on a Saturday. So now you can poke around, see what's available without having to actually commit. Then if you think, hey, you know, I can do this, get in touch. Two hours, four hours, whatever you want to do, we'll take you for the week."

One of Manitoba's longest parades will head down Stephen Street on Saturday morning at 10.

Knight admits that not every business in downtown Morden is thrilled about losing their storefront for four days (including set up on Thursday).

"Most of them are, I gotta say. And they're fantastic, and we appreciate everyone. There are some logistical challenges to, you know, putting a midway on a commercial street in small town. When we move vendors in, they have to go in, in chronological order or we run into problems. But that is the charm of the festival."

The Corn & Apple Festival has traditionally included a strong faith component, organized by the Morden Christian Programs committee. 

"This Saturday evening at the Access Event Center in Morden, we have at 7:00 pm the Fehr family," said spokesperson Chris Derksen. 

A member of the ministerial in both Morden and Winkler, Derksen took on his organizational role in the festival because he likes to see people come together and having a universal experience and seeing the joy that comes from that.

"Then the Browns are going to be playing after that. I believe they're southern gospel. If for those that are into them, I'm sure that they're very well known, the Fehr Family and the Browns, they're again playing in the afternoon on Sunday after the worship service after lunch. Then glory bound at 3:00 pm and then the Glenn Cross quartet at 4:00 pm. It's a full afternoon of music. It's going to be great!"

Derksen says Sunday morning is designed for the whole family.

"Pastor Bruce Martin, retired pastor of Calvary Temple in Winnipeg - kind of affectionately known as Manitoba's Pastor - will be our guest speaker that morning. The worship is going to be covered by Richard and Kristjana Hale, the pastors of Bethel Community Church in Winnipeg. They have led the one- night worship at Burton Cummings Theater in Winnipeg as well. We also have the kids covered. Typically, what has happened is Richard and Vanessa Klassen have opened up the Kenmore theater and have a kids feature. 10:30 is when families can drop their kids off at the Kenmore theater. The service starts at 10:45 sharp and we'll be done by noon."

The worship service will be shorter in case of hot weather. The rain location is Morden's Access Event Centre.

Sunday afternoon's music takes place on the main stage. The youth stage will feature an energetic and interactive show with the Roland-based duo, Lulu & The Tomcat.

With many visitors coming just for the food, Knight believes the Corn & Apple has more food trucks than any other festival in the province.

The complete schedule for festival can be found here.

To find out more about the faith element of the festival, click here. 

- With files from Ronny Guenther and Daemon Parent -

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