I'm here in downtown Bristol, Indiana, with Mike Yoder, who is the town manager of Bristol.

Mike, tell us about where we are today, this park that we're in.

It's First time I've been in Bristol lots of times to visit the food pantry because I do some work with them and help them out at the hub over there, but I've never been down into this park, so I guess a lot of people watching and probably never been here either, but well, I don't know.

It's Congdon park, it's the largest, park in the town of Bristol, and this is where we hold most of our festivals.

So yeah, homecoming is here, car shows are here, and the Corn Dog Festival will be here.

September sixth.

Nice.

So the corn dog festival?

My wife actually used to work in media, and she did a story about about the corn dog festival, and.

And then I watched that, and I was thinking to myself, I had no idea that Bristol was famous for this.

This was a couple of years ago.

But but actually, tell me about the history of the corn dog in Bristol, Indiana.

Yeah, I'm not sure how far back I can go with the corn dog aspect of it, but the facility has been here for a number of years, and then monogram bought it.

And, this is monogram is multi-state operation.

But here is where they make corn dogs.

80% of the corn dogs made in the USA made right here in Bristol by Monogram Foods.

And so what was the idea behind embracing that and turning it into a festival?

Actually started out with the employees at monogram thought that, you know, this is something unique.

Why not celebrate this?

And like the idea of a corn dog festival is catchy and people like the concept.

Yes So the employees started started that, monogram for, monogram Loves Kids is a not for profit.

Yeah.

Help sponsor it.

All the proceeds went to the hub.

Hearts United for Bristol, not for profit here and in Bristol.

But after three years, it was time for this to evolve.

And so Bristol on the river, the downtown organization has taken on that responsibility.

And we're reimagining parts of that festival for this year same not for profit status, though funds that are raised are going to not for profit organizations.

Nice.

And I know you mentioned monogram and their foundation that they have I know I see it a lot.

They give money to different nonprofits, are in the community and very involved with children.

So it's important for them to give back.

And I know you don't work for them.

So they can speak on that for themselves.

But but giving back to this and keeping it downtown, what do you really hope from people watching obviously come to visit Bristol.

What's the what's the general opinion of Bristol from people that don't really come here?

Well, we're hoping this festival stands out a bit from the other summer festivals, which are really important for our downtowns.

They bring people to the downtown to, you know, help local merchants and just add some vitality and vibrancy.

I think to the Downtown Corn Dog Festival, I think stands out because it has more of a backyard neighborhood party feel to it, more low key, very family oriented.

We have free games for kids, vintage games this year, lots of food vendors, of course, and then some.

Nice entertainment on two stages.

Nice.

All right, so, Micah, there's also some contest going on.

I hear the Bristol corn dog eating champ.

Is that like the eat as many as you can in a minute or something?

Or.

What's that?

All right.

I forget what the time frame is, but yes, there's, How many corn dogs can you eat in a particular time set?

So there is a reigning champion.

Yeah.

That will be back this year, but we've done that for three years or so this year.

Number four, there'll be an open contest so you can sign up the day of.

Yeah, I may we also have some municipality folks that compete against each other like a local Joey Chestnut.

Isn't that the guy that does the hot dogs?

Oh yeah.

I think that was his name.

Yeah.

All right, so what else have we got here?

Well, we also have, we've added this year a wiener dog costume contest.

Okay.

Happening.

And, and another new exciting one is a corn dog king contest.

And so we're looking for entries on both of these right now.

You still sign up on the website.

And, I promised somebody yesterday that I would pay entry fees for any men that wanted to enter the contest for the King.

Contest is a free.

It is now, I'll use all of my Social security check to pay.

But anyways, the King contest.

It's.

It seems intimidating for men.

I don't know what the deal is, but you just come and you are interviewed by a few queen queens that, you know, like the Elkhart County 4H queen.

I'm not sure who which queens they have come in the interview.

You have to do a small talent.

So turkey calling, reading poetry badly.

Something stupid like that is fine.

Really.

When you thought of talent, the first thing that came to mind was a turkey call.

I actually have a town employee that was planning to do that or might do that.

Okay, so it wasn't my first, but mine was reading poetry badly.

But the winner gets a $1,000 Blackstone Grill.

Pretty cool.

The winner, not the weiner.

The other thing we have, is a variety of food vendors, and there's a competition among the food vendors on their take on a corndog.

So we have a variety.

They'll be Mexican corn dogs.

They'll be deconstructed corn dogs.

They'll be a corn dog and an egg roll.

These all sounds pretty cool.

And then we have a crafts, well crafted village as well, with a variety of vendors, lots of fun stuff.

And so again, you mentioned it's on September 6th.

At what time is it on during the day?

Is it all day?

It starts at 10:00 and ends at 7:00 in the evening.

Okay.

And again, as you mentioned, for people outside of Bristol who have probably never been here, I mean, I've been here, but I've never taken my family here.

But this park is beautiful, too.

I mean, you have a kayak launch over here as well, so there's lots for people to do around here.

It's right on the, mighty Saint Joe River.

So it's a very beautiful setting, we think.

And, great place to have, activities like festivals, but even daily activities, this park actually gets quite a bit of use.

Not quite as much as a pickleball court, but it's a lot of use.

And there's plenty of parking in the downtown area.

We'll have to walk here.

Although, we have an arrangement with ADEC so you can park at ADEC.

Oh, yeah.

Nice.

And they will provide, delivery.

Delivery services.

Yes.

Here.

Specially, especially if you, have some issues with mobility.

They'll be able to transport you here and drop you off right here at the park.

I think that's a good idea, because they're only five minutes away up the road, so that's perfect.

So, we love ADEC as well.

So it's a it's a good, it's a good organization to have here.

And I know they've been here a long time.

I like their cafe.

They have them there.

It's a good spot that I wish more people would actually go in and use like an.

Well, I think that's part of, of us attempting to cooperate with them, collaborate with them as it gets new people on their facility.

Yeah.

So the Corn Dog Festival, September 6th, it's very unique.

Do you know if there's any other corndog festivals in the United States now, at this stage, or does anyone, this is the only one.

If I did, I forgot.

So no, we're the only one that I know of.

All right.

And it's all here.

As you mentioned, 80% of the corn dogs in the United States are made, here in Bristol, Indiana, which I think is pretty cool.

And are you going to dress up as a corn dog or, there's been some attempts, but so far I've been successfully pushing those back.

You can only imagine how I feel around Saint Patrick's Day, while people to get me to dress up like a leprechaun.

Exactly.

I got the right height, but, I'm not doing it, you know?

So all right, well, Mike, thank you so much.

And thank you for all the effort you put in and whether people come to that or not, I hope to come and experience downtown Bristol.

So thank you.