Suggestions, complaints and a few heated words flew Tuesday night in a meeting to reexamine the future of Cornfest.

Several downtown merchants and residents echoed concerns of a petition circulated two weeks ago that Cornfest has grown too big, choking off the business district at a time when thousands of potential new customers come to DeKalb.

Mary Wilson, part owner and operator of the Hillside Restaurant, 121 N. Second St., said Cornfest should not be abolished but needs a change of direction.

She suggested spreading the event over two weekends, moving the festival up one week and opening the streets for a “showcase week” during NIU’s move-in days.

Other suggestions include reducing the number of days or moving the event, possibly to a park or another public place.

Tom Smith, co-proprietor of The DeKalb Confectionary, 149 N. Second St., said a decline in the number of families coming to Cornfest has caused business to suffer during that weekend during the past several years.

Ron Ellis, a DeKalb resident, said the situation is not as bad as some painted it to be. “I noticed at this Cornfest more young families than I’ve seen in a long time. I saw people there that I’ve known 30 years. It sounds like there’s a lot going on here besides what went on that weekend,” Ellis said.

Nancy Sisler, owner of The Country Inn, 2496 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, said the dissatisfaction began nearly 15 years ago when Cornfest was moved to its current weekend.

“It used to be that we had Cornfest first, then a showcase week when the students and their parents came up, and Welcome Days the week after that. That was three marketing opportunities. Now what do we have?” Sisler said.

Joe Green, president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, said the Cornfest committee will work with the suggestions and anyone with concerns should come to the committee meetings.