By 9 a.m. there was already a line for fresh hot corn on the cob and Juanita Dalton was busy slathering on the butter while Deb Hagerty skewered the ears with wooden sticks.

The second Saturday of every month means a special festival at the Farmers Market sponsored by Ironton In Bloom. Last month it was watermelon and this week it was corn.

“We like to do this because we can talk about the different community projects,” Ralph Kline of IIB, said. “This time it is the Veterans Memorial Park.”

Community leaders are hoping to turn the shell of Memorial Hall into a mini park and become a stop on a series of walking trails throughout Ironton. For decades the hall had become an eyesore and was only recently gutted with the goal of preserving its outer stonework.

Crowds lined the market where fresh produce and handmade crafts were for sale. Even the vendors got into the spirit of the festival, munching sticks of corn as they waited for customers to make their selections.

“This is a little social event,” Kline said. “It gets people together. And once you can develop the mindset, people will want to run down to get their produce at the Farmers Market.”

Next month will be the tomato festival featuring tomato and bologna sandwiches.