With August close enough to touch, the corn is as high as the proverbial elephant’s eye — and the tomatoes are plump and juicy in a rainbow of hues from yellow to orange to scarlet to crimson.

Nowhere are these quintessential summer crops celebrated quite like at Verrill Farm in Concord, which will hold its annual Corn & Tomato Festival Saturday, Aug. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“This is a chance to taste over 30 varieties of both hybrid and heirloom tomatoes as well as several varieties of sweet corn,’’ said co-proprietor Steve Verrill, part of the second generation to work this family farm celebrating its centennial this year. “A fixed fee at the gate entitles you to all the samples you want.’’

The Corn & Tomato Festival draws a loyal crowd year after year, who know the joy of passing a couple of hours on a summer day savoring delicately sliced tomatoes of all sizes and colors, and slathering sun-warmed butter on a cob of sweet corn ready to eat.

“We’ve gone for the past several years,’’ said Linda Reynolds of Concord. “It’s a lot of fun, and it’s a good opportunity to sample as many different tomatoes as you want, because sometimes when you go to the farm stand to buy tomatoes, it’s a little overwhelming to see all the different varieties. The corn is delicious, too. It is well worth the admission fee [$12 for adults, free for kids under 5] to try all of these different foods.’’

Indeed, attendees show up not only for the tomatoes and corn served straight up but for the myriad ways that farmstand executive chef Kevin Carey incorporates them into delicious and savory dishes — some as familiar as cornbread, others as complex as a summer corn-tomato frittata with zucchini squash.

“We show customers how to go beyond the classics and make these ingredients a little more versatile,’’ Carey said of the dozens of dishes that will be available for sampling — all included in the cover charge. “We’re making gazpacho with several vegetables we harvest ourselves: vine-ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, cilantro. We’re making a southwest black bean and corn salad, and a dish that combines corn, blue cheese, and potatoes served over focaccia. We’ll have versions of comfort foods like risotto and mac and cheese as well.’’

Supplemented with hot dogs, burgers, and drinks for sale, pony rides for children (for a small extra fee) and featuring live music from the New Hampshire-based band Monadnock Bluegrass, the festival is certainly one of Verrill Farm’s most popular events — but far from the only reason to visit the farm this summer.

Other highlights on the calendar include a pick-your-own-corn event at 6 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 5; an early evening farm tour by hayride on Friday, Aug. 10, at 5:30 p.m.; a farm-to-table crop dinner on Wednesday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m.; and a Fall Farm Day Sept. 15 fro 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Themed cooking classes offered throughout the year for kids and adults alike are popular as well. Or just stop by the farm stand for fresh seasonal produce and take-home dinners, including barbeque every Thursday.

The farm is located at 11 Wheeler Road in Concord. For more information, call 978-369-4494 or go to www.verrillfarm.com.

Nancy Shohet West can be reached at nancyswest@gmail.com.