18th annual Bolivar Strawberry Festival is June 6-8
Strawberries in all forms will abound, from fresh and deep-fried to shortcake and pies.
Two stages of live entertainment, rides for the kids, a 5k race, tons of food and every other thing people have come to love about the Bolivar Strawberry Festival will return to Canal Street June 6-8.
Strawberries in all forms will abound, from fresh and deep-fried to shortcake and pies. And if you’ve got a big enough appetite, you can demonstrate it at the strawberry eating contest on Saturday.
Thursday, June 6
The festivities will get underway Thursday, June 6 at 4:30 p.m. with the Tusky Valley jazz band, followed by the Realm of the Reptiles hands-on experience in the south tent. Music in the brew tent will open with Ed Kilpatrick at 5 p.m., followed by the return of Beatles tribute band The Liverpool Lads at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 7
Friday will start with the Bolivar Idol contest, the winner of which will get to perform with Slick31 in the brew tent on Saturday. Friday also is the day a new strawberry queen will be crowned.
Additional entertainment on Friday includes Ren, Low Budget Band, and Tim and TJ Gang leading up to the return of Chris Higbee.
Bob Smith, president of the Bolivar Main Street Association, which puts on the annual festival, said the third in the commemorative plate series will be unveiled, with the first five numbered plates auctioned just prior to Higbee taking the stage. Remaining plates can be purchased for $25 each that day by calling Smith at 330-204-0949.
Previous plates have featured the old Bolivar Elementary School, now gone, and the former Tusky Valley High School. This year’s plate completes the series, depicting the new middle-high school on the front and historical information about the project on the back.
Saturday, June 8
Saturday is traditionally the biggest day for the festival. It’s when a new miss berry princess and little miss shortcake get their tiaras, and the Michael Mage Experience comedy and magic performance will appear for two shows.
The Strawberry Festival 5k and Seedling Scamper will both be back this year. Race Director Lori Fritz said this year’s 5k course includes a slight change. “Instead of turning onto Lover’s Lane, we decided to run through Strawberry Alley this year.”
The 5k is open to all ages with a registration fee of $25. The start time is 9 a.m. Registration for the 1/2 mile in-town scamper is free to kids age 10 and under. The start time is 8:30 a.m. Onsite registration for both events will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the brew tent.
All scamper participants will receive a medal, with 5k medals going to the top three male and female runners, as well as the top three in each age group.
The Fireman’s Parade will start at 4 p.m. “If anyone wants to be in the parade, they can contact me or just show up at Fort Laurens between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday,” Smith said.
Featured entertainment includes the New Towne Cloggers in the south tent while the brew tent will rock out with Slick31, Red Ravin’ and the New Delhi Monkeymen closing things out.
Additional happenings
The midway on Canal Street will again be filled with arts and crafts and business and nonprofit booths. Food purveyors will feature festival-style food, from sausage sandwiches, pulled pork, and ravioli and meatballs to dipped cheeses, cold brew coffee and cotton candy.
Carnival rides will entertain kids and the young at heart Thursday and Friday from 5-10 p.m. and Saturday from 1-10 p.m.
Shuttle service will be offered from the parking lots at the Lebold-Smith Funeral Home and the St. John’s United Church of Christ.
Admission to the festival is free.
For more information on the parade, call Smith at 330-204-0949 or Justin Wallace at 330-412-3542. Full information can be found at www.bolivarmainstreet.com and on the Bolivar Main Street Association Facebook page.