Summer is right around the corner, and fresh fruit is ready for picking. Celebrate the season, and the juiciness of your favorite produce at the 26th annual Delaplane Strawberry Festival.
Returning on May 25 and 26, the festival will be held at Sky Meadows State Park. Hosted by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the festival supports over 100 organizations around the world, and since its inception, the festival has raised $712,522 for nonprofits, including the Fauquier free clinic, Fauquier Habitat for Humanity, Leeds Ruritan Club and the Marshall Fire Department.
The festival features 500 flats of strawberries, totaling over 10,000 pounds. Guests can buy them by the flat or pint, or in a sundae, pie or funnel cake. The event includes live music, children’s activities, raffles, food vendors and artisan crafters.
The Delaplane Strawberry Festival also boats a 4-H petting farm, hay rides, guided tours of the historic Mount Bleak House, a tasting tent, park ranger demonstrations, pony rides, face painting and a bird showcase by Virginia Raptor Conservancy. Dogs are also welcome, and K9OLOGY will be on site with a doggie pool and agility course to keep them entertained.
Fans of the Strong Person Tractor Pull competition will be pleased to hear that it will be back at this year’s festival. Teams of four will pull a tractor 25 meters; whichever team completes the course the fastest wins. Other competitions include the strawberry sundae eating contest and old-fashioned games like tug-of-war, water balloon tosses and more.
On Sunday, at 9 a.m., the day will kick off with a 5K trail run and walk. Race fees are $25 per person until May 20, and $30 after.
The festival’s gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. both days, and will be held rain or shine. For more information, or to purchase advanced tickets, visit delaplanestrawberryfestival.com. // 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane; $25 per car at the gate, $20 in advance
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