Lots of activities and food at Strawberry Festival
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Strawberry Festival kicked off today for the 37th time offering many options for food and fun, including these people on a trackless train ride.
Bands today include Sky Cats from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at food court west; the Kendall Community Band from 5 to 7 p.m. at the courthouse; Salvatore Rocks from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at food court east; and Steve Novak, an acoustic soloist from 7 to 9 p.m. at Martin’s on Main.
Saturday will be a full day of events starting with a 5k/8k at 8 a.m., parade at 10 a.m., cruise-in from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., turtle race at 2 p.m., and other live music and entertainment until 8:30 p.m.
Click here to see the schedule of events.
There are about 30 food vendors at the festival. It is the big turnout out for food vendors in the festival’s history, and some needed to be located on Main Street, north of Bank Street.
Chad Pike of the Tavern on the Ridge is among about 30 food vendors. He is shown at the grill with marinated chicken and kielbasa kabobs and beef on weck wraps. This is Pike’s first time as food vendor at the Strawberry Festival.
He said he wanted to be part of the festival that means so much to Albion and the Orleans County community.
Buffie Edick of Kent is one of 70 arts and crafts vendors. She makes crocheted stuffies with her business, Buffie’s Loveys.
“I love the festival,” she said. “The whole town comes out and the other vendors are so friendly.”
Edick said she expects her turtle stuffies will be her best sellers, as well as the crocheted strawberries.
She praised the festival committee for putting on a well-organized event.
Jeff Andrews, left, and Dave Allen are making strawberry sundaes and shortcake in the Music Boosters booth by the Presbyterian Church.
Doug Farley, left, and Dick Remley are selling turtle tickets for the big race at 2 p.m. on Saturday on the Erie Canal. About 1,000 turtles will race. The turtles are numbered and the ticket holders of the five winning turtles will win money.
The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion brought 10 residents to the festival and they were joined by family and staff. The residents made their own Strawberry Festival shirts to wear at the event.
