Strawberry Festival shrugs off rain and enlivens Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The 29th annual Albion Strawberry Festival started today and continues on Saturday in downtown Albion and the Courthouse Square.

Yaudiel Castillo, 12, of Albion and his friends try hit the target at the dunk booth and drop Mary Martin into the tank. Mary’s father Greg Martin is running the dunk tank as a fundraiser to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.

His son Enoch, 14, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about four years ago. Proceeds from the dunk tank will go to Strong Memorial Hospital’s Endocrinology Department for finding a cure.

The festival for the first time includes a fishing pond on West Bank Street. The 14-by-22-foot tank is stocked with about 250 rainbow and brook trout. This photo shows John Snell and his daughter Reagan Flor catching a fish.

Curtis Wall, right, of Albion catches the biggest fish in the tank, a rainbow trout. He is assisted by Mike Hall from Western North Carolina Mountain Trout Fishing.

Participants pay $3 for a chance to catch the fish. The rod, reel and bait will all be provided. Any caught fish will be returned to the tank in a catch and release program.

The Michael Ames Duo, which includes Michael Ames and Mary Ellen Hayden, perform on East Bank Street during the festival today.

Vincent Pastore of Batavia plays the violin with a group in front of the courthouse this evening.

Pete Matsen plays the trumpet and Gary Deiboldt the keyboards while entertaining by the courthouse this evening.

Hospice of Orleans has real ducks by its booth to promote its duck race on July 4 in Lyndonville. Nyla Gaylord, left, and Mary Tillman are pictured at the Hospice booth.

On Saturday the 5k and 8k races start at 8 a.m., followed by parade at 10 a.m. and a full day of entertainment.