ELLERBE - The first annual Strawberry Festival is coming up this Saturday, May 12 in Ellerbe. The event is being sponsored by the Ellerbe Downtown Merchants Association and will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is no admission charge for the event.
There will lots of food, crafts for sale, and entertainment throughout the day. 70 vendors have signed up to participate in the festival. The Richmond Observer’s sister operation’s “Good Morning Sandhills” crew will be performing Emcee duties during the day.
Susan Kelly, Director of the Richmond County Agriculture Extension office noted that the point of the festival is, “to put a focus on Ellerbe and bring some new people to town so we can show them what a great place Ellerbe is.” Kelly went on to say, “We’re just hoping more people will realize what a great place this is by coming to the festival.” The money raised will be used to further the efforts of the downtown merchants association and add additional beautification to the downtown area.
Temperatures are expected to be unseasonably warm on Saturday with low 90’s predicted. The merchants association has recognized this concern and will have a large tent for shade with 100 chairs set up to allow people a place to rest and cool off while enjoying one of many strawberry dishes. People are also welcome to bring their own chairs as well.
Here is a look at the schedule for Saturday:
10:00 a.m. Opening Remarks
National Anthem - Carol Capel
10:30 a.m. Ray Charles
11:00 a.m. Lisa Deaton
12:00 p.m. Loaded Dice
2:30 p.m. Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest
3:00 p.m. Trip Rogers Band
5:00 p.m. Back 40
Of course the featured food of the day will be strawberries. There will be several local growers selling fresh picked strawberries. Homemade strawberry ice cream and shortcake will be available and additionally, each food vendor has been asked to have at least one strawberry dish on their menu.
There will be a strawberry recipe contest. It starts shortly following the opening ceremony and national anthem.
The strawberry shortcake eating contest will be open to the first ten adults (18 or over) who step up to the challenge. Each contestant will have ten loaded strawberry shortcakes to eat, first one finished is the winner.
There will also be Strawberry Festival Tee-Shirts for sale at $10.
Come on out to help kick off the first of what will likely become a long standing spring festival featuring a favorite crop for Ellerbe and Richmond County.
