The empty grounds of Lane Place will be filled with people for the first time in over a year next weekend, June 11-13, for the annual Strawberry Festival. The event was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and despite coming back this year, it will look a little different.
There will be new changes to accommodate COVID-19 safety protocols. One of the biggest changes is the elimination of the ticket system. The 17 vendors will be accepting cash and cards. The kids area will still have tickets to use at their activities.
The traditional long picnic tables will be gone too, replaced by small standing tables that will seat individual groups.
Several hand washing stations will be placed throughout the festival. Social distancing will also be implemented as much as possible and masks are optional, as per CDC guidelines.
Another change will be the focus of the festival’s Hometown Heroes. Normally those who have served in the military, police officers and firefighters are honored, but this year health care workers who have served on the front lines of the pandemic will be recognized. Pam Pontones, Indiana Deputy State Health Commissioner, will be speaking at the event and all healthcare workers are encouraged to attend.
S. David Long, Strawberry Festival chairman, said that he, and many members of the community, are excited to finally have the festival this year.
“I think it’s important for the community to have something like this to get back to, as much as we keep saying, normal,” Long said. “We’re going to have folks that probably won’t attend that would have attended, because they’re still concerned with the health issues. We understand that, but we wanted to give those people who wanted to get out a place to go or chance to interact.”
This year’s entertainment includes a local country music band, Steve Trent and Small Town, as well as world renowned Elvis impersonator, Shawn Khush. Steve Trent and Small Town will be performing at 8:30 p.m. June 11 and Khush will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. June 2. People are encouraged to get there early and bring lawn chairs to enjoy the music.
For more information, visit www.crawfordsvillestrawberryfestival.com.
