Strawberries, sunshine and 40 years of neighbourly know-how drew more than 5,000 people to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday.
Run entirely by church volunteers, the annual strawberry festival showcased local berries with crepes, barbecue, live music and an expanded children’s zone — making it a summer staple for residents and returning visitors.
The one-day fundraiser, held at the church on Simcoe Street, pumped tens of thousands of dollars into upkeep of the 231-year-old building.
“It’s better than it was last year and it seems to be exceeding expectations,” said organizer Kathy Hunter.
By 10:30 a.m., the event had already sold out of pies, though jams and preserves were still available throughout the day.
By noon, festival-goers had purchased more than 14,000 food tickets, which could be traded in for crepes, ice cream and other treats.
“We start making jam in January or February and go right through until the end of May,” Hunter said.
She credited four decades of trial and error for the festival’s smooth operation.
“We’ve got it sort of down to where we like it,” she said.
Festival proceeds go directly into preserving the historic church, which was rebuilt in 1831 after the original structure was burned during the War of 1812.
The Rev. Bernie Skelding praised the festival’s outreach beyond the congregation.
“The event is something the congregation anticipates every year and works together on. It’s a real anchoring point for us,” he said.
The festival also included a silent auction, where attendees could bid on more than 300 items, many of which were donated to the church to support the fundraising effort.
The NOTL Writers’ Circle also took part, setting up a book-laden table across the street from the church to promote the group and showcase members’ books.
Next up on the local festival calendar is the St. Mark’s Cherry Festival on July 5, followed by the Peach Festival, hosted by St. Vincent de Paul Parish, on Aug. 8 and 9.
