Strawberries make people happy.

While that may or may not be clinically true, the Strawberry Festival at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake on June 22 definitely put smiles on the faces of many.

For eight-year-old Peyton Teal-Harris, this was a day she had been so eagerly anticipating that she could barely contain herself upon arriving.

“It is really cool. There is a bouncy castle, there’s strawberries, it’s outside and there are so many people,” exclaimed the youngster from St. Catharines as she gobbled down a cup of strawberry yogurt.

Her mom, Dee MacLaurin, said the festival was on the pair’s radar for over a month.

“Every summer we do a bucket list and this was definitely on her bucket list,” she said.

“She woke up today going, ‘today is the day. Let’s go.’ ”

“It is my favourite fruit,” interjected Peyton. “I eat them almost every day.”

The festival’s other features included a silent auction, musical performances, food right off the barbecue, art, trinket and preserve vendors. Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum’s tiny museum was also on-site.

“Everyone just has a big smile on their face,” said volunteer Julie Hunter, adding that the goal of the day is to bring people together and to celebrate community.

Many of the visitors, she added, have openly expressed how nice it is to bump into fellow residents or friends they haven’t since last year’s festival.

“So, for many people, it is the gathering place,” she said.

And this is just the beginning when it comes to the big three community-led fruit festivals in Niagara-on-the-Lake over the summer months.

The St. Mark’s Cherry Festival will be held July 6 and St. Vincent de Paul Parish will host its Peach Festival Aug. 11.