Jam certainly doesn’t make itself — which is why dozens of volunteers were present and ready to help out at Saturday’s Strawberry Festival. 

Hosted by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, the annual festival features farm-fresh fruit for sale, along with thematic treats including homemade fruit jams, baked goods and frozen yogurt. 

Preparing for the celebration was a lot of work, festival co-chair Fran Anderson told The Lake Report.

“This morning we had probably 30 people hauling in strawberries,” she said. 

Volunteers in the church kitchen made all the jams on sale during the day, and the church’s members donated baked goods – a variety of cakes and bread, plus ready-to-eat snacks like strawberry shortcakes and crepes.

“All of the home baking was sold out within two hours,” Anderson said.

This year marked her first time helping to lead the festival. She said it was a great opportunity to get to know other people in the church. 

People like Mary McHoull who worked alongside a busy team of volunteers to sell quarts and flats of farm fresh strawberries. 

McHoull said this year was her first time working the outdoor booth after typically helping out with the antiques. 

“I used to sell strawberries as a kid, so I thought, ‘Why not?'” she said.

Along with snacks and shopping, festival goers could enjoy the musical stylings of guests including children’s musician The Singing Chicken, take a tour of the church or enter the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum’s “Tiny Museum,” a small but elegant mobile home parked next to the berry stand. 

All proceeds from the festival will benefit St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and its functions.