Categories: Local

Crawfordsville Strawberry Festival at Historic Lane Place in Crawfordsville, Indiana

The historic Lane Place located at 212 South Water Street in Crawfordsville, Indiana is the setting for the 34^th Annual Strawberry Festival. This event attracts more than 15,000 visitors with a wide variety of activities including a four-mile run, tennis and softball tournaments, tractor show, and car shows; all this besides the many craft booths and food vendors. Admission to the festival is free, and tickets which are required for all kids-area games and attractions and food vendors, are available at various locations around the festival grounds for $.50 each.

The 2008 Strawberry Festival kicked off on May 10^th with the queen pageant. Niki Frey, a junior at North Montgomery High School, was crowned in front of a crowd of more than 400 spectators who attended the pageant at Crawfordsville High School. Frey’s duties as queen will include selling tickets during various activities and passing out trophies. Other members of the royal court include 1st Runner up Chelsea Biggs, 2nd Runner up Kelsey McPheeters, and Miss Congeniality Macie Long.

The Lane Place lawn will be filled with more than 80 arts and crafts booths. Many local favorites will be returning this year, as well as many new vendors. Visitors can shop the booths throughout the weekend starting at 11:00 a.m. Friday. As in years past, there will be many different games and attractions for the little folks set up on the east end of the property.

In the interest of safety, the Lane Place area will be smoke-free with designated smoking areas provided. Downtown parking is free, but could be scarce during peak festival hours, so comfortable walking shoes are a must. Visitors with handicap placards or license plates are invited to use the designated parking area behind Main Source Bank, entering from Water Street.

There will be numerous food vendors set up around the festival again this year, with something for every taste. Visitors can enjoy barbequed ribs, chicken or pork, Italian Beef or sausage sandwiches, toasted ham and cheese sandwiches on Texas Toast, grilled or barbequed pork loin or pulled pork sandwiches, breaded tenderloins, onion rings, or deep-fried mushrooms, Chinese rice or kabobs. Soft drinks, lemon shakeups or lemonade are also available. Of course for dessert you can have strawberry shortcake, strawberry crepes, strawberries and ice cream, ice cream cones, funnel cake, or pumpkin rolls. Don’t forget that tickets are required to purchase food items, so be sure and visit the ticket booth before getting in line!

There will be entertainment throughout the weekend on the main stage. Friday night’s head-liner is country music artist Doug Stone (“I’d Be Better Off (In a Pine Box)” and “In a Different Light”). Elvis fans will enjoy Shawn Klush, an Elvis tribute artist, on Saturday night. Gospel music and a worship service will be held on Sunday morning featuring The Woodsmen and the 4 Glory Gospel Quartette. Many local artists and entertainers will be featured as well. Bring your lawn chair and stay all day.

Long-time attractions of the Strawberry Festival are the tractor and car shows. Tractors will be displayed along Pike Street east of Green and Water Streets. Carol Jones has more information at (765) 866-1569. The car shows include a Show & Shine on Friday at 2 p.m. on East Pike Street near the Lane Place Gazebo and the Tom Schloot Memorial Corvette Show on East Pike Street starting at noon on Saturday. There will be a cruise-in after 4 p.m. Saturday for participants in Sunday’s Classics and Customs Car Show which begins at 8 a.m. Further information is available by contacting Pat Fay at (765) 794-4198.

Special athletic events this year include a four-mile run on Saturday morning. Check-in starts at 6:30 a.m. at the City building. Runners must register by June 10^th. Interested participants can contact Ed Stuffle at (765) 362-5140 ext. 281 for more information.

The Strawberry Festival Softball Tournament, an NSA Qualifier, will begin Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Elston Park and Welliever Park fields. It will be Men’s “A -B -C” / Men’s “D – E” Co-ed “Open” tournament. For more information, please contact Bob Cash at (765) 364-0748.

A tennis tournament will be held at Crawfordsville High School. Please contact Wabash tennis coach Jason Hutchison at (765) 361-6353 or Crawfordsville High School Athletic Director Bryce Barton at (765) 362-2340 ext. 1082 for details.