2023 DATE: June 8-10, 2023
This post documents my experience on June 18, 2011.
After a rather disappointing strawberry festival in Bedford, I almost gave up all remaining strawberry festivals for the year. But when I received a Google Alert notification about the fried strawberries at the Bolivar Strawberry Festival…
…I decided to make an exception.
Celebrating its 7th year after a 24 year hiatus (it originally ran from 1974 to 1980)…
…the strawberry festival consisted of a main midway set for local merchants…
…with two entertainment stages…
…and an area set aside for other festival food booths…
…games and rides, which were run by Sam’s Amusement Co.
Local merchants along the main drag sold a little of everything, including….
…crafts…
…stylish accessories…
…food storage supplies…
…and even hair extensions.
I actually spent some time talking to two vendors in particular.
The first was from Westbrook’s Cannery, who I had seen (and bought from) at two different festivals last year. When I saw them again in Bolivar with their various free samples of relishes, butters and jellies…
…it was like reconnecting with old friends.
The other booth was from Butternut Farms, where Shirley Miller does a bit of everything from cattle raising, beagle breeding, jewelry/basket/jelly making and so much more. Fortunately, for this festival, she concentrated on strawberries…
…and she did this in an incredible way!
And since we’re talking about strawberries, I guess I should share the strawberry temptations available at the festival.
With all local food booths offering at least one strawberry item, selections included…
…strawberries cookies and cobbler (Zoar Bakery)…
…strawberry shortcake on angel food cake (American Legion Post 190)…
…deep fried strawberries…
…and strawberries by the quart (Tuscarawas Valley Ruritan Club).
And there were still more booths, in fact, with many more strawberry items….
…but I remained satisfied with these decadent treasures!