What: The Strawberry Festival: A Cape St. Claire Tradition
When: The parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday
Where: The parade will begin at the Cape St. Claire Volunteer Fire Station
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The following press release was distributed by the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association.
Cape St. Claire residents young and old look forward to that Saturday in Spring when they gather along Cape St. Claire Road with sunshine to watch as the Cape St Claire Strawberry Festival Princess and her court lead the community parade to the festivities on the main beach.
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This age old festival offers community fun for everyone in the family. This year’s festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 9th, with a rain date of Sunday, June 10th .
This year’s festival offers local children the opportunity to enter one of many contests. As in years past, the most popular contest the festival has to offer is the bike-decorating contest. This contest gives Boys and Girls the opportunity to decorate their bikes in one of three themes. The decorated bikes gather at the fire department and ride together in the parade. Once they reach the festival grounds the bikes are judged and everyone receives an award.
In years past this contest only awarded prizes to the “Best” decorated bike in each theme category. As the children became more creative, the decisions became more difficult and the disappointed faces were heart breaking. After much discussion the Festival Committee came to the conclusion that the festival was not about disappointment and children who took the time to decorate their bike would receive a prize.
Our youngest residents, ages 24 months and younger, have the opportunity to enter a contest of their own. Babies, with the help of their parents are given the opportunity to decorate themselves and their ride in the Strawberry Theme. The “Berriest Baby” contest allows families the opportunity to show off their youngest members and their decorating creativity. This contest offers prizes for all of the pre-registered applicants and a special award for the “Berriest Baby”
Probably the most prestigious contest is that of the “Strawberry Festival Princess.” The Strawberry Festival Princess contest gives the young women in the community the opportunity to tell their audience about their life in Cape St. Claire. The contestants are asked to submit an essay which talks about their contributions to the community, along with their ideas for the future. This contest offers a savings bond to the princess along with a trophy for her and her court.
Returning to the Festival This year is the Strawberry Festival's Junior Princess Contest. If you are a Cape Resident entering the 6th, 7th or 8th grade in the Fall of 2012 this is your opportunity to shine. The contestants are asked to submit an essay which talks about their contributions to the community, along with their ideas for the future. This contest offers a savings bond to the princess along with a trophy for her and her court.
Returning to the Festival This year is the Strawberry Festival's Little Princess Contest. If you are a Cape Resident entering the 3rd, 4th or 5th grade in the Fall of 2012 this is your opportunity to shine. The contestants are asked to submit a 200 word essay which talks about their contributions to the community, along with their ideas for the future. This contest offers a savings bond to the princess along with a trophy for her and her court.
This year’s festival will also bring back the community watermelon-eating contest. Residents of all ages may find their place at the watermelon table various times through out the day. Contest will be run and prizes will be awarded to those who can eat their piece of watermelon the fastest, without using their hands.
If competition is what you are looking for and you feel as though you and your partner are on the move, try your luck at the sac races. 2 Person teams are welcome to sign up as often as you like. Each race will determine a winning team who will defend their title against other teams. Before the sunsets there will be an elimination run to determine the fastest team in Cape St. Claire.
Also inside of the festival gates residents will find live music on stage all day. In addition the annual Moon Bounce will be available to the children all day, free of charge.
Your local businessmen and women sponsor all of our contest and free attractions. Please take the time on Festival Day to read the schedule of events and thank the sponsors for their support.
In addition, to the many contest and activities mentioned the Strawberry Festival offers a variety of games and food booth on the main beach. Local church, scout and community groups sponsor the food and game booths in an effort to raise funds for their organization. Many of the games created and foods prepared are a result of the hard work of the youth in Cape St. Claire.
If you are looking to get you strawberry fix do not forget to visit the Strawberry Kitchen where volunteers are busy making shortcakes and sundaes. If you are of age and looking for a stronger strawberry you will find strawberry daiquiris and Beer in the beer garden.
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