Strawberry Festival Highlighted by Princesses, Sundaes, Daiquiris

The biggest festival of the year in Cape St. Claire is Saturday, in case you’ve happened to miss the banner flying over Cape St. Claire Road.

The Strawberry Festival will kick off at 10 a.m. with a parade that begins at the and ends at the Cape St. Claire Clubhouse, at 1223 River Bay Rd., where the rest of the festivities will take place.

The stars of this year’s parade are the Strawberry Festival princesses. The princesses include Shannon McElwee, Adrienne Dicken and Justine Kiser. The volunteer fire department's shiny, new fire engine will lead the parade.

More than 50 crafters will have their tables and wares set out for display along the streets surrounding River Bay Road, and live music will be playing throughout the event.

For Mary Lamb, the event's organizer for the past 16 years, it’s the climax of another year of planning. She said this year is expected to bring one of the largest crowds ever.

“It’s always big. I’m always surprised by the turnout, and I expect to be surprised again,” Lamb said. “This year in particular, the talk of the festival around town, because of the weather, is huge.”

Inside the clubhouse will be a Strawberry Kitchen, where everyone can get their strawberry-themed treats, such as strawberry sundaes, strawberry shortcakes, strawberry daiquiries, and strawberry smoothies.

“It’s very neat, it's very hometown," she said. "That’s what I like most about it—the quaintness."

Schedule of events:

• 10 a.m.—Parade begins at volunteer fire department
• 10:30 a.m.—
• 10:30-11:30—Opening ceremonies and awards
• Noon-12:40 p.m.—Dirk Schwenk & Company
• 12:45 p.m.—Rocky, K-9 demo
• 12:55-1:35 p.m.—The Jesters (classic/Southern rock)
• 1:50-2:20 p.m.—Bootleg Voodoo (acoustic classic and country)
• 2:40-3:20 p.m.—Generation Gap (classic "generation" rock)
• 3:40-4:20 p.m.—24 Karat (classic and '80s rock)
• 4:30-5 p.m.—Cockeysville 'Billies (country and bluegrass)
• 5:20-6 p.m.—Long Duk (big '80s rock)
• 6:15-7 p.m.—Rick and Karen Pumphrey (acoustic duet)

This will be my first year at the Strawberry Festival. I’ll be wearing a green Patch shirt. So if you see me, be sure to stop by and say "hi."