Crowds filled Depot Park during 2017’s Strawberry Festival. Cullman Parks and Recreation said this year’s event will offer even more. (W.C. Mann for The Tribune)
Friday only: Senior Shindig, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Saturday only: Strawberry Festival, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
CULLMAN – This Saturday, May 5, Cullman Parks and Recreation (CP&R) will host the 2018 Strawberry Festival downtown, from the Festhalle to Depot Park. Several features of the event will be expanded this year, and the cancelation of this year’s Art in the Park led to the inclusion of a whole new collection of activities at the festival.
The Strawberry Festival will last from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. This year’s festival will be headlined by Eve 6, who will play Saturday evening to end the event. The Strawberry Festival is free to attend.
The Strawberry Festival will feature more than a dozen farmers selling locally-grown, fresh strawberries throughout the day. The event will also feature more than 120 craft vendors on site. A large kids zone will feature inflatables, games, rides, a petting zoo and other attractions. A new art zone will also be added with kids’ crafts, an art show and a sidewalk chalk contest where the winner will receive a free season pass for the summer to Wild Water water park at the Cullman Wellness & Aquatic Center. The event will also feature a host of strawberry themed food and drinks, according to CP&R.
New stuff!
The Tribune spoke to Waid Harbison, CP&R’s event coordinator, who explained that the festival’s new art zone is the result of the cancelation of Art in the Park earlier in the spring, due to bad weather.
“We were not able to have our Art in the Park event this year,” said Harbison, “so we’re kind of bringing a lot of elements of that event to the art zone. So, Shop Around the Corner, Pam Willingham, is going to help out and do some kids’ crafts. We’re going to be still having our art show, so we’ll have artwork on display there from just local artists all over Cullman, and then we’re going to be doing our sidewalk chalk contest there, as well.”
CP&R plans to hold art zone events in the parking area between the Cullman County Museum and the Festhalle.
In years gone by, Festival activities have usually concluded around supper time, but this year will see some of the fun just getting cranked up at that time. Live music will run all day from 8 a.m., and at 7:30 p.m., California-based “pop punk” trio Eve 6 will take the stage. The platinum-selling band, formed in 1995, is known for hits like “Inside Out,” “Promise,” “On the Roof Again” and “Here’s to the Night.”
According to Harbison, the number of farmers and craft vendors has been increased for this year, and the kids’ zone will be expanded.
“We’re really just amping everything up a little bit,” said Harbison.
Senior Shindig
Harbison said the annual Senior Shindig will take place at the Festhalle on Friday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first 300 seniors to arrive will get a free lunch. A live band will be providing entertainment, and there will be Bingo with prizes. Strawberry vendors will also be onsite Friday.
Saturday’s music schedule
- 8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. – Cullman High School Choir
- 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Julie Ann & Gold Rush
- 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Community Band
- 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Shannon McNeal
- 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. – Round 2
- 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Thick as Thieves
- 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. – to be announced
- 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Eve 6
For more information on the Strawberry Festival, call 256-734-9517 or visit www.facebook.com/CullmanStrawberryfest/.
Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
