CULLMAN, Ala. – The Alabama Strawberry Festival is in full swing in Cullman’s Depot Park area and will continue until late Saturday night. City streets, blocked off with hand-painted blockades covered in vibrant and colorful strawberry-themed murals completed by local artist Donald Walker, are packed, allowing space for the over 100 craft and food vendors to showcase their goods.
The event, known as the Cullman Strawberry Festival for more than 80 years, went statewide this year, with a new name and an additional day added to the fun. The Alabama Strawberry Festival has something for everyone, with food, arts and crafts, live music and, of course, locally grown strawberries. Children’s carnival rides flank the massive stage erected at Depot Park to hold the main musical attractions of the festival, including Matt Stell and Niko Moon Friday evening and Eric Hutchinson, Easton Corbin and Eli Young Band taking the stage on Saturday night.
Big-name stars are not the only entertainment attendees of the Alabama Strawberry Festival can expect to enjoy; the newly-added Wallace State Fresh Picks Stage held many local acts on Friday. Fine ballet dancers, The Overtones, Lamont Landers and the Cotton Pickin’ Kids all wowed the crowds. The new stage will also feature some of the festival’s contests and competitions Saturday, including the Doggy Pawgeant, a pie eating contest, a strawberry eating contest and a race for the best berry drink chugger around.
Although the festival has grown larger, many vendors are familiar, coming to Cullman year after year for the community and culture around the festivals and events held here.
One standout booth was manned by Chefs Michael and Scott Martin, owners and pasta connoisseurs at Bleu Basil. They are a traveling duo devoted to creating clean, preservative-free pasta with fresh and local ingredients; some of the flavors of their artisan pasta include off-the-wall curated choices like Jalapeño Lime, Bang-Bang, Squid Ink and even a specialty Strawberry option.
Scott Martin said, “We love coming to the Strawberry Festival. There is just so much support around these small towns and their festivals; we always feel so welcomed.”
The event continues at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 4. Vendors and merchants will remain open and selling goods for the duration of the festival. The entertainment and live music lineup will also continue into the late evening.
On the Fresh Picks Stage on Saturday, May 4
- Cullman Middle School Band at 9 a.m.
- Cullman Community Band at 10:05 a.m.
- Community Choir at 11:10 a.m.
- Berry Drink Chuggin’ at 11:50 a.m.
- Strawberry Eating Contest at 12:10 p.m.
- Pie Eating Contest at 12:50 p.m.
- Doggy Pawgeant at 1:10 p.m.
- The Pink Stones at 2:25 p.m.
- Nat Meyers at 3:25 p.m.
- Banditos at 5 p.m.
On the Main Stage on Saturday, May 4
- Jesse Roper at 1:25 p.m.
- Cousin Curtiss at 2:25 p.m.
- Kasey Tyndall at 4 p.m.
- Eric Hutchinson at 5:45 p.m.
- Easton Corbin at 7:30 p.m.
- Eli Young Band at 9:30 p.m.
Admission to the Alabama Strawberry Festival is free; however, attendees can buy upgraded admission to the concerts at www.alabamastrawberryfest.com/tickets.
Depot Park is located at 309 First Ave. NE, Cullman, AL 35055.
Get more info at www.alabamastrawberryfest.com.
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