CULLMAN – Cullman City Parks and Recreation will host the annual Strawberry Festival on Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, at Depot Park and Festhalle in downtown Cullman.
The Strawberry Festival has gone through several iterations and the host of the event has changed hands many times over the years, but the 2016 version is the second year for CP&R to be running the show.
“This is (CP&R’s) second year in charge of the Strawberry Festival, and we’re just trying to grow the event,” said Waid Harbison, CP&R marketing, programs and events coordinator.
“We’re going to have bands both on Friday and Saturday, a bigger car show, a bigger area for kids, more craft vendors. We’re just turning it up a notch on everything,” he continued.
The logo for the Strawberry Festival boasts that the event was established in 1938. And, even though the event in 2016 will be much different than the original one almost 80 years ago, Harbison doesn’t want those who attend to forget that this is about supporting local farmers.
“We want everyone to come out, enjoy everything we have to offer, and make sure these guys sell out (of strawberries),” he said.
The event will kick off on Friday, May 6 with a Senior Day from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., featuring specific events for those 50-years-old and up. The full festival will start up at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon and go until 10 p.m.
On Saturday, the festival will open at 8 a.m. and will go until 10 p.m.
There will be bands on both Friday and Saturday, but Harbison says that the best time to go is on Friday night for the bands. The first band has been announced: Clara Belle & the Creeps. For additional announcements, be sure to visit https://twitter.com/CullmanParksRec leading up to the festival.
The car show and craft vendors will only be out on Saturday.
To sign up to be a vendor or to participate in the car show, visit http://cullmanrecreation.org/strawberry-festival/. Registration is first-come, first-served.
The Strawberry Festival is the inauguration of summertime in Cullman.
“This certainly kicks off summer for us,” Harbison said. “It is great to have an event downtown that gets everyone involved.”
