Plans gearing up for this year’s Strawberry Festival; June 19 and 20

Plans gearing up for this year’s Strawberry Festival; June 19 and 20

Plans gearing up for this year’s Strawberry Festival; June 19 and 20The Historic Owego Marketplace welcomes you to the 35th Annual Strawberry Festival on June 19 and 20, 2015. There’s plenty to do for young and old; thrill seekers and connoisseurs; antique pickers and bargain hunters. Please enjoy the festival, and be respectful to your fellow celebrants.

There are over 200 vendors at the 2015 Strawberry Festival, according to Co-Chairperson Fran Dunbar, some with multiple spaces, so there is more to see than ever this year. Vendors will be displaying their wares, including lots of great food, along Main Street in downtown Owego West of Church Street. Vendors also will be along the length of Lake Street, as well as Front Street along the river. Court Street, the Courthouse Lawn, and North Avenue at least half way up to Temple Street will also be used by vendors, Dunbar said.

The information booth will be located in front of Dunbar Antiques and the ‘Erb Lady at 35 Lake St.

Over 50 of the vendors at this year’s Strawberry Festival are new this year, Dunbar said. And there’s lots of food. “There is an abundance of good food this year,” Dunbar said. “If you come for the food, you’ll be very happy this year.”

One special event Dunbar was raving about was the Chris Clark Bicycle Stunt Show. This new entertainment feature is geared towards the mid range of kids, Dunbar said, 12 to 15 year olds especially, though people of all ages will be amazed at Clark’s gravity-defying stunts. Clark has performed at venues like Times Square, the Gravity Games, the Olympic Games, and the Vans Warped Tour.

Clark will be performing in front of the WEBO Studio on North Avenue from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dunbar said, then Clark will be sticking around after the show for autographs and to sign up kids in attendance for a chance to win the bike he uses during the show, valued at $3,500.

“His main purpose is to teach young people bike safety,” Dunbar said of Clark, “plus he pulls kids out of the crowd during the show to interact with them. It’s going to be fun for adults and everybody.”

Co-Chairperson Sandy Dunbar has put together a jam-packed lineup with her husband Fran. Musical entertainment gets underway during the Friday Night Block Party on June 19 with Baku starting at 5:30 p.m., on the corner of Front and Church Streets. Little Paulie and the Foot Rockers will be following them at 7 p.m.

Also starting at 5:30 p.m. will be wine and beer tasting under the tent on the Front Street Deck in partnership with the Owego Apalachin Foundation for Excellence in Education. Among the participants will be The Farmhouse Brewery, Pazdar Winery, Lakeland Winery, and Americana Vineyards. The tasting has an admission of $5, and ID’s will be checked, Sandy Dunbar said. The tasting tent will also be open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Another anticipated event on Friday is the annual Strawberry Shortcake One Mile Run at 6 p.m., along with the Strawberry Shake run at 7 p.m.. Athletes from across the region are coming to Owego to compete in this sanctioned event.

At the Court House Gazebo on Friday the Miss Strawberry Pageant takes place at 5 p.m., with the Strawberry Dogs Strut Their Stuff registration taking place until 7:30 p.m., and then judging at 8 p.m.

On the Courthouse Square Stage in the Courthouse Lawn Owego-Apalachin’s own Making the Band from the Owego Free Academy will perform at 5:30 on Friday, followed by Wreckless Marci at 8 p.m. Sound will be proved by Mark Bennett from Shark Audio. The entire south lawn of the Courthouse will be open for families to enjoy a backyard atmosphere during the Strawberry Festival, Dunbar said.

Capping off Friday Night will be the Royal Automotive Sweet Strawberry Spectacular Fireworks Display at 10 p.m.

“The fireworks will be bigger and better than ever this year,” Fran Dunbar said, “Royal Automotive really stepped up.”

Saturday kicks off with the annual Strawberry Festival Parade through downtown Owego beginning at 10 a.m. The hour-long parade will be led this year by Parade Marshall and Owego Mayor Kevin Millar.

Music gets underway at Ahwaga Park on the corner of Front and Church Streets with the Brackney String Band starting at 11:30 a.m. Hot Biscuits follows at Ahwaga Park at 1:30 p.m. and then Deveroe taking the stage at 3:30 p.m.

All day Saturday, the Calvary’s Love Kids’ Zone will provide free entertainment in Draper Park, across from Owego’s Parkview at 145 Front St. There will be bounce houses, games, face painting, music, arts and crafts, and many other activities for children offered free of charge.

At noon in the Courthouse Gazebo Robert Rogers’ Puppet Circus will perform.

Saturday the Courthouse Square’s Big Stage will be filled by the Black Diamond Express starting at 11 a.m., the Gravelding Brothers at 1 p.m., and then th Woodshed Prophets at 3 p.m.

There’s plenty to see, do, and taste at the 2015 Strawberry Festival. Let’s make the 35th Anniversary Sweet Strawberry Spectacular a safe and wonderful experience for everyone.

Look for more band biographies and descriptions of events and activities in the upcoming Strawberry Festival Guide published by the Owego Pennysaver. You can find all stories related to the Strawberry Festival by clicking on a link to the right of the home page.

You can also follow the Owego Pennysaver on Twitter.com/OwegoNews to get realtime details throughout the festival.

Visit www.owegostrawberryfestival.com for more details.

Wendy Post Contributed to the report.