The 116th annual Strawberry Festival invited the Lebanon community to have a radical time, with local organizations and the Strawberry Festival Association pulling out different elements of fun.
The Strawberry Festival Association – undergirded by hundreds of volunteers and thousands of volunteer hours – headlined the main events of the weekend with parades, live music, carnivals and fireworks.
This year’s “Berries Just Wanna Have Fun” theme enticed festival goers to break out their best 1980s-inspired outfits (including a mullet or two) and favorite vintage toys from an era that featured pop and rock music and electronic games. Among the most common themes seen in the parades were Rubik’s Cube, mix tapes, and vibrant colors and fashion.
But beyond the obvious elements of amusement were other organizations who summoned the spirit of fun by offering the beauty of flowers, the creativity of quilts, the joy of dance, the pleasure of food, the benefits of exercise, the thrill of the race and the transformative nature of worship.
Clubs, nonprofits, schools, businesses and churches contributed to the city-wide celebration of strawberry harvest, community festivities and, like, totally tubular activities.
The festivities, held June 5-8, began on Thursday with All Heroes Day, honoring those who served in the military, and as first responders and linemen.
During the coronation ceremony, the Strawberry Court gave a nod to Cindy Lauper’s hit song “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” with an inspired dance. After introductions, the court voted Hannah Savedra as Miss Congeniality, and judges selected Savedra as Strawberry Festival Queen.
While some Strawberry Festivals are coated in rain, others can be bathed in heat – and this year was a hot one. Regardless of the climate, though, the parades are always well attended and this year was no different.
ENTEK’s float swept up many of the parade trophies, walking away with Grand Marshall, Queen’s Choice and Sweepstakes from the Grand Parade. At the Lebanon Garden Club’s Standard Flower Show, the Strawberry Court pinned ribbons on their favorite horticultural samples.
Queen Savedra chose Aurora Combs’ design in the “Rubic’s Cube” category. The four princess ribbons went to Laurie Linn’s zamioculcas zamiifolia, Kristy Hacker’s “Honey Bee Truck” dish garden, Linn’s design in the “Splash Dance” category, and Amanda Ernst’s design in the “Wild Thing” category.
Linn also won People’s Choice for her quilt display, a collection of star blocks in blue and white, with starburst-like quilting done by hand.
On Saturday, the Lebanon Optimists club hosted its annual breakfast fundraiser, serving up pancakes, eggs and ham with a side of early morning cheer at the Linn Lanes Bowling parking lot. While breakfast service wrapped up, East Linn Christian Academy’s annual 1 mile/5K run/walk kicked off at the north end of downtown.
First place winners were: Jameson Graham, 13, one-mile run overall, 6:27.70; C. Gambardella, 10, one-mile girls under 12, 6:33.91; W. Smith, 10, one-mile boys under 12, 6:38.14; Cameron Peshon, 28, 5K (M 26-35, men’s overall and overall winner), 15:58.79; Forrest Cooley, 22, 5K (M 18-25), 16:17.09; Noah Charves, 17, 5K (M 14-17), 16:54.65; Daisy Lalonde, 18, 5K (F 18-25 and women’s overall), 17:49.64; Adam Hearn, 39, 5K (M 36-45), 18:57.11; Emma Whitton, 15, 5K (F14-17), 20:24.96; Joe Kennedy, 47, 5K (M 46-55), 20:28.96; Celie Mans, 26, 5K (F 26-35), 20:53.04; Tiuana Feuerbacher, 39, 5K (F 36-45), 21:50.43; A. Day, 10, 5K (F 1-13), 23:30.49; F. Smith, 9, 5K (M 1-13), 23:37.17; Nicole Von Germeten, 53, 5K (F 46-55), 24:45.12; Linda Bruslind, 57, 5K (F 56-65), 26:19.51; James Klein, 71, 5K (M 66-99), 26:50.32; Scott Bruslind, 65, 5K (M 56-65), 29:47.36; and Paulette McCoy, 71, 5K (F 66-99), 49:39.83.
One of the festival’s newer amusements for children – Family Land – provided a child-sized circus, live entertainment, help-yourself play things, a climbing wall, a mechanical bull, bumper boats and several ways to play with water.
It was the Lebanon Square Circlers who ushered in an evening of dancing as the sun began to set. The 73rd Strawberry Festival Dance & Campout hosted cuer Sandra Pinion and caller Darrell Kalmbach.
Willamette Speedway ended Saturday’s schedule of festival happenings with its annual Strawberry Cup races. Taking home trophies that night included Joey Tanner (Late Model), Dakota Godard (Street Stock) and Brian Winkler (Limited Late Model).
And of course there is the strawberry shortcake, the largest highlight of the annual festival. The Strawberry Court handed slices to visitors for several hours and, on Sunday, the last of the cake was pulled for a strawberry shortcake eating contest. Kids as young as 3 attempted their first speed feed for a chance at a prize, teens sized each other up by claiming they’ve been practicing for this their entire lives, and adults waited in line for a chance to stuff their faces.
Transform Lebanon kicked off the last day’s festivities with worship service.
As the Strawberry Festival Association continues to build Lebanon’s century-old celebration with added entertainment and statewide reach, it has always been and always will be a community event powered by local volunteers, dedicated organizations and berry passion.
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