Not many small-town celebrations can boast the popularity and longevity of Leonard’s annual Strawberry Festival.
On Saturday, July 18, the festival returns for the 63rd time and it promises to offer plenty of fun for the entire family.
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., members of the Addison Twp. Firefighters Association will be dishing out vanilla ice cream sundaes, topped with strawberries and/or chocolate sauce, in the old fire hall next door to Rowland Hall.
Folks who purchase advance tickets for their sundaes will pay $3 each. On the day of the festival, sundaes cost $3.50 each. Advance sundae tickets are available at Addison Fire Station #1, located at 4026 Forest St. in Leonard.
The classic car show in the Cooper Standard Automotive parking lot on E. Elmwood will run from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Exhibitors can begin setting up and registering at 9 a.m. Awards will be presented at 3:30 p.m.
Judging for the kids? bicycle decorating contest will take place at Leonard Elementary School at 11:30 a.m.
The Strawberry Bake-off will return to Rowland Hall. All entries must arrive between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Dishes must contain strawberries. Alcohol, preserves and beverage recipes are prohibited. Recipes must be included with entries, which will be judged based on taste and presentation. There are two age groups in the competition ? youth 8-12 and adult 13 and up. Registration is $10.
The festival parade along E. Elmwood St. will begin at 12 noon sharp. This year’s grand marshals are Wes and Linda Douglas.
Children’s activities will be open from 1-5 p.m. They include free train rides and inflatables, temporary tattoos and face-painting, Upland Hills Petting Farm and $3 pony rides by the Polly Ann Trail, small snow cones from Kona Ice, a magic show (2 p.m.) and an opportunity to meet Sheepshank Sam.
Portrayed by Ben Thompson, Sheepshank Sam is an old-time shanty boy lumberjack who mixes history and tall tales to transport listeners back to a lumberjack camp in northern Michigan during the late 1800s.
Audience members learn all about old lumbering practices and are given the opportunity to use authentic lumberjack tools such as saws, cant hooks and skidding tongs.
There will be entertainment galore beginning at 5 p.m. on the big stage with impersonators portraying Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis and Johnny Cash.
The annual street dance, featuring the Haulin Ellis Band, will run from 7-10 p.m.
For those folks who can’t wait for festival day, there’s a special Friday night (July 17) kickoff in downtown Leonard from 5-8 p.m. It will feature a potluck dinner. Paper products provided. Bring your own beverages.
For more information, please visit www.strawberryfest.net