Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Strawberry Festival set to return for 46th year
Even more fun and games on tap for this year’s Strawberry Festival
WEST BRANDYWINE » The 46th annual Strawberry Festival, one of the most anticipated events in Chester County, kicks off Thursday, May 31 on the grounds of the Brandywine Hospital.
The annual four- day, familyoriented extravaganza that typically attracts tens of thousands of people features fireworks, ongoing entertainment, live music, amusement rides, moon bounces, animal rides, a mechanical bull, a vendor fair, an international food fair, and more. For more than four decades, the Strawberry Festival has attracted over 28,000 visitors annually, and has been an annual tradition in the greater Coatesville area for 46 years.
The festival is organized by the Brandy wine Health Foundation and benefits the Coatesville Area Public Library, the Coates ville Rotary Club, the Coat es ville Youth Initiative and the Thorndale Volunteer Fire Co. Since the Brandy wine Health Foundation took over the Strawberry Festival in 2002, the foundation has distributed nearly $ 1.5 million in grants to the greater Coatesville community from festival revenue alone.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted for parking at nearby North Brandywine Elementary School. More than 700 volunteers are utilized to make the festival a success.
The fireworks spectacular will be held on Friday night, June 1. Thursday night is wristband night, when anyone purchasing a $ 25 wristband gets unlimited amusement rides. Ticket prices for the Majestic Midway are two for $ 3, 24 tickets for $ 25, and $ 54 tickets for $ 50. Individual ride tickets never expire and can be used any day of the festival.
Returning this year is the popular Strawberryland, which features tons of activities for young kids, age 7 and under, including a moon bounce, inflatable obstacle course, and inflatable slides. Cost is $ 2 per ride, or $ 10 to play and ride all day for the youngsters. The Strawberriest Kid Contest takes place Sunday, June 3 at 2 p. m. Bring your child, age 5 and under, dress in their strawberry finest for a chance to win great prizes.
Activities include:
Thursday, May 31 ( 5 p. m. to 10 p. m.)
Live music on the Strawberry Stage from 5 p. m. to 10 p. m. and $ 5 pony rides from5 p. m. to 8 p. m.; knocker ball, an exciting game of bumper soccer, from 5 p. m. to 10 p. m., with a cost of $ 6; monster truck rides for $ 10 from 5 p. m. to 10 p. m. and zip line rides for $ 10 from 5 p. m. to 10 p. m.
Friday, June 1 ( 5 p. m. to 11 p. m.)
Live music on the Strawberry Stage; pony rides from 5 p. m. to 8 p. m.; free balloon sculptures; knocker ball ($ 6); The Escape Room– test your intellect and competitiveness for $ 10; mechanical bull rides for $ 5, zip line rides for $ 10, monster truck rides for $ 10, magic shows most of the night and a live broadcast from WCHE. The fireworks spectacular begins at 9: 45 p. m.
Saturday, June 2 ( Noon to 11 p. m.).
Reduced ride ticket prices in the Majestic Midway, ( one less ticket per ride), free balloon sculptures, live music in the Strawberry Café; knocker ball for $ 6; mechanical bull rides for $ 5; zip line rides for $ 10, monster truck rides for $ 10, pony rides for $ 5, jugglers, magic shows and a live broadcast from WCHE.
Sunday, June 3 ( Noon to 6 p. m.)
Reduced ride ticket prices in the Majestic Midway, ( one less ticket per ride), live music, knocker ball for $ 6; the Escape Room for $ 10; magic shows, jugglers and live music on the Strawberry Stage.
At the Strawberry Festival, there will be a free rock wall, hosted by Brandywine Hospital – Tower Health, a goldfish game, a prize wheel, fun sand art collectibles and a grand prize raffle drawing for a chance to win $ 1,000.
The festival is presented by PECO and Key Bank, and sponsors include Bridgestone, Coatesville Savings Bank, Arcelor Mittal, Home spire, and Citadel.