Strawberry Festival set to return
CALN » For the first time in three years, the popular Strawberry Festival will be returning to the grounds of the Brandywine Hospital, which closed earlier this year.
The Strawberry Festival this year is being sponsored by the Rotary Club of Coatesville, and about 200 volunteers are making preparations to ensure its success. The four-day event, which kicks off Thursday, June 2, will feature plenty of rides, 18 food vendors, crafts, and three stages for performances, including live musicians, gymnastics and karate demonstrations.
And on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4, bigname performers will stage aerial and trampoline acts. The Cirque Adventure Family Circus will present three shows on both days.
But the best news for many is that the huge fireworks display will light up the sky on Friday, June 3 at 9:45 p.m. It will be visible for miles around, and typically causes a slowdown on the Route 30 bypass as many motorists pull off to the shoulder to watch the show. Fireworks’ rain date is June 4 at 9:45 p.m.
“We’re expecting tens of thousands over the duration of the festival,” said Greg Krajewski, who is helping to coordinate the Strawberry Festival. “We’re trying to keep the festival at least what it had been the past, and even more interactive and safer for people. It will be a little different this year, but as far as layout, food and entertainment, there will be plenty of that.”
Krajewski said there will be no masking requirements. However, in the interest of safety coming off the pandemic, there will be no bounce rides and slides, Krajewski said.
Wristband night is Thursday, June 2 with admission to all rides all night for $30.
There will no longer be ticket boots, as all tickets will be sold through kiosks, which accepts cash or credit cards, with a one-time $2 processing fee.
Ride provider is Majestic Midways. Discounted rides will be on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.
Just about every kind of food will be available at the food booths including chicken, shrimp, fried rice, Philly cheesesteaks, fries, jumbo turkey legs, nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, taco salad, Italian ice, milkshakes, pulled pork, cheesesteak egg rolls, lobster rolls, barbecue brisket, fresh-squeezed lemonade, sausage and peppers and much more.
Parking is available across the street at the school lots off Reeceville Road. There is a $2 per vehicle fee, and proceeds benefit the Thorndale Fire Co.
Parking is not available at the CVS or Wawa, and cars parked there will be towed. Because the hospital is closed, there will be handicapped parking on the festival grounds for those with handicapped stickers.
Pets are prohibited on the festival grounds. Smoking is also prohibited on the grounds.
Festival dates are June 2 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., June 3 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., June 4 from noon to 11 p.m. and June 5 from noon to 6 p.m. For more information on the festival, go to https:// www.coatesvillerotarystrawberryfestival.com/
Proceeds of the festival will benefit the Coatesville Youth Initiative and the Chester County Food Bank.