By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The 10th annual Cabot Strawberry Festival will kick off Thursday and run through Saturday at the Veterans Park Community Center.
The event, sponsored by the Junior Auxiliary of Cabot, has many activities for youngsters and adults. Admission is free.
“The Junior Auxiliary of Cabot is excited to host the 10th annual Strawberry Festival. We plan for another great year of family fun with local strawberries and activities for all ages. Come support the children in the Cabot community at the Cabot Strawberry Festival,” publicity chairwoman Tiffany Duhamel said.
All proceeds from the festival help support many projects the Junior Auxiliary holds throughout the year to help the children in the Cabot community, Duhamel said.
The carnival will be open for rides from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Thrill seekers will need to purchase tickets at the festival for the rides. Carnival tickets are $3 each and each ride is 1 ticket. A book of 10 tickets is $25. Armbands are $20 for unlimited rides from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
The festival will have up to 34 vendors offering a variety of goods. Farmers will be selling freshly picked Cabot-grown strawberries. The junior auxiliary will be selling strawberry jam for $6, strawberry shortcakes for $3 and Strawberry Festival T-shirts for $12.
Vendor hours are 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Friday night’s entertainment will have karate and dance demonstrations. Miss Cabot Bailey Moses will perform a jazz dance. Bailey Stracener will sing country songs, Emily Freeman and Jade Gibbs will sing together, Miss Central Arkansas Erin Larsen will sing, leading up to a performance by Exit 111 from 8 to 10 p.m. outside.
The Miss Strawberry Festival pageant will start at 9 a.m. Saturday. Registration form can be downloaded at www.cabotstrawberryfestival.com.
Gymnastics and dance teams will perform throughout the day.
Admission to the Berry Patch children’s area is $5. Youngsters can jump around in two bounce houses or visit animals at a petting zoo. The Mommie Magic Clown will perform magic tricks and making balloon animals from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Home Depot will be at the festival in the morning with children craft projects. Austin Police Department K-9 officer Keith Stiles will be with police dog Lord Edward at 2 p.m.
