Photograph by E. Chris Wisner
Fo Fanna Fanna Bo Berry: Hunter Wong peers eagerly at the fresh berries served at a previous Strawberry Festival.
Annual Strawberry Festival features both food and fun
Event takes place on campus of Saratoga's West Valley College
By Shari Kaplan
For the 39th year, the Strawberry Festival offers the community a chance to celebrate this juicy summer fruit, go shopping, enter contests and take in some great family entertainment--while at the same time supporting nonprofit Eastfield Ming Quong Children & Family Services Foundation.
This alcohol-free event, which attracts more than 70,000 visitors annually and raises at least that much for EMQ, takes place June 12 and 13 at West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave. in Saratoga. As always, the festival's highlight is its strawberries, which this year amount to some nine tons, according to EMQ public relations director Carla Zaccheo.
Just as the Gilroy Garlic Festival is famous for creating concoctions with the pungent bulb, so the Strawberry Festival is for offering all things strawberry, including shortcake, sundaes, smoothies, milkshakes, pancakes, waffles and chocolate-dipped berries. Other crowd pleasers include main dishes with a Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Jamaican and Mexican flair as well as snacks, sweets, sodas, fruit drinks and coffee.
Free entertainment over the weekend includes jazz, country, pop, swing and rock bands and demonstrations by local martial arts and gymnastics organizations. Taking the main stage at 12:45 p.m. on June 12 are also the winners of the Mio Vicino Best Strawberry Recipe contest.
Another competition, the annual Babies 'n' Berries photo contest, will be judged by children on June 13. Photos must be submitted at the festival on June 12 and have a strawberry-and-child theme. All children in photos must be 5 or younger. Entertainment on the children's stage includes musical theater, puppet shows, dancers, singers and appearances by the Jamba Juice Strawberry Man and Kanga Roddy, a giant kangaroo and star of KTEH Channel 54's Adventures with Kanga Roddy.
A children's carnival and amusement area will keep youngsters occupied, while more than 100 arts and crafts booths will appeal to adults shopping for creative additions to their homes and wardrobes.
June 13 is also the fifth annual 5K Run and Walk to benefit the Bay Area Lupus Foundation, beginning at 8 a.m. on the West Valley campus. Runners and walkers, who register for $25, follow a scenic course around the campus and receive a free T-shirt, goodie bag and strawberry pancake breakfast. First and second place finishers receive prizes, as will those who get pledges from the most sponsors. For more information about participating in the run, call 954-8600 ext. 12.
Campbell-based EMQ helps children with serious emotional disturbances--and their families--achieve and maintain emotional health and independence through a broad range of treatment, counseling, educational services and training programs.
Recently, EMQ acquired the San Jose-based Giarretto Institute, a world-renowned provider of services for individuals suffering the effects of childhood sexual and physical abuse. This partnership gives EMQ access to a wide network of foster families, but also increases the load on its facilities and personnel. The Strawberry Festival is a major fundraiser for the agency. Other fundraising sources are public and private donations and revenues from the Happy Dragon thrift shop in Los Gatos, the Unicorn thrift shop in San Jose and The Butter Paddle gift shop in Saratoga.
Festival admission is free. A $5 parking fee further benefits EMQ. For more information, call 364-4081 or visit www.emq.org/strawber.htm on the Internet.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
