The Owego Strawberry Festival draws thousands of visitors each year and marks the start of summer in the Southern Tier. This year, residents are also saying goodbye to a big wooden strawberry that has lived along the Susquehanna riverbank for 10 years. WSKG’s Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo visited the festival this past weekend and recorded the sights and sounds of the festivities.
Owego celebrates annual strawberry festival with a new berry
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Mike Russell, of Russell Farms, was out with his team selling fresh strawberries, biscuits and baked goods.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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The Owego strawberry festival draws thousands of visitors each year and marks the start of summer in the Southern Tier.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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Down one crowded block, a line of people wait for one big draw of the day: strawberry shortcake. The Owego Rotary Club volunteers ladle syrupy strawberry preserves over crumbled biscuits, and top it with a shot of whipped cream.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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Crowds of people explored the streets of Owego, sampling strawberry slushies, ice cream and baked goods.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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The festival, on its 42nd year, featured a parade, live music, art vendors and tons of fried food.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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The festival, on its 42nd year, featured a parade, live music, art vendors and tons of fried food.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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Children enjoyed a bouncy house down one Owego alleyway.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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Strawberry decorations adorned almost every booth during the festival.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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Russell said the hot and dry temperatures have made the strawberries sweet this year.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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Billy Brandenburg, also known as “Inspired Slacker,” sold paintings, collages and drawings of psychedelic strawberries at his booth outside of the Black Cat Gallery.
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Festival goers tried out a special annual strawberry popcorn flavor from Pitstop Popcorn.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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Chris Knickerbocker, the appointed “strawfairy” of the festival, was out giving people a chance to say goodbye to the old wooden berry, and celebrate the new one.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News
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This year, residents are also saying goodbye to a big wooden strawberry that has lived along the Susquehanna Riverbank for 10 years. The iconic berry is starting to rot and deteriorate. Elmira chainsaw carver Roy Barber was hard at work Saturday carving a new wooden berry.
Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo / WSKG News