By The Weekly Post
ELMWOOD – Summer is drawing near, and so is the smell of grilling pork chops and the taste of festival food.
The area’s festival season starts Saturday, June 6, when Elmwood holds its Strawberry Festival. The 38th annual food fest in Central Park returns many similar features.
At the center of it all is a wide variety of sweet strawberry treats, kids activities, a car show, a food tent, craft vendors, a quilt show and live music in the bandstand.
New this year will be Hot Wheels drag races for kids during the car show. The car show itself has undergone some changes, including doing away with classes and shifting instead to a top-15 list of awards and trophies for Best of Fest and People’s Choice. Registration is 8-11 a.m.
The event opens with a pancake breakfast at the firehouse starting at 6 a.m. Festival food is served until 5 p.m., but the sooner you show up for strawberry treats the better, since favorites such as strawberry pizza tend to run out early.
Live music will be from the River Valley Big Band from 10 a.m. to noon and from The Aristocrats from 1-4 p.m.
The Prairie Quilters of Central Illinois have their quilt show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Presbyterian Church of Elmwood.
Critters of various sorts will be featured in the green space west of the park thanks to Wags and Whiskers vet clinic, Highland Hollow Co. of Yates City and local shelters.
Here’s a look at other local events to put on the calendar for the weekends to come. Worth noting is that the successful My Place St. Jude fundraiser will not be held this month, as that bar in Yates City is no longer open.
June 18-20 – Heritage Days, Princeville.
June 20 – Jerry Huffman Memorial Cruise In, Farmington JFL field (behind the old school).
July 4 – Fireworks show, Elmwood, Sweetwater Park.
Aug. 1 – Super Cruise In for Diabetes, Brimfield.
Aug. 13-15 – Old Settlers Days, Brimfield.
Aug. 21-22 – Harvest Home Festival, Yates City.
Sept. 10-12 – Fall Festival, Elmwood, Central Park.
Sept. 13 – Ag Day, Williamsfield.
