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* 2008 Belleville Strawberry Festival A Huge Success Despite Troubling Weather *

PHOTO BY MIKE ISMAIR / ©AMERICAJR.com

Midway rides were moved to the area behind Belleville High School this year instead of on Main Street where they were in past years.

by Jason Rzucidlo americajr@americajr.com

:: 2008 FESTIVAL REVIEW ::

We had a great time at the 32nd Annual Belleville National Strawberry Festival. It was my fourth time attending the festival, which was held over Father's Day Weekend. There was threatening weather on Friday with passing showers on Sunday. AmericaJR.com was proud to sponsor this great summertime festival once again.

Most of the festival was in a different location this year. The music stages, the carnival rides and the food tents were moved from Main Street to the area behind Belleville High School. This was confusing to some festival-goers. However, most of them seemed to enjoy it.

As soon as I got there on Friday afternoon, I did an interview with festival director Joan Bodnar. "There's all kinds of family activities. We have a stage that performs LIVE the entire day. We have vendors, crafts, a kids area and of course all the delicious food you expect at a festival."

I also spoke with a festival-goer named Kathy Fillmore, who lives in Belleville. Fillmore arrived at the festival with her two daughters and they were all dressed up in strawberries. She wore strawberry sunglasses, a strawberry shirt, a strawberry necklace, a strawberry bracelet and so much more. I just had to introduce myself to this interesting family and find out their story.

"Every year, we do this," said Fillmore. She has been coming to the festival for the last 25 years. Her daughters have been to the festival every year since they were born. "We like the rides, the people and everything about it."

I ordered a strawberry shortcake from the Van Buren Public Schools Education Foundation booth in the tennis court area behind the high school. It cost three dollars but it was worth it. The strawberries were so fresh that they melted in your mouth. All three churches also had strawberries for sale during the festival. Trinity Church on Belleville Road featured a "pie express" with all kinds of strawberry products.

I spoke with Penny and Jenny, representing Meijer, the title sponsor of the festival. Both of them work at the Belleville store location. They informed me that FREE parking was available there and that a shuttle was running to bring people to and from the festival also FREE of charge.

The Belleville Strawberry Festival Queen was Tiffini Grant, 18. The first runner-up was Krista, Huff, 16. The second runner-up was Corinne Loranger, 17. All three girls live in Van Buren Township.

 

STRAWBERRY IDOL WINNERS ~ June 15, 2008 JUNIOR DIVISION (ages 12 & under) 1st Place: Elijah Johnson, age 9 from Detroit “Dancing Machine” by Jackson 5 2nd Place: Drew Porrett, age 12 from Yale “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Martina McBride version 3rd Palce: Kati Argo, age 12 from Belleville “The Best That I Can” by Jerry Dodson Honorable Mention: Brooke Bliznik, age 10 from Howell “How Do You Know” from the movie Enchanted TEEN DIVISION (ages 13 – 19) 1st Place: Jessika Baier from Jackson “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton / Whitney Houston version 2nd Place: Caitlin McGehee, from Okemos “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Katharine McPhee version 3rd Place: Katelyn Philpot from Brownstown “See You Again” by Miley Cyrus ADULT DIVISION (ages 20 & over) 1st Place: Lee Crites from Grand Rapids “Real Good Man” by Tim McGraw 2nd Place: “Miztfit” from Southgate “Butt Ugly” original by Miztfit 3rd Place: Stacey Askew from Canton “When You Believe” Mariah Carey / Whitney Houston Honorable Mention: Carrie Boda from Belleville “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton

PHOTO BY MIKE ISMAIR / ©AMERICAJR.com

AmericaJR.com's Jason Rzucidlo holds a bowl of strawberry shortcake from the festival.

 

PHOTO BY MIKE ISMAIR / ©AMERICAJR.com

Jason Rzucidlo interviews Kathy Fillmore and her family from Belleville, Mich. They were dressed up in everything Strawberry - sunglasses, shirt, purse, shoes and necklace. Fillmore has been attending the festival for the last 25 years.

 

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