<< Entertainment >>

* PREVIEW: 35th Annual Belleville Strawberry Festival returns, June 17 - 19 *

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

Strawberry shortcakes like this one will be available at the Myrtle Lodge #87 at the 2011 Belleville Strawberry Festival.

by Jason Rzucidlo americajr@americajr.com

|

BELLEVILLE, Mich. -- Lots of fun and excitement are planned for the 2011 Belleville Strawberry Festival, which takes place over the Father's Day weekend celebration. A large portion of the festival will be held along Main Street again this year. It was held behind Belleville High School three years ago due to reconstruction of the road. Many of the festival favorites are scheduled to return this year including the parade and the Cinnamon Father's Day Car Show.

The festival was created in 1976 by a local farmer who wanted to promote strawberries. Each year, an estimated 200,000 visitors attend this festival. It also raises money for local community organizations.

There will be lots of food including strawberry pie, strawberry shortcake and strawberry jam. In addition, there will be two carnival midways, a children's play area with interactive games, craft exhibits, a car show and much more.

Most of the activities including carnival rides and vendor booths will be located along Main Street. Other events will be held at St. Anthony's Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Belleville Presbyterian Church and Victory Park. Hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. (Click here for more information on the festival locations.)

The Oscar Mayer Lunchables Mobile Tour will be returning to the festival in 2011 with a climbing wall and food sampling for the kids. An ice skating rink may be added to the festival if an adequate location is selected.

In addition, the Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" competition will be going on at the festival again this year. It will be located in the parking lot of the now-closed Trojan Dry Cleaners. Constestants will be selected from the festival goers and may include food from the festival itself.

New sponsors include Applebee's, Wendy's, Mr. G's and The Cake Place. It is possible for those restaurants to be their specialties or offering free samples of them at the Belleville Strawberry Festival.

More carnival rides are being added for 2011. The new rides will be targeted towards teenagers and young adults. The rides are located along Main Street and also at the St. Anthony's Catholic Church grounds.

The miniature golf course and the Detroit Pistons hoop truck are two activities that will be charging a fee.

The annual parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Fire departments from Belleville, Van Buren, Sumpter Twp. and Augusta Twp. will be in it. The BHS marching band, clowns, acrobats, floats, motorcades and musical entertainment will perform during the parade. Join over 30,000 people to watch this exciting parade. Representatives of local institutions that have supported the festival from its beginning will serve as grand marshals.

The 10th Annual Cinnamon's Father's Day Car Show will take place on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Victory Park. Fifteen more cars will be added to the car show as compared to last year. (Click here for more information on Berry Special Events.)

The annual pancake breakfast will take place on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Belleville High School cafeteria.

The Strawberry Idol competition will take place on Sunday, June 19 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. just outside Frosty Boy. In addition, the 4th St. Square will feature live entertainment provided by the Bayou Grill.

A free shuttle to the festival is being offered from the Meijer parking lot on Belleville Road. It is being sponsored by Wyandotte Trolley and runs from Noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from Noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The trolley will run in a continuous loop around the festival.

There is FREE admission to the festival as usual. Bring some money for rides, food and beverages. No pets, skateboards, roller blades or bikes are permitted at the festival.

AmericaJR.com is a proud sponsor of the 2011 Belleville Strawberry Festival. We hope you'll join us for a GREAT time...

For more information on the Belleville Strawberry Festival, visit www.nationalstrawberryfest.com.

Related Story: 2010 Annual Belleville Strawberry Festival was an overwhelming success

 

FREE ADMISSION!!

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

The Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" competition will return in 2011.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

The Oscar Mayer Lunchables Project Potential Tour will be back again this year.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

More rides will be added to the festival for young adults in 2011.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

A look down Main Street during the 2010 Belleville Strawberry Festival.

 

[ Return to our Belleville Strawberry Festival index ]

 

Proud Sponsor of the Belleville Strawberry Festival