The annual Strawberries in the Park Festival on Wednesday, June 15th from 10:30am – 1:30pm presents the perfect opportunity to plan an extended lunch-break from work and take your family to the courthouse square in downtown Auburn. The price is right, too; a family of four can easily partake in the activities for about ten dollars!
The Auburn Garden Club hosts this annual event to raise funds for NE Indiana’s promising Perdue Horticultural majors -- the Club has given out $5,000 in college scholarships in the last three years. The festival money is also used to keep the city of Auburn beautiful through additional plantings and statues enhancing the streets. Last year, the festival fed 1,100 people, but this year the Garden Club is preparing for 1,700 festival-goers.
This event, offering wonders to excite all five senses, perfectly aims at pleasing families with young children. The sound of blended harmonies from local musicians fills the air and meshes pleasantly with the smell of ripe red strawberries. Get the timing just right, and the line for a huge $5 dish of warm, fresh strawberry shortcake topped with cold vanilla ice cream and whipped cream isn't long at all. Best of all, the sweet summery treat is large enough to share with a friend, and the five dollar price includes drink options of bottled water or Starbucks coffee. With sated bellies and hearts happy from the upbeat songs, now is the time to shop the variety of stores lining the downtown square or peruse the fresh produce offered at the outdoor farmer’s market booths. Lavish shade trees and green grassy areas provide a wonderful spot to relax and enjoy people-watching while energetic young children are able to laugh and run out of the way of foot traffic. Wooden easels made by local wood-crafters are available on which young artists can let loose their creative energies, and finishing off the day with a free balloon animal, free face-painting and a visit with a silly clown will give even the smallest festival-goers a happy family memory that can last a lifetime.
What are you waiting for? Work hours can usually be made up, but making up family time can be a lot harder, so get out there and play! It's what summer is all about.
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