Faces of the Festival: Annual tradition draws new and return visitors

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The Seymur family of Bradford make the festival an annual tradition and said they love buying fresh berries and seeing the community come together each year.

BY MELISSA PYLE

Special to the Telegraph

Saturday was opening day for the 26th annual Strawberry Festival and the mostly sunny day did not disappoint festival-goers. This year’s event showcased more than 200 food and craft vendors, many of them participating for the first time. 

There were many local and “almost local” vendors from areas around the state and even the country. Each brandishing a smile and most asking if you would like a sample of one of their homemade goods. Taking a moment to chat with vendors and festival-goers alike, gave a glimpse and a new appreciation for their stories and time devoted to the festival.

Various local vendors like Stephen Rosier of Bucks & Struts to young Sadie Tew of SadieAnn’s Designs returned this year to offer their creations to guests. Other vendors traveled to be at the event for the first time. Vendors like Mark Steele, a retired Delta pilot, who is helping his daughter, Shelly, get her Rise Yaupon Tea company up and running. Steele saw the festival as a chance to get their product into the hands of the public.

The public turned out to support the event, many festival-goers were visiting for the first time, and some like Karissa Davis, for the 15th time. Davis was attending the event with her two young daughters and her mother-in-law. Davis said she has come to the Strawberry Festival since she was a teenager. 

She and her family were like so many, who came, and enjoyed the delicious food offerings. Another local family, the Seymurs of Starke, have also attended the event several years in a row and left with an arm full of strawberries and happy children. Children who got to enjoy games, pony rides, and watch the new acrobat show offered this year.

Most people visiting were making the Strawberry Festival a new family tradition. The Mejias family, originally from Puerto Rico, were at the festival for the first time. They were laughing and talking as they sat down at one of the picnic tables in the event’s large, covered eating space. They were excited to taste some of the food options: homemade potato chips, popcorn, chicken tenders and boiled peanuts. They said they were excited to be at the festival together as three generations. The grandparents, now residents of Middleburg, had heard about the festival and thought it would be a nice place to bring their visiting guests who had arrived from Texas and Maryland. 

The Meijas family said they were enjoying the festival, they would like to see more strawberry food items in the future, but they had a unique answer when asked what their favorite thing about the festival was, an answer which should make Bradford County feel proud: “all the nice people.”

“All the nice people’’ was a constant response when out-of-town guests were asked about their favorite things, of course, along with the strawberry shortcake that is a festival staple. Visitors like Brian and Natalie Maher of Jacksonville, and friends, Jo Roane and Kelli Olson of Gainesville, were happy to have heard about the event this year and come for the first time.

There were even a few locals who sheepishly admitted they had never been to the Strawberry Festival in the past and this was their first visit. Rosalyn Nichols made up for lost time by purchasing several homemade dolls from a vendor. She said her family had been in the past, but she had never come before and was happy her family made sure she attended this year’s festival.

Another local who was an admitted event “newbie” was Phil Woodward. Woodward had family with him from Nassau County, in town to celebrate his birthday. Woodward’s family said they were looking forward to tasting the strawberry lemonade.

The event was ripe with fun and loads of strawberries for sale from Bradford’s own Norman’s and King’s Produce, the “sweetest strawberries this side of heaven” did not disappoint, neither did the residents, who apparently have some strawberry sweetness of their own, which seems to be the best part of this hometown tradition.

Teresa Faulkner and Hilma Gaskin selling this year’s festival shirt .
Brian and Natalie Maher, first-time event visitors from Jacksonville, said they were enjoying the strawberry shortcake and friendly atmosphere.
The whipped cream makes the shortcake magically delicious!
Lisa of Bronze Hibiscus was one of many first-year vendors at this year’s festival.
Gainesville friends, Jo Roane and Kelli Olson, visited for the first time after just recently hearing about the Strawberry Festival.
Local resident Karissa Davis with daughters Piper and Layla return annually and enjoy making memories and eating special treats.
Sam is all smiles and said it’s his eighth year as a food vendor at the Bradford Strawberry Festival.
Local vendor Steven Rosier of Bucks and Struts said it’s his fourth year at the festival.
Everyone wants a photo with the sweetest berry of them all: Bradford Berry!
Local resident Phil Woodward said it was his first festival, and he was looking forward to food and the fun atmospher.
Three generations of the Mejias family enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and all the food options at the festival.
Haley Norman and Cody Stratton of Norman’s Produce were happily selling their sweet strawberries to festival-goers.
Cousins from Nassau County came with their family to celebrate a birthday and taste some strawberry lemonade!
Miss Della Covington has been bringing Agape Kindle to the event since she was a baby. They said they enjoyed the food and liked all the homemade goods for sale.
Rosalyn Nichols, local resident but first time visitor,
came with family members who come every year. She said she enjoyed the music, the people, but wished for more money to spend at the vendors!
Families love to come in festive outfits! Mom Cameron and daughter Jojo from Jacksonville were first year guests and were both strawberry shortcakes for their visit.
Bradford native, Jacob Underhill of Underhills Forge, presented his blacksmith skills during the festival.
Acrobatic team Cirque Adventure displayed some fiery performances on Saturday.
Local vendors, the Tew family (l-r Holly, SandiAnn and Donna) of SandieAnn’s Designs, sold beautiful handmade jewelry creations.
Mark Steele, retired Delta pilot and now entrepreneur, showcased Rise Yaupon Teas and the special Yaupon Holly plant they grow from.
This powerful local trio in pink from Tiny Trendsetters (l-r daughters Kiley and Kelsey, with mom, Ganeene Starling) were first time festival vendors at this year’s event.
Jake Morgan of Jelly Gang Jelly of Middleburg has been a vendor at the festival for three years now.
Teens Hezi and Timber from Bayless Highway Baptist’s 225 Youth Ministry sold pork sandwiches and homemade chicken and rice dinners to festival-goers.

 

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