The Brandywine Health Foundation celebrated 15 years of giving back to the Coatesville community with a record breaking 2016 Strawberry Festival.

The fun-filled event returned to the grounds of Brandywine Hospital for its 44th year on June 2nd, providing four entertaining and relaxing days for the thousands of visitors.

Six-hundred volunteers supported by 200 sponsors and 25 committee members welcomed more than 25,000 visitors. Attendees enjoyed rides, live performances from local musicians, shopping, contests, monster truck rides, arts and crafts, and plenty of the festival’s famous mouthwatering Strawberry Shortcake.

Visitors on Saturday were also treated to a stunning evening fireworks display sponsored by Oliver Tyrone Pulver Corporation and the Marriott Courtyard Hotel.

The popularity of the festival was underscored not only by the unprecedented number of visitors but also with the record breaking funds gathered for worthy causes, as daily revenue hit over $75,000. The Brandywine Health Foundation has been organizing this event since 2001 and has distributed more than 1.2 million in grants to the greater Coatesville community from previous festivals’ revenue alone.

Funds raised during this year’s Strawberry Festival will benefit the Coatesville Youth Initiative’s Summer ServiceCorps Program, Coatesville Rotary Club, the Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company and the Coatesville Public Library.

“I give my time and support to the Strawberry Festival because I believe that the kids of Coatesville deserve a bright future and the Brandywine Health Foundation makes this happen,” enthused Karol Collins, Strawberry Festival Committee Chair.

“When you support the festival you support Coatesville.”

Check out previous VISTA Today coverage of Brandywine Health Foundation here. 

Missed the fireworks? Check them out below.