The annual Strawberry Festival, one of the premier events of the summer in Chester County, returns to the grounds of Brandywine Hospital/Tower Health beginning Thursday, May 30, for four days of family-oriented entertainment.

Organized by the Brandywine Health Foundation and presented by Key Bank and PECO, the event is celebrating its 47th year of raising funds that benefit the Greater Coatesville community.

While many of the same food vendors, amusements and activities return, this year’s event will have an additional focus on healthy living, according to Karol Collins, the Strawberry Festival Coordinator at the Brandywine Health Foundation.

“The Festival’s health and wellness sub-committee, made up of employees of Brandywine Hospital/Tower Health, will encourage fitness, healthy cooking, and healthy eating throughout the four days of the Festival,” she said.

For example, visitors can expect to receive free pedometers to track their steps. There will also be a dance contest and a rock wall for climbing, along with healthy cooking demonstrations at the hospital tent, in conjunction with the Chester County Food Bank.

Collins will also ensure that healthy food choices are promoted among the many tasty offerings at the Festival.

“I will go around to the various food vendors and note healthy food items with a Strawberry Lady sticker,” she said. “So, if you see a Strawberry Lady sticker next to an item on the menu, you will know that’s a healthy option.”

Examples of healthy options will include strawberry smoothies, salads, and grilled turkey legs.

Notably, Carlyle Holling will return for her 16th year as the real-life Strawberry Lady, greeting children and spreading goodwill wherever she goes.

The Festival, which evolved from the initial efforts by nurses from the old Coatesville Hospital to raise money by selling strawberry shortcakes, now attracts upward of 25,000 visitors. This year’s event will again feature live entertainment, pony rides, a mechanical bull, a zip line, an international food fair, a craft, art, and vendor Fair, a used book sale, and amusement rides. Children under seven can have fun at Strawberryland, and those ages five and under can compete in the Strawberriest Kid Contest on Sunday afternoon at 2 PM.

Of course, the most popular destination each year is the strawberry shortcake booth run by foundation volunteers.

“There will be two shortcake booths, and each booth will have five volunteers,” said Collins. “The shift changes every two hours to give those volunteers a break from the busy pace.”

How many shortcakes will her team make throughout the four days?

“I wish I knew,” she said. “Thousands!”

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Festival, and proceeds from the four days directly support the Greater Coatesville community through grants and programs.

With the help of sponsors and 500 volunteers, including many whose organizations are beneficiaries of the Festival, the Brandywine Health Foundation is able to keep the Festival affordable for families, including free general admission. Free activities include live bands, games, jugglers, magic shows, the climbing wall, balloon sculptures, and fireworks.

Two additions to this year’s Festival will be a second dining tent that will be situated on the pavement for better handicap access, and the return of the souvenir tent after a year’s hiatus, with new items for sale, including fresh strawberries.

The 47th Strawberry Festival will run from Thursday, May 30 through Sunday, June 2, with the fireworks spectacular on Friday night (rain date is Saturday). Thursday night is wristband night, when anyone purchasing a $25 wristband gets unlimited amusement rides.

Click here for more information, including an event schedule and sponsorship opportunities.

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