Spend Memorial Day Weekend at the Delaplane Strawberry Festival

DELAPLANE, Va. - April 14, 2016 - PRLog -- The famous Delaplane Strawberry Festival returns on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 for its 23^rd year. The event is held in the beautiful Virginia countryside at Sky Meadows State Park (11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane, Va., 20144).

In addition to more than 6,000 pints of luscious strawberries (for sale in flats, pints, sundaes, and shortcake), the event includes live musical entertainment, children's activities, raffles, food vendors, and crafters. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. both days, rain or shine.

Festival participants can visit the 4H petting farm, go for a hayride, or take a guided tour of the circa-1860 Mt. Bleak House. Children can participate in old-fashioned games (three-legged races, tug-of-war, water balloon tosses, a cupcake walk, and more), ride a pony (additional fee), as well as have their faces painted. Visitors will also enjoy strolling entertainers including Jerry Brown and his monkey, Django, stilt walking by Danimal, and Phydeaux's Flying Flea Circus & Wahoo Medicine Show.  The Virginia Raptor Conservancy will be on-site both days with some amazing birds. Duskland Dogs will be offering tricks, training and agility games for your dog friends (yes, dogs are welcome to the festival!). Cartoonist Gene Mater will do free caricatures.

Music entertainment on Saturday includes: Jazz and classic rock - The Imaginary Blues Band; Country and bluegrass - Hoot 'N Holler Band; the City of Winchester Pipes and Drums; and a Barbershop Quartet. Sunday's musical entertainment includes: The Imaginary Blues Band; Yeah Daddio it's the best blues band in DC - Smokin' Polecats; Classic country and honky tonk Americana - Kris Dove and the Lonesomes; and Entertainment Band of the Year award winning Bluegrass Band - Nothin' Fancy.

On Sunday morning at 9 a.m., there will be a 5K Trail Run/Walk Sky Meadows State Park to kick off the Delaplane Strawberry Festival. The race/walk fee is $25 per participant in advance (until May 22) and $30 after that up until the time of the race, and includes admission for all occupants of the car to the festival for the day.

The per-day cost of the festival is $25 per car at the gate, or $20 in advance (purchase from the website www.delaplanestrawberryfestival.com or call 540-364-2772).  All of the activities (except pony rides) and events are included in the per-car fee and includes access to Sky Meadow State Park and the Appalachian Trail. (The Lost Mountain and Turner Pond access to Sky Meadows State Park will be open for normal park use and fees. Go to www.virginiastateparks.gov for more information.)

Sky Meadows State Park is located approximately 55 miles west of Washington, D.C.  To get there, take Route 66 west to Exit 23 (Delaplane/Paris) and go approximately 6.8 miles to left on Edmonds Lane and to Sky Meadows State Park.

The festival, held annually on the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, is sponsored by Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Delaplane and all proceeds go to support the ministries of Emmanuel Episcopal Church and their outreach programs including grants to numerous local, national, and international non-profit organizations.