By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Strawberry plaques adorn business fronts and houses, strawberry pillows rest on porch swings and rockers, and strawberry appliqués decorate street signs. Strawberry pride reveals itself throughout the year in Chadbourn, but the true strawberry explosion takes place May 4-6 during the 74th annual N.C. Strawberry Festival.
The West Columbus High School Jazz Band kicks off Encounters at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 5, at the Chadbourn Depot. Elaine Honeycutt, chairwoman of the dinner event, promises an evening of music and a mouth-watering menu of grilled smoked ham and marinated eye of round grilled with molasses.
It’s no small job, said Honeycutt, expecting more than 400 guests to attend the dinner. Tickets are $20 per person and are available at BB&T, Waccamaw Bank, and Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn.
Entrants throughout the county participate in the foods contest, said Barbara Larrimore, a contest committee member.
Cooks entered more than 46 dishes in the strawberry appetizer, cake, pie, salad, and desert categories last year. Coordinators hope to attract more contestants this year.
Judges will rank dishes in the adult, youth, and preschool categories on nutrition, taste, and presentation. Cooks are to register their dishes (limit one per category) at the Chadbourn Arts Building between 8:30 and 10 a.m. on Saturday. Judges will announce winners at 11 a.m.
Car show
Antique cars have been a part of the Strawberry Festival for at least 20 years, said Danny Long, chairman of the car show and parade. Long, a car enthusiast, said the event showcases cars from around the Southeast.
“The best promotion for a car show is word of mouth,” said Long, who spends a great deal of time passing out Strawberry Festival Car Show flyers at other car shows. Organizers added a bike show this year, said Long.
The festival parade begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday with more than 150 units, including pageant queens, floats, bands and Shriners, Long said.
Post-parade
Various dancers, cloggers, and singers will be performing in a variety show at the Food Lion parking lot from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Entertainment resumes at 5 p.m. with a strawberry spitting contest. Vocal Reunion gospel music trio of Florence, S.C. performs at 6 p.m., followed by Elvis impersonator Jimmy Horne of Fairmont at 7 p.m., and vocal recording artist Deb Wilson of Chadbourn at 8:15 p.m. Bluegrass music follows at 9 p.m.
West Columbus High School, in Cerro Gordo, will host the N.C. Strawberry Festival Scholarship Pageant at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. Young women compete in two separate divisions for the title of Strawberry queen and princess. Visiting royalty receive free admission. Regular admission is $8 per person.
Activities conclude with a hot air balloon glow at Food Lion at 8 p.m.
Honeycutt, Larrimore and Long are just a few of many volunteers forming committees, scheduling events, planning menus and coordinating entertainment for the festival. They are quick to recognize others who help make the Strawberry Festival come together.
“It takes [more than 20] people to put on the parade itself,” said Long. “How we get it all together, sometimes I don’t know myself.”
There are more than 21 events including a luncheon, food contest, car and bike show, hat contest, parade, pageant, variety show, arts and craft exhibition, balloon flights, train rides, and talent show.