Strawberries and smiles in Wiscasset
Tyler McLaughlin, 1, of Wiscasset is the apple of his grandparents’ eyes at his first St. Philip’s strawberry festival on June 28. Marla and Bob Blagden said their grandson was a newborn in the hospital when the 2013 festival took place. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Aanieyah Adams, 3, of Bath enjoys a treat at St. Philip’s Church’s strawberry festival on June 28. She was at Saturday’s event with parents Brittany and Radarwin Adams. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Jason Simonds of Jefferson auctions pies off to strawberry festival-goers at St Philip’s Church on June 28. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Tyler McLaughlin, 1, of Wiscasset is the apple of his grandparents’ eyes at his first St. Philip’s strawberry festival on June 28. Marla and Bob Blagden said their grandson was a newborn in the hospital when the 2013 festival took place. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Aanieyah Adams, 3, of Bath enjoys a treat at St. Philip’s Church’s strawberry festival on June 28. She was at Saturday’s event with parents Brittany and Radarwin Adams. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Jason Simonds of Jefferson auctions pies off to strawberry festival-goers at St Philip’s Church on June 28. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
For many in and around Wiscasset, St. Philip’s Church’s strawberry festival is an early summer rite, and a chance to enjoy the berry straight, with cream, over shortcake or in rhubarb pie. But first-timers still discover the event, as Topsham’s Phyllis Hartzler did at its 62nd installment on June 28.
Hartzler, a fine artist, was in town Saturday to go to the Maine Art Gallery when she noticed festival-goers with their treats. “People were all walking ... with these wonderful strawberry dishes. And I said, ‘Well, I haven’t had any lunch. Why not?’”
Gretchen Burleigh-Johnson of Edgecomb serves on the church vestry that organizes the event. She attributed the festival’s longevity to the church members who love to do it and the community that turns out for it.
“This brings a lot of people in (and) provides a lot of good feeling,” she said.
The event also helps fund the church’s upkeep and numerous outreach programs. This year’s festival brought in about $4,100.
The bright, hot day turned out to have just one bleak note: Some of the money being collected in a raffle to benefit Feed Our Scholars went missing. Burleigh-Johnson said that based on ticket stubs and the remaining money, the amount involved may have been as little as $33, but was still being determined.
Feed Our Scholars provides weekend food supplies to food-insecure children in Wiscasset schools during the school year. For more on that program, call St. Philip’s at 207-882-7184.
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