The Troy Strawberry Festival was originally going to have a sweet corn theme, but berries were chosen because the largest strawberry field east of the Mississippi River was located at Fulton Farms outside Troy, and the early June date didn’t overlap with other festivals already held in Miami County, so a new event was born.
Cathy Lotter, executive director of the Troy Area Chamber of Commerce, started with the festival as a volunteer in 1999 and joined the staff in 2014.
“Come hungry; even the pickiest eater will find something to satisfy. There are 50 food vendors on the festival grounds representing local nonprofits, as well as numerous restaurants in downtown Troy. You’ll find all kinds of strawberry goodness, as well as your favorite fair foods. You can’t go wrong with strawberry doughnuts sold by the Troy Music Boosters or strawberry funnel cakes from the American Legion baseball team,” Roetter said. “We’re the first big festival of the summer, and for many, it marks the end of school and the start of summer vacation.”
Purists can enjoy the fresh berries on their own, but there are also strawberry-infused dishes on the menu, including strawberry cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, strawberry salsa, strawberry lemon shake-up, strawberry kettle corn and strawberry Philadelphia cheesesteak.
A portion of all food and drink sales will be donated to nonprofit organizations serving Troy and Miami counties, meaning you’re dining for a good cause.
“We plan the festival all year long. All of our food vendors represent local nonprofits. Every commercial vendor you see has a nonprofit partner that they’re fundraising for,” Lotter said.
In between meals, there will be entertainment on three stages throughout the festival: one in Prouty Plaza and two on the Levee, so bring a chair and enjoy live music all day long.
On average, the event attracts at least 150,000 participants, and Lotter said he expects a similar turnout this year.
The biggest challenge continues to be finding volunteers.
“A festival of this magnitude is only possible thanks to a team of volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year to plan and run the festival. Finding volunteers has been a challenge in recent years,” Lotter said.
The event continues to garner attention locally and nationally, with TravelMag naming it one of Ohio’s best festivals, writing: “The city of Troy will host a festival celebrating its status as the strawberry-growing capital of Ohio. Held in the historic downtown district along the Great Miami River, the event will feature more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, delicious food and drink, entertainment and, of course, lots of strawberries. Other highlights include a strawberry pie eating contest, 5K and 10K runs, a strawberry pageant, tennis shootouts, live music, a cruise-in and other family-friendly activities.”
Let’s take a look at this year’s Troy Strawberry Festival by the numbers and see why the festival continues to receive rave reviews.
48: The number of years the Troy Strawberry Festival has been running.
1977: The year the festival began.
50: Number of food vendors.
150,000: Average attendance.
350,000: The number of funds raised.
42: Number of entertainment acts.
3: The number of stages the entertainer will be performing on.
1: A fountain is dyed red in downtown Troy to celebrate the festival.
1: A theme is chosen every year. This year’s theme is “Blooming Berries.”
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directions
What: Troy Strawberry Festival
Dates: June 1st, 10am-9pm, June 2nd, 10am-6pm
Location: Downtown Troy and along the Miami River levee (1 West Main Street)
Price: Free
PARKING: Parking spaces are limited at the festival, so plan to park in one of three designated parking lots and catch a free shuttle provided by Kettering Health.
More info: troystrawberryfest.com
Upcoming festivals in the area
The Troy Strawberry Festival kicks off a slew of food-themed events this summer. Here are some notable upcoming events.
Versailles Poultry Days, June 14-16; ersaillespoultrydays.com
Dayton Seafood Fest, June 15; yellowcabfoodtrucks.com/seafoodfest
Pickle Fest, June 29; dineoutdayton.com/event/pickle-fest
Kickin’ Chicken Wing Fest, July 13; dineoutdayton.com/event/kickin-chicken-wing-fest
Mac & Cheese Festival, July 13; yellowcabfoodtrucks.com/macandcheese
Pineapple Fest, July 24; dineoutdayton.com/event/pineapple-fest
Bacon Fest, Aug. 3; dineoutdayton.com/event/bacon-fest
Germanfest Picnic, Aug. 9-11; germanfestdayton.com
Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival, Aug. 17-18. Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival
Taco & Nachos Festival, Aug. 24; dineoutdayton.com/event/taco-nacho-fest
Dayton Vegan Food and Drink Festival, Sept. 15; facebook.com/DYTveganfestival
Germantown Pretzel Festival, Sept. 23; germantownpretzelfestival.com
