This year’s eighth annual Mineral County Strawberry Festival is growing fast, with over 60 food and craft vendors already signed up, according to Anne Palmer, the executive director of the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce.
Scheduled for next Saturday, June 7, on the Mineral County Courthouse lawn, the festival was originally canceled this year. However, due to strong community response and The Mineral Daily News-Tribune sponsoring the event, the traditional spring gala is still on.
“We won’t be turning anyone away,” said Palmer. “The phone keeps ringing and we keep adding vendors.”
This year, the Strawberry Festival will be honoring the lives of local businessman Rob Kessel and flight instructor Dave Summerfield, who lost their lives in a January airplane accident outside the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport, said Palmer.
The  reason the Strawberry Festival was created was to give residents something to do in the spring because the Burlington Apple Harvest festival is in the fall, according to Palmer.
“We are inside all winter, so the Strawberry Festival gives us a chance to get out and enjoy the nice weather,” said Palmer. “We sell strawberries that are locally grown and picked in Mineral County.”
Baskets of strawberries will be sold by the Keyser Presbyterian Church.
Many other food vendors are slated to set up booths, such as Perky Bean Cafe of Fort Ashby, whose owner, Donna Class, will be making specialty strawberry smoothies, drinks and desserts just for the festivities.
Keyser cafe On Common Ground is also setting up shop and will feature its gourmet drinks and treats.
Old Fashioned Soda will feature a cattle wagon filled with authentic period beverages, while the Kiwanis Club will be serving funnel cakes and Bradley’s Concessions will feature other goodies for the day.
Several information booths from various county organizations will be on hand disbursing pamphlets.
The Keyser Police, Fire and EMS departments, Living Faith Ministries, Potomac Valley Hospital, T.S. Cellular, Mineral County Humane Society, The Republic and Democratic Clubs and many others will be setting up booths.
Children’s activities will include rides by Shaw Entertainment, a moon walk, pony rides, and face painting.
Local musicians and vocalists will be featured throughout the day, including Kris Lengel, gospel singer at 10 a.m.; Stack O’ Blues who will play from 11 a.m-1:45 p.m.; Jean Marple will sing Patsy Cline oldies at 2 p.m. followed by Pressed for Time, who will perform gospel songs and oldies melodies at 5 p.m.
Closing out the evening’s entertainment will be J.R. Karsley, featuring memories of Elvis Presley.
Three contests are slated for the day  — a hotdog eating contest at noon, a banjo and fiddle contest at 3 p.m., and the “best dressed pet” will be chosen at 4 p.m.
All contestants are asked to arrive at least one half hour before each contest to sign up.
Festival Chairperson Christy Barnett expects this year’s Strawberry Festival to be a great success.
“Rising fuel costs have not deterred vendors, and this show is still on the road,” said Barnett.
Palmer, who has been responsible for organizing the event since the beginning (with the exception of last year when the Keyser Park and Recreation Board took over planning duties), said she has many goals for the event that had its start at Grand Central Business Center.
“I would like to see this festival grow and I would like to have all businesses participate so the fest would grow to cover all of Keyser,” said Palmer.