It’s Strawberry Festival Time in Historic Downtown Crawfordsville!
Posted on June 1, 2023 by Morgan
Every second weekend in June, Montgomery County proudly hosts the Annual Strawberry Festival at the Lane Place in historic downtown Crawfordsville. It is three days of festive fun including food, arts & crafts, car & tractor shows, free live entertainment, kids’ games & activities, plus lively competitions. Growing larger over the years, The Strawberry Festival is a delightful family event you’ll want to put on your calendar every June.
History of the Strawberry Festival
You may wonder why there is a Strawberry Festival in Crawfordsville every year. It all started in 1878 when Johanna Lane, wife of Henry Lane, decided to hold a Strawberry Festival. She invited several community organizations to help her plan the event. Ladies from the local Methodist Church sold tickets for $.10, which provided access to the grounds of her home. There, patrons were entertained by speeches, performances, skits and other acts on a stage. Set up around the stage and grounds, tables offered ice cream, cake and of course, strawberries!
And, this is why the Strawberry Festival is centered around the Lane Place in historic downtown Crawfordsville today! It provides a traditional and shady spot for this “berry” special event.
Festival Food is the Berries!
Let’s talk festival food! Why wait for the county fair? Come to the Strawberry Festival food court for elephant ears, corn dogs, soft pretzels, BBQ, nachos, pork tenderloins and lemon shake ups. Want more? Just imagine your favorite delights on a stick or deep fried. And, of course, strawberries are the star of the show! Choose from strawberry shortcake, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry smoothies, strawberry ice cream and gelato. You get the idea!
Shop Til You Want to Eat Strawberries
Browse nearly 100 arts & crafts booths for unique handmade items you probably won’t find anywhere else. Also peruse the commercial products and services booths for cool local wares and providers.
Car & Tractor Shows
From old-time hot rods to classic custom muscle cars, see rows and rows of shiny chrome and dazzling paint jobs. Every color imaginable will be on display from the brightest green and the deepest blue to the strawberriest red!
Then stroll the tractor show where vintage tractors are parked next to the newest models with unimaginable bells and whistles. Big and small, the familiar green and yellow John Deere machines will be accompanied by McCormick, Kubota, Case IH, Allis Chalmers and International Harvester farming equipment, among others. You’ll be amazed at the wide range of these mighty machines!
Free Live Entertainment
The schedule of live entertainment on stage will give you many reasons to jam! You’ll hear timeless classics, the best of rock & pop and traditional & new country music. Bring your lawn chair or blanket, then get ready to tap your toes!
Kids’ Games & Activities
After browsing the booths and eating luscious strawberry treats, your kids will probably be ripe for some interactive games and activities. You’ll find a designated Children’s Area that will get them involved and work off some energy. Look for ring toss, bean bag toss, frog flipper and face painting. What kids wouldn’t want to try their little hands at fence painting, sand art and pony rides?! Burn off energy in the bounce houses and on the miniature golf holes. After so much action and fun, it might be time for more strawberries!
Lively Competitions
Work off the festival food at one of the many athletic events and games of skill. Register for the “Cornament” corn hole tournament with divisions from “pro” to “just for fun”. Get a team together for the softball tournament. Sign up for the tennis tournament. Or, participate in the 5K adult run or the 1K Kiddie Romp. Receive a t-shirt for the fruits of your labor.
The Crawfordsville Strawberry Festival is proud to present three days of Yum and Fun! While driving into town, look for all the strawberry decorations and strawberries painted on windows. Then, we’ll see you at the Strawberry Festival at Lane Place in historic downtown Crawfordsville.
Choose from these local restaurants while in town.
Local places to stay
Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter for lists of exciting attractions, restaurants, events and trip ideas!
