Things can get a little messy at the Long Grove Strawberry Festival, which is just how they like it — at least when it comes to the pie-eating contest.
The annual celebration of all things strawberry returns to Historic Downtown Long Grove June 24-26, following two years of pandemic-related cancellations.
Hours are from noon to 11 p.m. June 24; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 25; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 26.
“This has always been a very popular festival for us, so we’re excited to bring it back,” said Ryan Messner, president of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association, which organizes the festival. “It’s a very family-friendly event, and it’s great to see everyone outside together celebrating as a community.”
Visitors to the festival can expect to find all manner of strawberry-infused food and drinks — or just strawberries to eat out of hand — in addition to carnival rides, games, the aforementioned pie-eating contest and live music.
“I’m always impressed with how local chefs can come up with new ways to use a strawberry,” said Duff Rice, the event’s producer. “I’ve always enjoyed sampling what they’re able to come up with.”
Those in the past have included things like strawberry barbecue sauce, deep-fried strawberries on a stick, and strawberry kabobs. Of course, you can go for the more traditional strawberry ice cream, shakes and jams, which will be in abundance as well. And if strawberries don’t move the needle for your taste buds, there will be plenty of other food options as well.
When it comes to entertainment, there’ll be live music during nearly the entire festival. Headliners include Led Zeppelin-tribute band Kashmir starting at 9 p.m. June 24; Hairbangers Ball, a metal/hair-rock band, will take the stage at 9 p.m. on June 25; and ARRA closes the show with its performance at 4 p.m. June 26.
“It’s a really good lineup,” Rice said. “I don’t think you’ll ever hear a better Led Zeppelin tribute band than Kashmir, and Hairbangers Ball and ARRA both put on excellent shows.”
Children can take advantage of the Kid’s Zone, which will include arts and crafts, face painting, and a kiddie DJ, as well as that pie-eating contest.
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“Everyone loves the pie-eating contest,” Messner said. “That’s always going to get everyone’s attention.”
After a multiyear beautification plan, downtown Long Grove is now construction-free, and proceeds from the event help to fund additional community-based projects.
“I don’t know if people always understand what we do,” Messner said. “We’ve built a new park for the community in downtown. All the funds we raise go toward capital-intensive projects that otherwise would not get done. It’s because of festivals like this that we’re able to make Long Grove such a great place to live.’
Long Grove Strawberry Festival
When: June 24-June 26
Where: Historic Downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove
Tickets: $5 per person or $10 for a three-day pass
Information: longgrove.org
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.