Elmwood Strawberry Festival returns

PEORIA (25News Now) - Elmwood’s sweet Strawberry Festival returned for its 35th year.

Despite the heat, plenty of people were out Saturday to enjoy small-town vendors, and music all things strawberry. When the festival started in 1988 there was a strawberry farm just outside of town. Now, they get the fruit from other local farms.

A different community group sponsors each sweet treat to raise funds. There was strawberry jam from the United Methodist Church, strawberry pancakes from the Elmwood Fire Department, strawberry sundaes from the Summer Youth League, strawberry pie from the Poms and Cheer squad, and strawberry shortcake from St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church.

There was also an Elmwood exclusive that was sold by the box: strawberry pizza.

“That is definitely an Elmwood thing, I have not seen it anywhere but at this festival,” Festival organizer Tara Lim said. “It’s similar to a fruit pizza, but it has a strawberry glaze and they get a pound of strawberries on each pizza.”

There was also a car show for guests to enjoy, a color run, and music from the River Valley Big Band.