Strawberry Festival Marks 40 Years

Three thousand strawberries, 2,500 strawberry shortcakes, 5,000 visitors; these are figures that the founders of the first Monroe Strawberry Festival back in 1971 probably could not have imagined. But that is what organizers say they expect to have at this year’s event.

This weekend, the Monroe Congregational Church will host its 40th Strawberry Festival on the Monroe Green on Route 111.

“It was a very simple operation when it began. But as we evolved, it’s really grown into something special,” explained church member Jim Davison, who was at the first Strawberry Festival in 1971 and became a long time chairperson of the event. 

“It was strictly pies and strawberry shortcake,” Davison said.  “We sold some quarts (of strawberries) and some women got together and made Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. It wasn’t on the green. It was on the lawn next to the parsonage.”

Now the two day festival utilizes the church grounds and the town green and has grown to include more than 100 crafters and vendors, a church-run country store, live music, children’s games, and the sale of hamburgers, hot dogs, strawberry smoothies, and additional strawberry treats.

“We have added a Dunk Tank this year,” said Julie Heussner, the co-chairperson of the festival. “We wanted to have something fun for our Junior P.F. (the church’s youth group) to be in charge of. And, (First Selectman) Steve Vavrek and (Town Council Member) Michelle Mount are both taking a turn.”

“The festival got started because we were four years into the mortgage after building Rexford House and we found out we were going to default,” explained Davison.

Rexford House was constructed in 1968, providing additional gathering space and a kitchen for the use of the congregation. According to Davison, after discovering that the church couldn’t internally raise the funds needed, Connie Keeling, the wife of the minister, and several women in the church, including current members Bonnie Germond and Susan Zaleha, started a very modest Strawberry Festival. The church also launched Mustard Seed, a consignment shop located on church property at the corner of Church Street and Route 111, which is still run by church members today. 

In early years, the Strawberry Festival was linked to a show put on by the Monroe Arts Council. “The Monroe Arts Council would run their own art show when we had the festival,” said Davison. “That happened for a few years but we needed to pick the weekend based on when the berries were ready to harvest, so that didn’t work with them when we would have to change it.”

“We made $1,000 the first Strawberry Festival but we realized we had something that was a winner,” Davison said. Now the festival raises more than 20 times that. 

Jennifer Gingras, MCC Assoc. Pastor, said, “A portion of the money raised goes to necessities like keeping the heat and lights on and needed repairs for the church campus. Many community groups use our campus, like La Leche League and the Boy Scouts. But a large portion goes for the church’s outreach to the community, for programs like Project Warmth, the (Monroe) Food Pantry, and even international ministries.”

“There are not very many opportunities where so many people come together for a common goal,” said Heussner. “The Strawberry Festival does that. Year after year the entire church body helps out to put on this amazing community event.”

Davison added, “The fellowship and the exposure of the church to other people in the community is really valuable. And, if they come and see that it is a positive place, I think that helps bring people into the church.”

Church members say the Strawberry Festival has developed a devoted following over the years.

“It was so successful and so popular, that rain or shine, we’ve always done well,” said Davison. “Everyone came and supported it and we’ve had fun. The people have been great about it.”

“For the first 20 years we picked all the berries at Jones,” Davison said of Jones Family Farms in Shelton. “But we would have problems with timing, so we went to ... Stew (Leonard’s). Now we buy half at Big Y and we pick the rest at Jones for pies and dipping.”

Sue Wilgan, known to church members and devoted customers as “The Jam Lady,” led more than a dozen workers in preparing more than 1,000 jars of jam this year.

“We’ll have 17 'strawberry-something' varieties available at the Country Store this year,” Wilgan said.

Included are strawberry-blueberry, strawberry-kiwi, and strawberry-raspberry, for which Wilgan won blue ribbons at the 2010 Durham Fair. Red-ribbon winners strawberry-cranberry and strawberry-rhubarb will also be available.

“They make great gifts for teachers or coaches this time of year,” Wilgan added. The jams are $6 each.

“We have quality, quantity, and great service!” said Davison. “We have a great time!”

The Strawberry Festivals take place on the Monroe Green on Rt. 111 on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is free parking and free admission. Visit www.mcc-ucc.org for more information.