The Cottage's Strawberry Festival returning for 3rd year

The Cottage Farm Stand & Baking Co.’s Strawberry Festival will return this weekend for its third year.

The two-day event, located on the business’ grounds at 6869 Kentucky 56, will be highlighted by a number of strawberry-themed food options, live musical entertainment, a petting zoo and pony rides.

Additionally, the festival will include over 150 artisans and craft vendors on-site showcasing and selling their respective wares along with food trucks, with the latter being added to the event last year.

Marcey Lake, restaurant manager for The Cottage, describes the upcoming weekend as “strawberry-themed fun” with a lot to offer.

“It’s summer (and people get a chance to) get together and … see all these different vendors and check out local artists and hear live music from local musicians … and get together with your neighbors and you didn’t even realize they were your neighbors,” Lake said. “... I think it really brings people together.”

Lake said the business will be selling strawberries during the event.

“There are no strawberries that are from a state that is not bordering (Kentucky),” Lake said. “(The strawberries) are all very close and are locally grown ….”

Saturday’s performances will include Madeline Wilkerson playing from 9-11 a.m., Annabel Whitledge performing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sam Gyllenhaal Band from 1-3 p.m. and Mackenzie Bell closing the first day from 3-5 p.m.

Mitchell Douglas will keep the music going from 9-11 a.m. Sunday, followed by progressive bluegrass trio The Lowland Ramblers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dakota Hayden from 1-3 p.m. and Maggie Hollis concluding the entertainment from 3-5 p.m.

New additions for this year’s festival include a car show, which will only occur on Saturday, that will feature a wide range of vehicles prior to 1949 to 1969, among other make and models.

Additionally, Ohio Valley Insurance will sponsor the new “Truck Town” attraction, which serves as a way for younger attendees to experience farm equipment, service vehicles, fire trucks and more. Pictures will also be allowed to be taken with the machinery.

Lake finds that the employees are integral to the success of the festival each year.

“We do have a really good team, and we’ve got some girls that are really talented with the cookie art and making cake pops and things like that,” Lake said.

Lake said, “we’re expecting about 2,500, and hopefully more,” over the course of two days.

“It’s definitely something that (people) would not regret (coming to),” Lake said, “because you come and think you’re going to stay for a few minutes and you end up (here) for a couple of hours ….”

Festival hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Parking is $5, though community members can pick up a Strawberry Festival sign at The Cottage and return it the day of the festival for free parking.

If interested in registering for the car show, visit form.jotform.com/240227202650140.

For more information, visit facebook.com/TheCottageHwy56 or call 270-794-7040.