Strawberry Festival this weekend

Nothing says summer is here like a ripe, red strawberry. Especially if it is nestled with hundreds of its friends in a luscious strawberry shortcake, covered in fresh whipped cream or ice cream.

This weekend, Metamora will be celebrating its 24th annual Strawberry Days, a festival that honors the beginning of the season and this delicious seasonal fruit.

The historic canal town of Metamora will be a busy place on Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3, with a car show, loads of great music and Metamora’s many merchants dishing up piles of yummy strawberry shortcake. There will be a storyteller wandering the town and spinning yarns both days as well.

The weekend is sponsored by the Merchants Association of Metamora, and they have a whole lot of great music to keep you tapping your toes as you wander the town and partake of the delectable dessert. On Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jerry & Judy Cole from Farmland, John Bultman & Mark Procter from Muncie and Indianapolis, Patchwork String Band from Indianapolis, Dean Phelps from Greenwood and Blue Caboose from Cincinnati will take to the Wagon Stage and keep the music going.

Dean Phelps, who was just named the 2012 National Thumbpick Guitar Champion, will be offering a thumbpick workshop at 4:30 p.m., so you can come and learn some thumbpick styles from a true master. The Unbroken Circle Trio, featuring Dean along with the Patchwork String Band, will be sharing their music at the Cat & The Fiddle at the Thorpe House from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Sunday morning, June 3, the Unbroken Circle Trio and Pineridge Partners will be taking part in the morning service at the Metamora United Methodist Church, so you can worship with some great music. Live Music starts on the Wagon Stage at 1 p.m. Sunday and features Jerry & Judy Cole, Pineridge Partners from Somerville, OH, and Sweet Betsy from Dayton, OH. There will be an Acoustic Slow Jam at the Metamora Grist Mill from 1 to 4 p.m. Anyone who wants to make some music can join in. The jam is intended for musicians of all levels, and if you don’t play an instrument, you can still come and sing. Most songs will be traditional folk and “porch music” that are familiar to all.

Car enthusiasts won’t want to miss the second annual car show held in conjunction with Strawberry Days. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Bring your best car, truck or hotrod to Metamora and enter the show, or just come and see all the great rides.

The main attraction, the strawberry shortcake tent, will be centered on the lawn of the historic Jonathan Banes house located in the middle of this quaint historic town. Delicious strawberry shortcake, with all the trimmings, will be served from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

There is plenty to do and see while in Metamora, so stop by this weekend for some great music and wonderful strawberry treats. Strawberry Days happens Saturday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 3, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Stop by Metamora, located on U.S.52, for some good old-fashioned strawberry shortcake and fun. You can find out more information at www.metamoraindiana.com