Paul Szmal: For a lot of folks this is their favorite time of year because strawberries are in season and that means that we have strawberry festivals happening. One of which is the one that is presented every year by the Presbyterian Women of the Presbyterian Church in Geneva and Nancy Taylor is here to tell us about it. Nancy, good morning, pleasure to speak to you again.
Guest: Good morning Paul and nice to have me once again for our annual event. And this year it is coming up well one week from today.
Paul Szmal: Oh yes, the date is Wednesday, June 17th. The time is 5 30 to 8 p.m. The price is the 24 Park Place corner of Washington Street and Geneva and the prices are seven dollars for children 13 and up and three dollars children up to 12. And just a friendly reminder we ask anybody that's coming to participate to please have cash.
Guest: And you're you are going to get so many good treats to enjoy as part of this annual strawberry festival. Oh yes, homemade cake, ice cream, variety of ice cream, strawberry, vanilla or chocolate, strawberries and live entertainment. And the serve shop of the International Handicrafts will also be open.
Paul Szmal: And this festival has been presented by the Presbyterian Women for the past several years and every year you work to benefit a local mission project. What's the focus going to be for this year's event?
Guest: The benefit of the local mission project for any proceeds off of the bake sale primarily is going to be the Geneva Reads program which is a very popular program in Geneva for children reading. They have several events during the school or during the year.
Paul Szmal: And of course that bake sale that's one of the big parts of it where I know there's a variety of items, breads, cookies, cakes, all sorts of good stuff available.
Guest: That's correct, all homemade stuff. In fact this coming weekend I've got to sort out my weekend because I've got to do a lot of baking primarily. Firstly I got to buy or make a cake for the strawberry festival and then I said I was going to participate in several baked goods items.
Paul Szmal: Yeah there you go. So again the event is coming up one week from today June 17th starts at 5 30 runs through 8 and it's at the Presbyterian Church at 24 Park Place Geneva that's at the corner of Washington Street. If you come hungry and you leave hungry we can't help you.
Guest: Well I tell a lot of people come to if you have had your dinner come and have your dessert.
Paul Szmal: Yeah exactly because there's nothing wrong with a little cake with some ice cream and of course you know the centerpiece of it all it is a strawberry festival so strawberries will be plentiful.
Guest: That's correct and this event has held rain or shine. Last year we had it was raining and we had it inside and we had a full house and sold out so we hope to have a good weather and I've already looked on the weather items for next week. Hopefully we will have fine weather and a lot of people this is a tradition of the Presbyterian Church when we had it down at the when before the Presbyterian Churches joined each other it was down on Lewis Street the corner of Lewis and on the corner on the south main street or south lawn and it's been an event that has been held every year since with the exception of COVID a couple years.
Paul Szmal: Well I hope very very big it's very it's community-minded for many years. And Nancy I hope that tradition continues for decades to come. Thanks for filling us in on it this morning and look forward to getting down there and sampling some of the goods.
Guest: Oh thank you very much Paul for having me I enjoy being on every year. Thank you.
Paul Szmal: Yes thank you so much.
