St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Noblesville gives its congregation a reason to celebrate each week. On June 14, the church will celebrate its 37th annual Strawberry Festival, an event with neighbors and guests, art, live music, activities and strawberry shortcake – lots of strawberry shortcake.
“It’s such a popular event,” Nancy Allen, Strawberry Festival committee chairwoman, said. “It’s something we do. It’s amazing how year after year it has become a part of Noblesville’s summer activities.”
The festival is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – an hour later this year.
“We start planning for the next event a day after it ends,” said the Rev. Lee Schaefer, St. Michael’s pastor. “We try to make it as interesting and welcoming as possible.”
Cost is $5 for strawberry shortcake with ice cream and whipped toppings. Allen said the goal is to sell 2,500 shortcakes
“The 16-ounce bowl is full of good stuff,” she said.
To host the event, Allen said St. Michael’s uses 48 16-ounce bags of toppings, 38 three-gallon tubs of vanilla ice cream and 33 30-pound containers of strawberries.
Allen said the event includes live music all day long, trips on the Strawberry Express Train, a Nickel Plate Arts display with Father’s Day projects, the Noblesville fire and police departments and other activities.
“It’s taking on a life of its own,” she said.
The Strawberry Fest is the church’s biggest outreach fundraiser. Allen said proceeds go to Hamilton County organizations supported by the church, assisting the homeless, adopting families at Christmas and building a new well in Haiti.
“We spend it on outreach activities,” she said.
The festival was initially held onsite at St. Michael’s, 444 S. Harbour Dr., as a South Harbour neighborhood event. The move to downtown occurred around 16 years ago and Schaefer said it has been positive for the church, “making [it]more part of the entire Noblesville community.” After two years at the Noblesville Boys & Girls Club, the event returned to the downtown square last year – where it was held previously.
“(Downtown) is the best,” Allen said.
