By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

CALERA—Only one event in Calera combines hundreds of fresh local strawberries with live music, arts and crafts and more than 50 local vendors. This year, the annual Strawberry Festival is returning to celebrate its fifth season.

More than 3,000 people from Calera and surrounding cities will make their way to Oliver Park on April 30 to enjoy the festivities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Everybody loves it; it‘s a great community event,” said Calera Parks and Recreation Director Seth Gandy. “It gets everybody to come to Calera, and the citizens enjoy it and look forward to it every year.”

The festival features a free Kids’ Zone with face painting, hula hooping and a bouncy house. Gandy said Pet World will also be there showing attendees a variety of pets.

The space allows for about 60 vendors, and Gandy said they usually have more than enough attend. Visitors can select from multiple arts and crafts vendors to the many food vendors.

“I enjoy the whole thing obviously, but I really enjoy the bands,” Gandy said. “We usually have blue grass bands and everyone seems to have a good time.”

Of course, the Strawberry Festival wouldn’t be complete without the strawberries. Gandy said they bring in Alabama-grown strawberries, many in the Chilton County area, for people to purchase.

“Oh they are, they are delicious,” he said. “You can totally tell the difference between store-bought and the ones that are locally grown.”

Gandy is still accepting applications for vendors. For more information, contact Seth Gandy at 668-7250 or sgandy@calera.org.