A 'berry' special festival this weekend

NORWALK — One of the area's premier festivals returns to Norwalk this weekend. The Strawberry Festival, hosted by Norwalk Jaycees, begins today and concludes on Sunday. The festival kicks off at 7 a.m. with registration for the Strawberry Jam 5K. Strawberry Festival grounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. Main Street (Ohio 61) will close at 6 p.m. on Friday to prepare for the event. The closure will run between Milan Avenue/Woodlawn Avenue and Case Avenue/Church Street, or between St. Paul High School and the Norwalk Public Library. This year's event will feature a strawberry pie-eating contest at 10 a.m. on Sunday on the main stage. The contest is limited to 10 teams of three. The entrance fee is $30 per team. People wishing to compete who do not have a team can register and be assigned to a team. The winning team will win three $25 gift cards and custom t-shirts. The festival will also have the Berry Cute Baby Contest. That part of the festival will occur at 9 a.m. on Saturday, before the festival grounds open. The contest is open to all children from newborn to four years old. There is a $5 fee per child to register. Registration begins at 8 a.m. in the Suhr Park Gazebo. A beer tent will be open from noon until the festival closes each day. The Kiddie Tractor Pull runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Registration starts at noon at Norwalk Theatre on East Main Street. Numerous musical acts will entertain the crowds, including Jugz' & Thugs, The Real McCoys and The Roadhouse Band. There will be no bikes, skateboards or roller blades permitted on the festival grounds. Read more events scheduled for the festival on the Norwalk Jaycees Facebook page.