The Cottage Farm Stand & Baking Co. is starting a new tradition this weekend with their inaugural Strawberry Festival, which, as the name suggests, will be filled with all things strawberry.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The fee for admission is $10 per car with food being an additional cost.
The festival will include live music kicked off by Dakota Hayden — a recent American Idol contestant — along with arts-and-crafts stations, vendor booths, a petting zoo, pony rides, and loads of food — both berry-based and otherwise.
The Cottage Owner Marlene Knight is elated about this opportunity for the community to come together and support local small businesses that will be selling their products.
“It’s just a great way for people to be able to advertise their small businesses and hopefully we’ll have a big crowd,” Knight said. “I’m excited about having what I see as a kickoff for the summer festivals. I know we had the barbecue festival, but this is another way to just get everybody out now that we can finally get together.”
Knight said that one of the things she’s most excited for about the event is, of course, the strawberries. There will be a make-your-own strawberry shortcake station; snacks and desserts like coffee bars, muffins, cotton candy and cake pops; and several drink options such as slushies, specialty lattes and lemonade. There will also be plenty of fresh strawberries to purchase, though guests won’t be able to pick their own fresh straight from the field.
Knight said the per-car entry fee was decided upon so that families don’t have to pay at every station they visit.
“The idea there is to not have people walking around to different activities and having to pay $10 here and $5 there,” Knight said. “The pony rides are $5, and that’s the only activity that’s going on that has an additional cost.”
A portion of the proceeds from the event will go toward the Airport-Sorgho Fire Department Christmas Program, which Knight said corresponds with the Children’s Wish program. They will bring a truck and some equipment to show the community at the festival as a “thank you” for their help in fundraising.
“We chose to support their fundraiser because, first of all, they’re right across the street from us,” Knight said. “But it is a volunteer fire department and we want to support them.”
The establishment’s regular parking lot will be used for handicapped parking and all other cars should follow the signs along the road. The Cottage is located at 6869 KY 56 and is open every day of the week beginning at 6:30 a.m.
“We are all about supporting not only our own farm but other local farms and businesses that produce their own products here and in the surrounding area,” Knight said. “For those that haven’t had a chance to visit The Cottage, this will be a great opportunity to stop by and find out what we’re all about.”
