They’re juicy. They’re sweet. They smell great. Their color is beautiful. And their texture is appealing.
Spend a day with this loveliness during the Strawberry Festival at Queens County Farm Museum on Saturday, June 7, from 10 am to 4 pm.
The multi-pronged event mixes educational programs with such activities as a Strawberry Costume Parade, Strawberry Word Games, and a Strawberry-Eating Contest. (Editor’s note: The contest might get a bit messy!)
General admission is $20.
Many regular farm programs will be available throughout the day, and several bands will perform. Plus, several vendors will sell food and merchandise. (Editor’s note: Expect the vendors to offer strawberry shortcake, strawberry smoothies, and maybe even chocolate-covered strawberries.)
Here’s information on some of the planned activities.
Make Strawberry Jam: Stir, mash, and mix.
Make Strawberry Dough: Create berries, blossoms, or anything else that comes to mind.
Strawberry Paper Bags: Turn plain paper bags into adorable strawberries.
Strawberry Quilt Squares: Design a strawberry-themed quilt square using fabrics and creativity.
Strawberry Lip Balm: Mix up a lip balm with simple ingredients.
Plant Your Own Strawberries: Dig in and plant a strawberry seedling to take home.
Make Strawberry Ice Cream in a Bag: Shake up a tasty treat! Use simple ingredients—no machine needed.
Make Strawberry Tea Bags: Mix and fill strawberry herbal tea bags.
Paint a Strawberry Rock: Turn a smooth rock into a strawberry with paint.
Strawberry Scavenger Hunt: Search for strawberry-themed clues and surprises. Prize at the end!
Queens Farm, which is spread out over 47 acres, has a main entrance at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy. in Floral Park. A large, free parking lot is near the entrance.
Bonus Event
Queens Farm also hosts Strawberry Moon on Friday, June 6, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. This tasting experience includes wine pairings and light seasonal fare with farmer-led tours of the growing fields. Tickets cost $40.
Berry Interesting Facts
Despite its name, a strawberry is NOT a berry in the Botany World. The proper term is “aggregate accessory fruit,” which results from several ovaries separated in a single flower. (Raspberries and blackberries are other examples.) What humans consider seeds on the outside are actually achenes, which are botanical fruits.
Strawberries are members of the rose family, Rosaceae, but they aren’t closely related to these flowers on a genetic level (genera). Filled with antioxidants and vitamins, they’re extremely healthy to consume. They actually contain more Vitamin C than oranges.
Images: Queens County Farm Museum