Photo by Gary Jackson

BREEZY DAY IN MAY: Strong winds didn’t carry the crowd away from last year’s Strawberry Festival in Happy Valley.

The Happy Valley Strawberry Festival began as the “Strawberry Social” in the early 1900’s. It honored WWI vets returning home from the war. The Strawberry Social was started by a local Supervisor in his own backyard in Happy Valley.

Locally-grown strawberries and homemade ice cream and shortcake were enjoyed then.

Today, it is called the Happy Valley Strawberry Festival and is held at the Happy Valley Elementary School. The festival helps to symbolize the beginning of summer and the abundance of delicious strawberries grown in the South County that we all love.

The Strawberry Festival is now sponsored by the Happy Valley Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers its community center for community events and occasions.

All proceeds from the festival go to community grants and for the cost of next year’s festival.

A separate raffle of products from participating vendors at the festival will add to the 8th grade scholarship fund.

The festival runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Happy Valley Elementary School, 17480 Palm Avenue, Happy Valley.The rain date is June 9.

For more information, call 357-5107.