LOXLEY, Ala. — Sweet red strawberries, soft white angel food cake and lots of whipped cream…sounds delicious, doesn’t it?

It can be a yummy treat for your mouth when you make your way to the 24th Annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10 at the Loxley Municipal Park on Hwy. 59.

Benefitting Loxley Elementary School and the Association for Retarded Citizens, the free event kicks off at 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday and will feature 165 arts and crafts vendors and 12 food vendors form all over the region selling everything from jewelry, clothing, woodwork items, furniture, candles, purses, wallets, belts, hair accessories and sunglasses.

Barbara Sharp, festival committee member, said entertainment on both days will include bands Grits n Pieces on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12. p.m., Tip Tops from 12:30-3 p.m., Ronny Levine from 3-5 p.m. and on Sunday Darlawan from 10 a.m-12.p.m., Alabama Blues Brothers from 12:30-3 p.m., Lisa Mills from 3-5 p.m. Also on Sunday from 9-10 a.m., Crossroads Church of Belforest will perform.

An antique tractor show and car show on Saturday and Sunday is an added component to the festival. From 8-11 a.m. on Saturday, cars can be registered for $25 or can pre-register for $20. Judged in 20 different classes from 11 a.m. -2:30 p.m. with a trophy presentation at 3 p.m. for first, second and third place and a 50/50 drawing at 3 p.m. with proceeds going to different local area charities. On Sunday, there will be a cruise-in from 10 a.m-3 p.m., Sharp said.

Also for the first time this year will be a Children’s Strawberry Village featuring games and activities like pony rides, train rides and a rocking chair contest featuring rocking chairs decorated by Loxley Elementary School students.

Bringing in 80,000 people last year and selling 400,000 flats of strawberries, the festival raised $40,000 that was split between LES and ARC, said LES principal Dr. DeAnn Ramey.

“This started out in the front parking lot of Loxley Elementary School as a small joint fundraising effort between us and ARC and it has grown bigger than anybody ever thought it would. We have 200 volunteers that help every year and because we have no paid staff, the money we make is pure profit that we use to buy supplies for the school and the students,” Ramey said.

In charge of making and selling the strawberry shortcake and the coke products, Ramey said they also benefit from the sale of strawberry flats, and the vendor fees.

“It is the biggest blessing for the students and a Godsend, no doubt. It’’s such an honor to be a part of this and it’s completely family friendly with such positive things for the children to be a part of. It’s awesome and says a lot about the festival that so many people want to come back every year,” Ramey said.

This is Ramey’s fifth year to be involved with the festival and can’t say enough good things about the volunteers who help. “Such a heartwarming experience to see the volunteers give up so many hours to help out every year and it’s hard to find people like that anymore. This community is so down to earth and they love to help out.”

In addition, Ramey said LES sponsors the “Little Miss Strawberry Pageant” that’s open to all second grade girls in Baldwin County. This year’s pageant was held on Saturday, March 5 at the Loxley Civic Center where 60 girls participated. Melissa Joan Mercer, from Spanish Fort Elementary, was crowned this year’s queen and she and her court will be presiding over the festival.

Although community help is vital in putting on the festival, there are business sponsors that contribute time and money every year. They include Baldwin EMC (presenting sponsor), Hardees, Bestsouth (premium sponsors), United Bank, Coca-Cola, Burris Farm Market (corporate sponsors), Citizens Bank and Flowerwood Nursery (business sponsors). Other sponsors include Campbell Hardware, Pen Air Federal Credit Union, Chiropractic Associates, Dr. Keith Cooper, Mack Funeral Home, Cain’s Piggly Wiggly Cost Plus, Ecovery, LLC, Hub City Towing, Riviera Utilities, Ocean Canyon Properties-Styx River Resort.

Sharp said BRATS (Baldwin Area Rural Transportation) will be providing free shuttle bus service at the festival as well.

According to the festival website, LES has used funds raised in the past to purchase computers for the classroom and library, install air conditioners in the multipurpose building, and to upgrade their playground equipment. ARC has been able to open residential homes and purchase vans used at these homes.

Strawberry Festival committee members are : Jeanine Stewart, chairwoman, Barbara Sharp, Mary Carolyn McDaniel, Warren Peacock, Amy Smith, Tracey Burgess, De Ramey and Pam Schaar.

For more information, contact (251) 550-2003 or visit baldwincountystrawberryfestival.org.