From May 20th until June 3rd, grab the kids and head to Sunset Berry Farm in Alderson for Berry Fest!

This is a 14-day event that celebrates the strawberry harvest in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Festival-goers will enjoy headline entertainment, fields of strawberries, pony rides, local eats, a butterfly release, hayrides, longhorns, live music, a remote-control boat race, scavenger hunts, paintball games, farm to table dinners, strawberry taste testings, a strawberry dish contest, and more! History of our Town (H.O.O.T.) will also be taking place during the festival and this will involve taking selfies with lions and a $100 prize!

DISCLOSURE: These lions are not a danger to festival attendees. Food vendors, well, maybe.

Did you know there are more than 600 varieties of strawberries in the world?

Every day from May 20-June 3 from 8a-8p, Sunset Berry Farm invites you to pick-your-own strawberries, let your kids loose on the jump pad, flex your paintball skills and shoot the strawberry eating zombies, and join-in on the Fairy Garden Scavenger Hunt. At 6pm daily, you’ll be able to challenge your palette with the Strawberry Taste Test. Did you know there are more than 600 varieties of strawberries in the world? When you sample a few types at the festival, you’ll be surprised how different they are in shape, color, and taste!

On Saturday the 22nd and Saturday the 29th there will be Pony Rides and a Petting Zoo from 11am-3pm. You’ll also be able to enjoy West Virginia smoked pork, sweets, drinks, and Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake Waffle Cones, from 12p-8p. Offsite at the Alderson Bridge, there will be a West Virginia Food and Craft Market set up from 8a-3p.

Your children will be able to experience making their own soft toy(s)…

Kids not only love the idea of building their very own stuffed animal, but also making it uniquely theirs. On Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, they will be able to do this with Sugar Bear’s Toy Store’s Fun Shop. Your children will be able to experience making their own soft toy(s) that includes fluff, a wishing heart, and adoption papers! Sugar Bears is a locally owned/operated toy store in downtown White Sulphur Springs, situated on the main street between Road Hog’s Barbeque and The Local.

Enjoy songs from Hank Williams Sr. to Jamie Johnson with The Goodson Boys!

Country music artist, Thomas Taylor will grace the Sunset Berry stage on Saturday, May 22nd, 4-8pm.

The Goodson Boys will perform on Saturday, May 29th, from 4-8pm. Willie, Mike & Randy Goodson, along with drummer Mikey Z, will play a variety of music that is based on the classic country sound. Randy tells us you will hear songs from Hank Williams Sr. to Jamie Johnson!

HOOT is a special one-day event held during Berry Fest, on Saturday, the 22nd.

It has been designed to celebrate Alderson’s history and asks attendees one very important question: “Why does Alderson have a leash law for lions?” You will learn the answer on the walking tour! You will also be challenged to find lions around the town. BONUS: there will be a $100 prize for the most lion selfies posted on this day on instagram, facebook, tiktok with hashtag #aldersonhoot. In order to qualify for the $100 prize, all of your photos must be made public with the locations tagged. How many lions can your find? They will be situated across 5 locations and each spot will host a variety of fun attractions. JM Farm will offer Hay Rides, a Tractor Show, and showcase their majestic Longhorns; River Ridge Campground will host a Remote-Control Boat Race; Sunset Berry Farm will have Berry Fest; Alderson Visitor’s Center and Fruits of Labor will host the Walking Tour; and the Big Wheel Restaurant will serve delicious Strawberry Milkshakes!

Don’t forget to make plans for the Farm to Table Dinners held Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 30th. The menu for both nights will include locally sourced smoked pork, asparagus, salad, and a strawberry dish. To make your reservation, visit sunsetberryfarm.net.

There will also be a Strawberry Dish Contest on Sunday, May 30th and the possibilities are endless such as Strawberry Pizza, Strawberry Cobbler, Strawberry Parfait, Strawberry Crepes, Strawberry Cream Puffs, Strawberry Kettle Korn, Strawberry Fritters, Strawberry Fudge, Strawberry Brisket Tacos, Strawberry Sandwiches, and a staff favorite, Strawberry Cheesecake! Inspiration is everywhere and dishes are to be submitted on the 30th between 1-2p. The contest winner will be announced at 3pm. First Place WINS $50 and all participants will have access to pick their own strawberries at no cost! It’s a WIN-WIN!

Remember folks, you can always fix a broken strawberry with a strawberry patch.

For event pricing and more information, call 304-646-3784 or visit sunsetberryfarm.net. Signage will be posted throughout the town during Berry Fest to make your travels berry sweet. Remember folks, you can always fix a broken strawberry with a strawberry patch.

– Hashtag Lewisburg City Paper. #131. May 2021.