Troy Strawberry Festival

Troy Strawberry Festival Returns!

May 29, 2023 By Guest Contributor

Berries Rock! The Troy Strawberry Festival is back and better than ever for its first festival since 2019. Located along the banks of the Great Miami River and through downtown Troy, this weekend-long festival will take place Saturday, June 3rd, 10:00am-9:00pm, and Sunday, June 4th, 10:00am-6:00pm. The festival includes over 100 arts and crafts vendors, great food, entertainment, and of course lots of strawberries. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

Savor over 50 food and beverage vendors spread throughout downtown Troy. Try a variety of strawberry-based dishes from the classic strawberry donut or shortcake to the more unique strawberry options such as the strawberry cheese steak. All food vendors participating in the festival are partnered with a Miami County non-profit organization to help raise funds for their mission. Along with all food and beverage vendors, Troy’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) will be in effect for those 21+ to enjoy.

Throughout the weekend, participate in or spectate a variety of Strawberry Festival events and activities. These events include the Strawberry Pie eating contest, Strawberry Classic Run 5k & 10K, Little Miss & Mr. Strawberry Pageant, tennis shootout, live music, and many more family activities. Come to Troy Community Park the morning of Sunday, June 4^th for the Troy Strawberry Festival Cruise-In. See a variety of classic cars on display. Dash plaques will be given for the first 100 cars and a variety of trophies will be awarded. A $5 cash-only entry fee is charged, and the award ceremony will be held at 1:30pm.

Be entertained by the variety of live music and performances on the festival’s two stages. Performances include Kid Politics, Brother Believe Me, The Avalons, Fleetwood Gold, and many more! Check out the full schedule here: TSF Entertainment Schedule

This post created by the Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau.

It’s Almost Festival Time In Miami County!

April 30, 2023 By Guest Contributor

Summer is fast approaching—and that means the kickoff to many homegrown, outdoor events. Local festivals offer a great way to get together with family and friends and to enjoy food, activities and entertainment.

Miami County offers many festivals and events that will bring smiles and fun. Each one offers a unique experience. Here are some upcoming events in

Miami County.

Taste of the Arts
Piqua, May 12
This evening event is a great way to kick off summertime fun in Miami County. Stroll downtown Piqua during the family-friendly Taste of the Arts and enjoy food and live entertainment. Children’s activities are also planned.

At the corner of Ash and Main streets, local restaurants and caterers serve taster-size portions of their popular menu items. Most food items range from $1 to $4—so it’s a great way to sample appetizers, meals and desserts.This free evening event is from 5-9 p.m. Friday, May 12.

Food Truck Rally & Competition
Troy, May 20
This event draws thousands of people each year—and it returns to the Miami County Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 20, this year.

The food truck rally allows visitors to try creative dishes and beverages at reasonable prices. Whether your passion is for the main course, a sweet treat or a specialty beverage, you will find the right truck for you.

Admission is free, and entertainment is provided throughout the day. It’s a great way to meet with family and friends, sit in the dining areas and enjoy unique flavors and tastes. The food truck rally is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Miami County Fairgrounds, 650 N. County Road 25-A, in Troy.

Troy Strawberry Festival
Troy, June 3-4

Voted Best Ohio Festival for several years, this premier festival features everything strawberry—and so much more. Taking place in downtown Troy, the free event offers top art and craft exhibitors and numerous family-friendly activities, such as a strawberry pie-eating contest, diaper derby, corn toss and cruise in.

While enjoying the festivities, be sure to stop by the food booths. Many area non-profit organizations offer food for sale including the world-famous strawberry doughnuts.

Started in 1977, this festival draws up to 200,000 people annually and has been called the “Best in the Midwest.” The Strawberry Festival offers free parking and free shuttle service from the festival locations.

Family Days at the Johnston Farm
Piqua, Saturday and Sunday, June 10-11

History comes alive during this special event at the Johnston Farm & Indian Agency, 9845 N. Hardin Road, Piqua. The weekend features hands-on activi

ties, costumed interpreters and demonstrations centering on life in the 1800s.

During this family-friendly weekend, people can visit John Johnston’s home and the Historic Indian and Canal Museum. Also, mule-pulled, canal boat rides will be offered on the General Harrison of Piqua.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under 5. Admission is $9 for seniors, military, and AAA members. Ohio Historical Society and Johnston Family Friends members are admitted for free.

History Alive at the Johnston Farm
Piqua, Saturday and Sunday, July 29-30

Experience living history at its finest when dozens of the very best reenactors gather at the Johnston Farm and Indian Agency to present a historical timeline from 1748 to 1862. The event includes a wide variety of camps as well as civilian and military demonstrations and other activities, including the canal boat General Harrison of Piqua that depicts the time period.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under 5. Admission is $9 for seniors, military, and AAA members. Ohio Historical Society and Johnston Family Friends members are admitted for free.

Miami County Fair, Troy
Friday, Aug. 11, to Thursday, Aug. 17

The fair celebrates Miami County’s rich agricultural heritage—and so much more. This weeklong family event features food, entertainment, livestock exhibits and competitions, rides, harness racing, a tractor pull, a rodeo and so much more.

The fair is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Daily admission is $6 for ages 9 and older, and free for children 8 and under.

Miami County also offers many other homegrown activities and events throughout the summertime, including musical performances, farmers’ markets, and more.

This post originally appeared on the Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau site.

Miami County Home Grown Stories: Corie Schweser

June 1, 2017 By Guest Contributor

Corie Schweser has made Troy her home for the past thirty years with her husband and sons. For the past three years, she has worked as the business manager of the Troy Strawberry Festival. This year the Strawberry Festival celebrates its 41st year in Miami County. The festival celebrates strawberries, community and supports local nonprofit organizations.

On living in Miami County:
I have lived in Troy since 1987. My husband’s employer transferred him here. We moved from the East Coast with our three sons. I fell in love with Troy and the area. We decided we didn’t want to move!

On the Troy Strawberry Festival:
In 1977 local leaders organized the Troy Strawberry Festival to support nonprofit organizations. The festival created a way for nonprofit groups to earn revenue. This money went to support their services and programs. The festival is a collaborative effort. Instead of each nonprofit trying to earn revenue on their own, they work together. The leaders wanted to work with Fulton Farms for the festival. They first thought of a sweet corn festival. They went with strawberries instead because it’s the first available fruit. That way we are one of the first large festivals in our region. We kick off the summer season for the county. At the beginning of summer you have Memorial Day and then right away is the Strawberry Festival. If we had been the Sweet Corn Festival we’d be in August near the end of the summer, almost forgotten. And who doesn’t love a strawberry?

In the beginning, the festival had forty-five nonprofits and a variety of activities. Now we have about 60 to 70 nonprofits that have food booths at the festival. We also have arts and craft booths as well as two stages of entertainment all throughout the weekend. For the past 41 years, we still hold true to our vision and mission of supporting the nonprofits in Miami County.

There are so many things to do at the festival! We have a 10K race, a bike tour and a shortcake race for the kids. We have a Little Miss and Mr. Strawberry Pageant, a big wheel race, and a diaper derby. There’s a pie-eating contest and the alumni football game between Troy and Piqua. There’s a lot going on! Whatever day you decide to come — or if you come for both days — you’ll find something to enjoy. We will have picnic tables around each stage so you can relax and enjoy the strawberries and music! We have the schedule and more information on our website at gostrawberries.com.

How she became involved with the Troy Strawberry Festival:
I started out as a volunteer for the festival fifteen years ago. I have been the business manager for the past three years. It’s seemed like the natural transition for me. Through my involvement with volunteering, I developed an understanding of the festival. In 2012 I was the General Chairman. This is my third year as the business manager.

It’s so much fun working with the volunteers. They truly have passion, drive and the desire to keep the mission of the festival going. It’s a great group of about 45 to 50 event chairmen and their volunteers underneath them. We could not do the festival without the City of Troy. We work with the city and they are the best partners. We have help from organizations throughout Miami County too. It’s a lot of fun and people enjoy it. Their energy drives my energy. We never stop planning the festival. Once one festival ends we start working on the next one. It’s a lot of fun!

On the community response to the Troy Strawberry Festival:
Last year we had some rainy weather but we estimated we had about 135,000 people during the entire weekend. On a good year when it’s sunny and beautiful with temperatures in the mid-70s to 80s we can have 150,000 to 200,000 people. It’s awesome – especially for a city of 26,000 people!

Even though it’s the “Troy” Strawberry Festival, it’s actually about Miami County. There are nonprofits that provide services and support throughout the county. We’re embracing and supporting the entire regional area. We want people to know that yes, it is the Troy Strawberry Festival, but that’s because it takes place in Troy. We support the entire Miami County community.

New and exciting changes for the 2017 Strawberry Festival:
This year students at the Upper Valley Career Center built a cell phone charging station for us. The students got aluminum from the welding department. They went to the auto body department and painted it red. The graphics department created the graphics. Apple and Android users will be able to use the station. It has at least 18 different places to charge your phone — it’s amazing! I love it when we can get kids involved in creating a project.

This year you can bike to the festival! The Miami County Park District is putting up bike racks near the ball fields. They partnered with a nonprofit. For a small donation, you can park your bike and volunteers will keep watch while you enjoy the festival.

Something else that is new this year is the 3¢ stamp. This year the 3¢ stamp created by the United States Postal Service is a strawberry stamp. We were able to have a special cancellation stamp made through the Troy Post Office. If you come and get a strawberry stamp, you can put the strawberry cancellation stamp on it. We will also have special Strawberry Festival postcards. They will have the 3¢ strawberry stamp and the cancellation stamp. They will be at the souvenir booth — but we only have 200!

We have a great national recording artist, Morgan Alexander, for Friday night. Saturday night’s big concert will be with Exploit. They are a 70s and 80s group out of Celina. They are a lot of fun and have a lot of energy. There will be entertainment from Rum River Blend, blues and jazz groups, and dance groups.

We also have new food and new food trucks this year! There will be spinach salads and roasted Brussels sprouts with strawberry dressings. There will be sweets like strawberry donuts and strawberries with lemon cream. You name it – we probably have it! We will have favorites that we have every year, like chocolate covered strawberries! Our food trucks and food vendors all partner with a nonprofit. They share their net profits from the weekend. The food vendors have signage for the nonprofit group they have partnered with. It’s a great way for small nonprofits to earn revenue to support their programs.

We could not do this festival without the volunteers, the City of Troy and our wonderful sponsors. It’s great to have business partners from the community supporting this festival. They believe in it and they help bring visibility to our community.

What do you love most about Miami County?
I love that Miami County has so many opportunities for outdoor activities. Piqua and Troy have great outdoor concert series. There’s the Miami County Riverway — you can go to Treasure Island and rent a kayak for a river adventure. We’re very blessed to have a strong parks system — in the county and cities. I like to take my grandson bike riding, we usually stop and get ice cream and then get back on the bike path. There are so many interesting things within this county. It’s beautiful! I love Fulton Farms and the farmer’s markets. I embrace every bit of it! Once the festival is over, I’ll have time to get out there and enjoy it. That’s another great thing about the festival being in June, I have the rest of the summer to enjoy the county! I love it!

How Miami County is different from other places she has lived:
I’ve lived in the city and city suburbs which have a different feeling. There are a lot more people — you feel like you can’t move around without bumping into someone. I don’t want to say Miami County is more laid back because there are a lot of things to do here. But you have the space to find a park bench, kick back and relax a little bit and enjoy the view. There’s more of a relaxed, laid-back attitude here. It’s also very family friendly. It’s the perfect place to be.

Her Miami County recommendations for out-of-town visitors (besides the Troy Strawberry Festival):
I’m a very outdoorsy person so I recommend all the different parks. Visitors should definitely take advantage of our museums like the WACO Air Museum. I recommend visiting each community within Miami County. Every Main Street has its own unique flavor! Enjoy each area, visit the individual shops and restaurants downtown. Definitely check out the unique coffee shops, like Winans Chocolates + Coffees. Keep investigating and check out the activities like concert series or outdoor activities. Support the local restaurants and check out the different unique features. There’s so much to do. I love every single thing about it!

Troy Strawberry Festival
First weekend in June
gostrawberries.com

This story first appeared on the Miami County Convention and Visitors Bureau website. Follow author, storyteller and interviewer, Courtney Denning, at ThisOhioLife.com.

Volunteers Needed For Strawberry Festival

April 26, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Interested in helping LOTS of local nonprofit organizations raise much-needed funds to run their programming?

The Troy Strawberry Festival, which hosts up to 150,000 guests each June, needs volunteers to assist with load-in prior to the festival and to serve as ambassadors at multiple shuttle sites throughout the event.

Although there are pre-festival events which take place in May, the Strawberry Festival officially begins on Friday night with food and entertainment for the whole family on our beautiful Great Miami River Levee! Two full days of events follow beginning with Open Ceremonies on Prouty Plaza. From there the main action continues on the Historic Streets of Downtown Troy and along the Great Miami River Levee! Browse over 200 high quality art and craft booths. If you can make it with strawberries, you will find it at the Troy Strawberry Festival. More than 70 food booths offer everything from strawberry salsa, chocolate covered strawberries, strawberry BBQ sauce, and of course the famous strawberry donuts! Great family entertainment, two stages of free entertainment, free shuttle service and free admissions.

The Festival is more than just a weekend of fun. It serves as a major fund-raising event for many of the area’s civic and charitable groups. Committees work year-round to prepare for the weekend when as many as 150,000 people come to Troy to take part in our festival.

You can personally impact the experience of each festival guest for our 2016 event through these positions. We’ll treat you well too! Snacks and water are provided, and load-in volunteers even earn a free T-shirt.

Spread the word! Corporate groups, church groups, service organizations, families, and groups of friends are all welcome!

Saturday, June 4th – 10:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday, June 5th – 10:00am – 6:00pm.

Time To Make The Strawberry Donuts!

May 14, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The folks that run the Troy Strawberry Festival have alerted us that the Strawberry Donut Hotline is now open and ready to take your order for Pre-Ordered Strawberry Donuts that will be available on Friday, June 6, 2014. You can pick up your pre-ordered donuts in our convenient drive thru at the Troy Stadium or have them delivered. Pre Ordered donuts are $8 per dozen. Drive Thru hours are 7am – 1pm on Friday, June 6 only.

To order by phone: (937) 332-3992

To order online: Click here

The Strawberry Festival officially begins on Friday night, June 6th with food, entertainment for the whole family on the Great Miami River Levee! Two full days of events follow beginning with a short Parade on Saturday morning. From there the main action continues on the Historic Streets of Downtown Troy and along the Great Miami River Levee! Browse over 200 high quality art and craft booths. If you can make it with strawberries, you will find it at the Troy Strawberry Festival, more than 70 food booths offer everything from strawberry salsa, chocolate covered strawberries, strawberry bbq sauce, and of course the famous strawberry donuts! Great family entertainment, two stages of free entertainment, free shuttle service and free admissions.

The Festival is more than just a weekend of fun. It serves as a major fund-raising event for many of the area’s civic and charitable groups. Committees work year-round to prepare for the weekend when as many as 100,000 people come to Troy to take part in our world class festival.

The Festival is also looking for volunteers to help with all kinds of festival activities, from bed races to pie eating contest security to souvenir sales. If you’d like to to sign up, fill out this volunteer form.