Canadice Methodist Church celebrates its 136th Strawberry Festival

By Diane Olson - The Lake Country Weekender

June 2015

The Annual Strawberry Festival at the Canadice United Methodist Church has been so enjoyed by generations that it keeps returning year after year by popular demand. The next one will be the 136th on Saturday, June 20, with a family-style ham dinner, craft and bake sales, a silent auction, and, of course - strawberries (quarts of them for sale). The festivities will be from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m.

The ham dinner includes potato salad, baked beans, copper pennies, roll, beverage, and strawberry shortcake. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children 5 to 12, and free for children under 5; shortcake only is $4.

In 2011 the Strawberry Festival was a recipient of a New York State Legislative Resolution commending the longevity of the festival. The first one was on Saturday, June 28, 1879, at Slouts Resort on Canadice Lake and was held there in subsequent years until 1916 when the City of Rochester bought the shoreline of the lake. For a few years afterward it was held at various homesteads until eventually it was moved to the church where it has been held ever since.

So make plans to take part in this ongoing historic and fun event. The Canadice United Methodist Church is located at 5949 Canadice Hill Road in Canadice Corners. Takeouts are available, and the church is handicap accessible.

Diane Olson is the Editor & Publisher of The Lake Country Weekender.

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