MARYSVILLE — Marysville was bustling June 18-21, as the Marysville Strawberry Festival presented a diversity of attractions for attendees.
The Marysville Strawberry Festival Arts and Crafts Market packed Asbery Field with attendees and vendor tents, as clothing and jewelry sellers shared space with everyone from hairdressers to chiropractors.
For the kids, the market provided a miniature golf course, bouncy houses and slides, and a climbing rock wall. For adults, the market was an opportunity to interact with local merchants and regional businesses, as they showed off homemade candles and wood
sculptures, and provided information on subjects such as phone service plans and fundraising campaigns on behalf of the Marysville Historical Society.
Clint Huffman and his family have lived in Marysville for four years, and this year marked their third at the Strawberry Festival. Although Huffman wasn’t in the market for any items in particular, he still enjoyed wandering through the field full of vendor tents.
“I come for the junk food, the sun, the parade, the crafts, everything,” Tammy Dehnhoff said. “We’re looking for homemade bibs for baby this year.”
Ren Nomura checked out the market and the Strawberry Festival for the first time this year. A member of Turning Point Community Church in Marysville, Nomura came out to support his fellow church members as they staged their float for the Grand Parade.
“We’ve already got some pet tags, we’ve seen some hot rods, and we’ve seen a lot of friends,” Nomura said. “There’s a lot of things out here.”
The penultimate day of the Marysville Strawberry Festival saw a cavalcade of activity at Marysville Middle School which was June 18-21, as newcomers and longtime attendees alike turned out for the Funtastic Carnival.
Michael Hill has been attending the carnival for the past dozen years, but lately, it’s more for his grandchildren than himself. He took two of his grandkids to the carnival June 19, where they encountered a bit of rain, but when he took his remaining three grandkids to the carnival June 20, they found the weather much more pleasant.
Bailey Helm, 11, and Michael Abraham, 9, were first-time carnival-goers this year. They agreed that they enjoyed all the rides, especially the “Zero Gravity,” and they’re already looking forward to returning next year. By contrast, Daniel Moseley has been coming to the carnival for the past three years, and this year, he brought his mother, father, wife and two children, all of whom enjoyed the elephant ears.
“I love the carnival,” Strawberry Festival Royalty Princess Becca Thomas said. “I come here every year. My favorite ride is the ‘Zipper.’ It’s fun to hang out with your friends, and there are lots of rides and lots of games.”
This year’s Marysville Strawberry Festival included a new event, “Kids Party in the Park,” in the Totem Middle School outer courtyard June 20.
The Kids Party in the Park catered specifically to young people in and around the Marysville area, by offering an entertainment stage, children’s activities, arts and crafts, and concessions.
Ronald McDonald kicked off the event, but he wasn’t the only mascot on site during the day, as the AquaSox’s Webley, Smokey the Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog also put in appearances.
Scott Petersen, the Monroe-based “Reptile Man,” came carrying several cases of scaly companions, including an enormous tortoise, a small alligator, and a variety of lizards and snakes.
The Marysville YMCA presented Zumba dancing for kids, and the Marysville Performing Arts Centre staged a dance show of its own.
Among the 15 participating organizations were the Marysville YMCA, the city of Marysville Parks and Recreation Department, the Marysville Fire District, Camp Fire and the Girl Scouts.
The Marysville Strawberry Festival Kiddies Parade drew a variety of colorfully clad youngsters to march along their route June 20, from Totem Middle School to Comeford Park, as Kiddies Parade Director Kim Mease estimated that 40 entrants registered, with each entry group including anywhere from “one to about 50” members.
In the costume category, a young boy dressed as Thomas the Tank Engine won first place, followed by a “Bob the Builder” in second place, a wizard in third place, a “’50s Girl” in fourth place and a young boy flexing his padded arms as the Hulk in fifth place. The “Strawberry” entrant won first place in the wheels category, followed by a little girl in a “Strawberries for Sale” basket in second place, a “Luau” entry in third place and a “Mexican Ninja” entry in fourth place. A young man dressed as Zorro, riding on horseback, galloped off with first place in the pets category, while the “Dream It, Be It” entry followed at second place, and a young man and his dog wearing signs marked “Use Your Imagination” came in at third place. For the groups category, “Dancing Fire” took first place, “Fairies” followed in second place, “Multiples” came in at third place, MPAC was awarded fourth place and MCEP received fifth place. The first-place float carried “Princesses in Training,” while the second-place entry showcased a “Rock Star Fantasy,” and the third-place entrants were “Welcome to the Dock.” A young girl dressed as a unicorn was named the grand prize winner for the Kiddies Parade.
The Marysville Strawberry Festival 78th annual Grand Parade not only attracted an estimated 30,000 spectators in person on State Avenue, but it was also broadcast out live to audiences on cable TV and the Internet this year.
Grand Parade Director Carol Kapua noted the newcomers among this year’s 117 entrants, including several new floats and an equestrian group making its first appearance at a parade anywhere in the state. At the same time, she recognized the return of Grand Parade regulars such as the Clan Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band.
Among the VIPs who made appearances were Grand Parade Marshal Mary Kirkland of Hilton’s Pharmacy, Marysville Mayor Dennis Kendall and the Senior Royalty Kings and Queens from the Marysville Care Center, Grandview Village, Madeline Villa and the Tulalip Senior Center.
“It’s exciting to drive down on Saturday morning and see all the chairs along the parade route,” Kapua said. “To make that one little child point his finger and say, ‘Look, look, look,’ that makes it all worthwhile.”
Fireworks started promptly at 10 p.m., minutes after the Grand Parade concluded, putting an exclamation point on the day’s events.
Click here for Talent Show story, slide show and video.
Click here for Fashion Show story and slide show.
Click here for Trike Race story and slide show.
Click here for Berry Run story and slide show.
Click here for all of the Strawberry Festival photos.
