Nine-year-old Zoe Luna gets her face painted by Tonya’s Face Painting at the Strawberry Festival Saturday. “I saw all the pretty faces, so I got this one,” the Fessenden Elementary schooler said, smiling.
Nine-year-old Zoe Luna gets her face painted by Tonya’s Face Painting at the Strawberry Festival Saturday. “I saw all the pretty faces, so I got this one,” the Fessenden Elementary schooler said, smiling.
Ocala resident Fernando Polomo, 23, feeds his 3-year-old daughter Kimberly her first strawberry shortcake at the Strawberry Festival Saturday, March 7. Proceeds from the festival go towards helping build homes for people in the community.
Kayla Gilligan, 11, serves strawberry shortcakes at the second annual Strawberry Festival in Ocala. Gilligan, who attends Howard Middle School, says volunteering for Habitat for Humanity is fun, knowing that it helps toward making a difference in the community she lives.
Kayla Gilligan, 11, serves strawberry shortcakes at the second annual Strawberry Festival in Ocala. Gilligan, who attends Howard Middle School, says volunteering for Habitat for Humanity is fun, knowing that it helps towards making a difference in the community she lives.
Brick City Band performs at the Strawberry Festival March 7.
Draper and Lennell Underwood from High Springs sell hand turned pottery and garden accessories. Saturday was their fist time at the Strawberry Festival. “The plants love the clay,” said Lennell. She points at her husband and laughs. “But he has the green thumb,” she said. “He can grow anything.”
Residents admire the car show, sponsered by BMW, at the 2nd annual Strawberry Festival in Ocala. All makes and models were presented all day.
Jennifer Breese, along with her mom Sandy Crews, sell homemade Sweets n Treets at the 2015 Ocala Strawberry Festival Saturday, March 6. Jennifer, 35, has suffered from ovarian cancer since 2001 and is in her 14th chemo treatment. She says her mother supports her through it all, and their bond with her mother through Sweets n Treats is a sweet part of her life.
Kraig Kenning, a slide guitarist, performs at the Ocala Strawberry Festival Saturday, March 7 after firefighters lifted the American flag over the festival for the singing of the Star Spangled Banner.
Kraig Kenning, a slide guitarist, performs at the Ocala Strawberry Festival Saturday, March 7 after firefighters lifted the American flag over the festival for the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Kids went zip lining at the 2nd annual Strawberry Festival in Marion County Saturday, March 7.
Five-year-old Braeden Fried from Belleview took advantage of an opportunity to go jumping at the Strawberry Festival. He said it is an activity that he loves, and it was his first time being able to jump so high. “It was better than grandma’s bed,” he said with a smile.
Ocala had its second annual Strawberry Festival in Marion County on Saturday. It started last year as a way to benefit the local Habitat for Humanity, the festival expanded this year.
“This has been it for my family,” said Afiya Jackson-Young, who volunteered at the event.
The proceeds from the event will go to help fund the Strawberry House in Belleview, where Jackson-Young will work on and eventually live thanks to Marion County’s Habitat for Humanity.
The event included activities for all ages: live entertainment, bounce houses, face makeup, car shows and lots of delectable strawberry treats.
Jackson-Young looked around at the crowd from the Habitat for Humanity booth and smiled.
She is thankful for everything the program has done for her since December.
“I hope we can continue to raise money through Habitat for Humanity so that more homeowners can see a future in Marion County.”
WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
