LOCAL

A very berry good time: West TN Strawberry Festival marks 85th year

Sarah Best
Jackson Sun

The West Tennessee Strawberry Festival returned to Humboldt for its 85th year with Friday's events commencing with the grand parade and followed by the Governor's Luncheon.

Friday's parade, hometown local as Grand Marshall

The festival began on Monday and ran through Saturday afternoon along Main Street. Food truck vendors, carnival rides and rollercoasters, and an abundance of strawberries took over the streets as families from around the country flocked to Humboldt.

Humboldt Mayor Marvin Sikes described Friday's parade as a "homecoming" that builds momentum throughout the entire week of the festival.

"I don't know how many people were there but it was a lot," Sikes said. "We start planning so early, but you know, I can't help but love the parade, and the carnival, and the food. It's just a wonderful week."

T.G. Sheppard, the parade's Grand Marshall this year, is a Humboldt native and a famous country music singer.

Attendees are bathed in light as the fireworks go off during opening day of the 2023 West Tennessee Strawberry Festival in Humboldt, Tenn. on Monday, May 8, 2023.

"He was playing at a venue up in Huntingdon, and our festival president approached him and said 'would you?' and he said yes," Sikes explained. "So we wanted to come back home and we can honor him and let him know we haven't forgot him."

A post-parade luncheon

The Governor's Luncheon that followed the parade had around 200 attendees including officials like Madison County Mayor AJ Massey, Madison County Sheriff Julian Wiser, and State Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Madison County. It commenced with a posting of the colors by a local, youth color guard group and was followed by 2023 Miss Tennessee Teen Annie Zhao's rendition of the National Anthem on violin.

Barry the Strawberry photographed during opening day of the 2023 West Tennessee Strawberry Festival in Humboldt, Tenn. on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Many attendees wore strawberry-inspired outfits of red, pink, and green patterns, including Mayor Sikes who chose a pink suit jacket with an embroidered strawberry on the collar.

Gov. Bill Lee was expected to be in attendance, but ultimately couldn't attend due to inclement weather in Nashville that interfered with his flight's departure, according to the luncheon's co-chairman Alex Smith.