Find Strawberries Everywhere Saturday in Sanatoga

SANATOGA PA – It may seem Saturday (June 10, 2023) that, anywhere you look, you’ll find strawberries in Sanatoga village.

The much-anticipated return of the annual Strawberry Festival, sponsored by the Lower Pottsgrove Historical Society, will be the reason why. It’s scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of Sanatoga Chapel, a township landmark and the site of the society’s museum and offices, at 2341 E. High St.

For years the festival has supplied advance notice of the summer season. It serves up ice cream, pastries, and other treats, all featuring the bright red and ripe fruit. The tradition continues this year with those, as well as live classic rock musical entertainment from “Skip and Chickie,” a menu of luncheon items, and tours of the chapel and its collections.

The festival is making its rain-or-shine comeback after a pandemic-related absence of several years. It is accompanied by several new features, the society added.

The 2023 edition will welcome Pottstown area craft brewer, the Hares Hill Brewing Company, and its pop-up beer garden. Among its selections will be a specialty brew it said is inspired by the historical society.

CatNAPS Inc., a Pottstown-based feral feline rescue organization, will have some of its latest “guests” on display, and members will talk about their work and cat adoption availabilities.

Also new this year are:

• A “Gift Card Tree” raffle, featuring chances to win value-laden gift cards good for purchases at local and nationally known merchants and retailers;
• A trivia game with prizes;
• A 50-50 raffle and, separately, door prizes;
• Games to keep kids and the young-at-heart interested and entertained; and
• A variety of fresh and home-made baked goods.

Local, but regionally and nationally famous, celebrities also tend to show up on festival day to meet with fans and talk with former neighbors. There will be plenty of comfortable seating and tables, the property abounds in mature shade trees, and parking is free and readily available.

The society exists to preserve the contributions Sanatoga and Lower Pottsgrove have made to the area’s history. It meets on the second Wednesday monthly at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel, and both visitors and new members are welcome to attend. It also holds a museum open house on the last Sunday monthly from 1-3 p.m., again at the chapel.

Photo by Anton Matyukha on Deposit Photos, used under license