Lowcountry Strawberry Festival Marks Successful 27th Year
Thousands of people gathered to celebrate the conclusion of the 27th annual Lowcountry Strawberry Festival held at Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The festival offered a range of attractions including dog shows, pig racing, magic shows, pie eating contests, and the much-anticipated strawberry picking.
Officials noted that the U-pick strawberry fields had to close early on many days due to the overwhelming number of attendees eager to pick their own strawberries. This high turnout forced the festival to conserve its strawberry fields to ensure there were enough fruits for the entire duration of the event.
Festival Highlights and New Attractions
Ryan Neal, the event director for the Lowcountry Strawberry Festival, stated that the optimal weather conditions played a considerable role in attracting large crowds. He revealed that this year’s theme of the festival was ‘more in 2024,’ which reflected their aim to introduce new and more exciting activities and entertainments to the attendees.
This year, one of the most popular attractions was the Pompeyo family dog show. Based in Florida, the Pompeyo family showcased their rescue dogs performing fantastic tricks. The family, featuring on America’s Got Talent, brought their eleven dogs to Lowcountry, providing an enjoyable show for the festival’s crowd. Natalya Pompeyo, a member of the family, expressed their delight with their experience at the festival and their hope to return next year.
Strawberry Pie Eating Contest Attracts Big Crowds
Aside from the dogshow, Neal indicated that the strawberry pie eating contest drew a large audience. Thousands watched with enthusiasm as participants devoured delicious strawberry pies face-first. Neal inspired by the festival’s success expressed gratitude towards the local community for their participation and support.
He mentioned the continuous growth of the festival year after year, noting that their focus is always on improving attendees’ experiences. By listening to guest feedback, they continually evolve their strategies to enhance the event, aiming to make it a tradition that people cherish and look forward to every year.
First-Time Attendees Impressed
Among the crowd, there were many first-time festival-goers. Aniyah Brown, who attended the festival for the first time, shared how she was drawn in by the advertisements and was glad she made the decision to come. She loved the festivities, particularly the rides and most importantly, the strawberries. She confirmed her intent to return next year for another fun-filled day.
As the festival wrapped up, it left attendees filled with happy memories and a yearning for the festival’s return next year. As for the organizers, it’s back to the drawing board, preparing to ensure that the next Lowcountry Strawberry Festival is even more spectacular.
