Saanich is seeking volunteers for its annual Strawberry Festival July 10 at Beaver Lake Park.
The popular Saanich event draws 6,000 to 8,000 people on a sunny day for 50-cent strawberries and ice cream, which will be served from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets start selling at 11 a.m.
“Normally we get a lot of volunteer involvement from the community, but for some reason on the 50th anniversary we are short volunteers,” said Saanich marketing specialist Ron Proskow.
The non-profit event originated as a celebration of the agricultural roots of Saanich.
Because it’s the 50th anniversary there will be some prizes handed out.
Rob Philips, Saanich’s community events co-ordinator, said the event has always relied on volunteers, including the mayor, council and local MPs and MLAs, to serve the goodies.
“We have a crew of 30 people to serve the strawberries and ice cream, as it’s 3,500 servings in less than two hours,” Phillips said.
The Strawberry Festivals’ Kids Zone has also expanded, and the event needs more hands present to offer the activities.
The event will have a range of family activities, face painting, interactive games, hand drum workshops, model boat display, The Commodore Big Band (which plays during the strawberry serving), the CFAX Community Cruiser, a 107.3 KOOL FM presence, a giant inflatable slide and obstacle course, arts and craft stations and an old favourite, the pie eating contest at 1:30 p.m.
Those interested in volunteering are asked to visit saanich.ca/volunteers.