2026 Strawberry Festival!
A full day of family-friendly activities and old-fashioned fun including the world's greatest strawberry shortcake, live entertainment from two stages, hands-on cultural heritage activities, an animal petting zoo, a strawberry spirit costume contest, strawberry-themed drinks and local brews, regional cuisine, 50+ craft vendors, a giant plant sale, a strawberry shortcake-eating contests, and more, all rolled into one-giant community party. Credit cards only at admissions; no cash.
Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10 am - 5 pm
17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring
Parking available at Sherwood High School and off-site with free shuttle buses! See FAQs for more info.
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Individual Strawberry Festival Sponsors
Cindy and John Chirtea
Jeff Jones and Susan Stracquatanio
Larry O’Reilly
Ruppert Family Foundation
Courtni Wright
FAQ
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Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for kids ages 2 - 17 and free for those under 2. Museum members receive a 20% off tickets if purchased by May 22, 2026. Only credit cards are accepted at admission, no cash.
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Yes, but attendance will be limited to 5,000 people. Get your tickets ahead of time to ensure entry.
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Admission includes everything that you need to enjoy the festival: all kids' games, the petting zoo, all hands-on activities hosted by the museum, and all entertainment.
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In addition to parking at Sherwood High School, you can avoid the parking lines by using the overflow parking at Sherwood Elementary School and Sharp Street Church. Handicapped patrons parking at Sharp Street can be picked up at their car with the shuttle. Shuttle buses will run continuously throughout the day.
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To offer visitors the best possible experience, a decision was made to limit attendance to 5000. Get your tickets early!
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Yes! Admissions can only be paid with a credit card. All sales at the Strawberry Shortcake booth must be paid with a credit card. Some vendors, but not all, accept cash.
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Yes! There will be lots of food for sale but you are welcome to bring your own food, chairs, a picnic blanket - anything that will make your day enjoyable!
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The inaugural Strawberry Spirit contest! Show up in your best strawberry-themed attire and win a prize!
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The festival relies on a dozen high level volunteers and hundreds of day-of volunteers. Contact the festival chair for more info.
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No! Please leave your pets at home. We have had people arrive with raptors, snakes, dogs, cats and more and, unfortunately, they had to either leave their pet in their car or head back home.
Choose Your Strawberry Festival Itinerary
Community Connector
Feel the Sandy Spring vibe with demos, performances, shortcake, and handmade goods.
- 11:30 AM - Cultural Heritage Demos: Enjoy a hands-on experience with a traditional art form hosted by a folk artist in the garden courtyard.
- 1:00 PM - Strawberry Spirit Contest: Head to the Community Stage to see who has the most Strawberry Spirit.
- 2:30 PM - Shortcake & Performances: Grab dessert and find a spot near the Warner Williams main stage at Willow Grove Cultural Commons to watch professional performances, or the Community Stage to watch talented youths.
- 3:30 PM - Artisan Market: Visit the 50+ craft vendor booths to pick up unique, handmade goods.
Strawberry Family Adventure
A kid-friendly festival route that balances energy, shade, food, hands-on activities, and a berry stop before heading home.
- 10:00 AM - The "Beat the Heat" Arrival: Park at a satellite lot and take the shuttle. The kids usually find the bus ride to be the first attraction of the day.
- 10:30 AM - Energy Burn at the Kids' Zone: Head straight to the Petting Zoo while the weather is cool.
- 11:30 AM - The Early Lunch Strategy: Beat the noon rush at the food tents. Grab some kid-friendly basics and find a spot in the shade near the Community Stage to watch the youth dance and music performances.
- 12:15 PM - The World Famous Shortcake Reward: This is the perfect mid-day treat. Pro tip for parents: grab extra napkins, or sign up the whole family to participate in the shortcake eating contest.
- 1:00 PM - Hands-on Creativity: Head toward the courtyard garden and check out the cultural heritage demonstrator booths where kids can make something to take home.
- 2:00 PM - Strawberry Spirit Contest: Even if you did not dress up, head to the pavilion to see the strawberry-themed costumes.
- 3:30 PM - The Berry Exit: Stop by the fresh strawberry booth to pick up a quart of berries, then catch the shuttle back to your car.
Short on Time
Perfect for busy locals who just want the essentials.
- Step 1 - Park & Shuttle: Park at a satellite lot and take a quick shuttle ride to the festival.
- Step 2 - Shortcake Line: Head straight to the Shortcake Line. It moves fast, but this is the priority.
- Step 3 - Quick Artisan Market Loop: Make a quick loop through the Artisan Market for one-of-a-kind gifts.
- Step 4 - Berries to Go: Grab a quart of berries to go and hop back on the shuttle.
Date Day
Designed for couples or friends looking for a chill afternoon.
- 12:30 PM - International Food Court: Start with lunch featuring the best of world cuisine.
- 1:30 PM - Artisan Market: Cool off inside and purchase unique, handmade items from dozens of craft vendors.
- 2:30 PM - Beer & Berries: Head to the beverage tent for a craft brew or strawberry-infused cocktail.
- 3:30 PM - Main Stage Headliner: Find a shady spot under the trees to enjoy the final musical set of the day.
Art & Aesthetics
A route for visitors who want makers, studios, music, plants, and a relaxed finish.
- 11:00 AM - The Artisan Market First Look: Arrive as the festival hits its stride but before the largest crowds. Start at the Artisan Market to meet local makers, especially ceramics, jewelry, and fine woodworking artists.
- 12:30 PM - Artists in Residence: Visit the studios of artists who work on site at the museum, including the Artist Studio on the upper level and the Pottery Studio.
- 1:30 PM - Global Flavors Lunch: Visit the international food court. Grab some world cuisine and find a seat near the Main Stage to enjoy the curated musical lineup.
- 2:30 PM - Artisan Market: Step inside the museum to purchase a unique handmade item. All told, there are over 50 craft vendors to check out.
- 3:30 PM - Garden Club Plant Sale: Find living art for your own home, from hanging flower baskets to vegetable plants for your garden or a house plant.
- 4:00 PM - Local Brews and Cocktails: Enjoy a handcrafted cocktail or locally brewed beer.
Food Vendors
The Crepe Shoppe
Rustic Route Coffee
Black Horse Kettle Corn
Pho Wheels
Halal Cousins
Kuk's Tribute Cuisine
Rice Around the World
The Burger Coach
Churros Inc
San Valentino Pizza
Dalat Deli
Amano Real Fruit
Main Stage Performers
Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble brings Americana music and percussive dance to the stage. Blending dynamic original choreography with rich musical traditions, Footworks delivers a mesmerizing experience that celebrates the power, joy, and multicultural roots of American percussive dance.
11:20 AM
The Gilly and Book Quintet
The Gilly and Book Quintet is a premier local jazz ensemble featuring John Gillenwater (trumpet), Alex Silverbook (saxophone), Greg Casement (drums), Michael Grasso (keyboard), and Phil Ravita (bass). You may know them from the Whispering Spirit Speakeasy at Fallen Oak Distilling, where they give dazzling performances every month.
12:20 PM
Miyako Taiko
Miyako Taiko presents the powerful Japanese art of taiko. Twenty drummers showcase a centuries-old tradition, commanding the stage with a high-energy, earth-shaking performance.
1:20 PM
OCEAN Celtic Quartet
The OCEAN Celtic Quartet brings a fresh edge to traditional British and Irish music, from soaring ballads and stirring sea chanteys to blazing fiddle and accordion tunes. Also showcasing original songs by bandleader Jennifer Cutting (accordion and keyboards), OCEAN features stunning vocalist Lisa Moscatiello, vocalist/percussionist Stephen Winick, and fiddler/Celtic harpist and composer Jay Ansill.
Kamalakiran Vinjamuri represents District of Raga, a group dedicated to South Asian performing arts, with an electrifying Carnatic violin performance. Complex, highly rhythmic, and radiant, Carnatic classical music has cultural communities in South India for thousands of years.
3:20 PM
The Barnstormers
The Barnstormers bring the spirit of Traditional, Old-Time, and Americana roots music to life with infectious energy. Slim Harrison, Tom Jolin, and Jon Simmons use vibrant folk instruments like the fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, mountain dulcimer, autoharp, button accordion, and more to create a lively, joyful sound. Festivalgoers who craft instruments in the cultural demonstration area are invited to join the performance!
4:20 PM
Silk Road Dance Company
Silk Road Dance Company is dedicated to preserving and celebrating dance traditions from cultures along the Great Silk Road, from China to the Mediterranean. Through vibrant performances and cultural storytelling, the company builds bridges between the East and West, honoring tradition while fostering cross-cultural connection and dialogue.
Cultural Heritage Demonstrators
NORTH CAUCASIAN FELTING
Milana Borovskaia, born and raised in the North Caucasus, specializes in one of the world's earliest known methods of fabric-making: wool felting. Watch the fascinating, centuries-old process Milana uses transform loose wool fibers into a dense, durable textile.
TURKISH MARBLING
Fatma Gündoğdu is a Turkish-American artist who practices the Turkish marbling art of Ebru. Watch Fatma transform pieces of silk into radiant, colorful works of art.
JAPANESE ANIME ILLUSTRATION
Nagihiko Dayo is an illustrator. Inspired by her own childhood love of anime, she works in an anime style. Join Nagihiko to learn the basics of drawing in anime style and create your own character: maybe even one with a strawberry theme!
SOUTH INDIAN SAND ART KOLAMS
Shanthi Chandrasekar, an Indian-American artist, uses expressive symbols to explore the mystery of the world around us. Join Shanthi to make a traditional South Indian Kolam, a geometric art form inviting prosperity and positive energy.
FOLK INSTRUMENT-MAKING
Slim Harrison is a folk musician and storyteller who loves to share the joy of traditional American music with children and adults alike. Join Slim to create your own instrument from recycled and repurposed materials. At 3 pm, bring your instrument to the Main Stage to join Slim's band, the Barnstormers!
KOREAN DANCE AND DRUMMING
The Peace Mission Korean Dance Group believes the arts can promote peace and harmony across diverse cultures. Watch them demonstrate traditional Korean dance and drumming.
CHINESE KNOTTING AND LANTERN-MAKING
Huijuan Ruan is a master of traditional Chinese handicrafts. Join her and learn about two beloved Chinese folk arts: the red knot, a symbol of good luck and prosperity tied by hand into intricate patterns, and the paper lantern, created from the red envelopes traditionally given at Chinese New Year.
Thank You to our 2026 Sponsors!
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