PUNGO — The nonprofit organization behind the annual Pungo Strawberry Festival is planning for a festival this year in May after two years away because of restrictions related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
And they need help to make the community celebration in southern Virginia Beach come to life. The festival was first held as a relatively small village gathering in 1983. It now draws more than 100,000 people to the rural hub over the course of a weekend. The festival relies upon many people who give their time and talents to it each year.
Organizers have put out a call seeking volunteers to help a wide range of activities behind the scenes and during the festival itself, and they have scheduled an open house for anyone interested in participating in the festival.
The open house is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Culpepper Barn, 2041 Indian River Road.
“It’s really a call for help,” said Todd Barnes, president of the festival’s board of directors, on Thursday, Dec. 30. “We’ve lost some volunteers. … This is going to be one of those ‘it takes a village’ kind of things.”
Jones said these are several ways people can help the community event, which supports other organizations and the military. It brings attention to the agriculture industry in southern Virginia Beach and also supports local students seeking scholarships. The need for volunteers is one of the challenges the organization needs to overcome to bring the festival back, according to Jones.
“There’s plenty of people who love the Strawberry Festival,” said Tammy Burroughs Hindle, a member of the festival board. “We need more hands before, during and after the festival.”
Volunteers handle every aspect of the annual event, including planning, coordinating with vendors, organizing performances and raising funds – among many other things.
“I’m very hopeful we can find capable people who will step in,” Hindle said.
Find more information about the festival online via pungostrawberryfestival.info or on facebook via @PungoStrawberryFestival.
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