Von Thun Strawberry Festival this Weekend

While Memorial Day may be the official summer kickoff, in South Brunswick for the last two years a returning tradition has helped launch the summer in town.

The annual Strawberry Festival will be held at on Saturday and Sunday, featuring a number of activities for the kids, and of course, strawberries.

"We did the festival years ago and then stopped for awhile," said Cindy Von Thun. "We brought it back last year to offer family oriented activities for the kids, beyond just picking strawberries. People are looking for things to do that are different, and those that travel a long way to pick strawberries want to be out on the farm a little longer."

The festival is centered around Pick-Your-Own strawberries, but there will also be strawberry foods, with jams and jellies, vendors, hayrides, and activities for the kids. The Von Thun greenhouses will be open with a selection of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and hanging baskets. The farm market will also be open for the season with fresh produce.

Activities include meeting friendly farm animals, an interactive Agricultural Education center, Peter the talking pumpkin, a Barnyard Chicken Show, pony rides, pedal courses, sand and candy arts, rubber duck races, face painting, a straw maze, hayrides, and more.

"It's something local for these families to do where they can come and do as much or as little as they want besides just picking strawberries," Von Thun said. "It's a day when kids can see farm animals, run around and just enjoy being a kid. It's a nice easy time to go to the farm and be together as a family. It's not like going to Great Adventure with mobs of people where it costs you an arm and a leg."

The Strawberry Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at , located at 505 Ridge Road in Monmouth Junction.