The 2023 WV Strawberry Festival: "Strawberry Freedom" Begins May 13th with Changes and Additions

January 27, 2023

Mountaineer News

Upshur County Commission

BUCKHANNON - During the January 27th Upshur County Commission meeting, President of the West Virginia Strawberry Festival Board Shane Jenkins, addressed some changes and new additions to this year's festival schedule, which is slated for May 13th-21st, 2023.

Some of the event's efficiency changes include the day of opening ceremonies, which have historically begun on Wednesday but will be moved to Saturday at the Upshur County Courthouse steps.

A new event is also being added this year - A West Virginia Themed Night - scheduled for Wednesday evening at Jawbone Park.

“We bring in cultures from all over the world and from all over the state, but we don't necessarily highlight our local culture here… we're going to try to make it to where every entertainment act down there as far as music or anything else we have that night, is local as possible and definitely within West Virginia,” Jenkins said.

This year's festival will also see its first-ever official closing ceremonies event.

Watch Strawberry Board President Shane Jenkins' full address to Upshur County Commission regarding efficiency changes and additions to this year's "Strawberry Freedom" themed festival: