Strawberries for sale in Long Grove

The biggest festival of Long Grove's season is coming back for its 26th year.

Strawberry Fest will take over the downtown for three days this weekend.

"This one is going to be huge," said Kelley Happ, spokeswoman for Long Grove Business and Community Partners. "We have sold out of vendor space."

The group started using Star Events to coordinate its bigger festivals this year, starting with Chocolate Fest in May.

The coordinator has also worked on Strawberry Fest. Happ said Star Events has taken the festivals to a new level, but the crux of the event will remain the same.

"The idea is not to have people notice it," she said of Star Events' involvement. "I think what people really like is the hometown feel, and that we still have. We'll always want to keep that."

This year, the festival will bring in a Little Miss Strawberries pageant.

Hilligoss Galleries will also bring in several sculptures that will be on display over the weekend.

The children's section has also been enlarged this year at Towner Green, giving more space for rides and ponies.

The festival will include the staples that bring people in: vendors selling food, all sorts of strawberry products, ranging from chocolate-covered strawberries to daiquiris to doughnuts.

The Strawberry Jam Kids Fair will also return on Towner Green with face painting and a Mad Science show at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Various downtown shops also take up the festival themes every season and come up with creative strawberry items to sell.

Long Grove Strawberry Fest

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday

Where: Downtown Long Grove, at Robert Parker Coffin and Old McHenry roads

Cost: Free

Call: (847) 634-0888

Visit: www.longgroveonline.com