Strawberry Festival in downtown Kokomo!

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday,  June 7, 2024

Summer’s official kick-off in Kokomo, the 2024 Strawberry Festival is set for 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, June 7, in downtown Kokomo. And nothing says summer like strawberries and whipped cream piled high atop local shortcake and ice cream.

And enjoying that strawberry dessert basking in the sun while listening to live local music is even better. And that’s what you’ll find at the 2024 Strawberry Festival & Artsapalooza Arts Market.

Presented by the Greater Kokomo Downtown Association and sponsored by First Farmers Bank & Trust, the event will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to the event is free, but tickets for the strawberry desserts are just $7. The festival’s featured desserts will be served until 7 p.m. or while supplies last. But, as always, there will be plenty of supply. This year, organizers have ordered nearly 3,500 pounds of Moore’s Pie Shop strawberries, 6,500 pieces of Tastefully Indiana shortcake, 300 gallons of Scoops ice cream and 350 cans of Meijer whipped cream to meet the festival’s growing demand.

But don’t fill up on strawberry dessert! You’ll want to leave some room for lunch. The annual festival continues to grow, again this year setting a record with more than 140 food trucks and vendors set to take part in the event. The festival will encircle the Courthouse Square and extend one block south on Buckeye Street. Also, Artsapalooza Arts Market will stretch from Walnut to Mulberry on North Main Street. The arts market will feature 29 vendors this year.

In years past, the festival has attracted around 10,000 guests during the day-long event. Organizers anticipate a similar turnout this year.

“The Strawberry Festival is a much-loved summer tradition in Kokomo, drawings thousands from near and far,” said Susan Alexander, manager of downtown initiatives for the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance. “Not only is this a great day for the community to come together, it’s a catalyst for pushing forward our public art initiatives.”

Festive attire has also been a part of the festival, with many donning strawberry-themed apparel. But, this year, festival organizers are making it official and have appointed a Strawberry Festival Knight. A festival committee member and owner of a pink suit covered in strawberries, Alec Downing will parade the festival grounds looking for guests wearing their best strawberry-themed attire. When he identifies an exemplary Strawberry Fest outfit, he will anoint the festivalgoer with a sash bestowing upon them the honor of being “2024 Strawberry Fest Royalty.”

This year’s event includes 16 food trucks, and alcoholic beverages will be available from The Coterie, Sun King Brewery, Whyte Horse Winery and Booze Buggy.

Also setting records will be the amount of free family-friendly activities planned for this year’s event. Back this year will be the Tiny Tots Motorcycle Adventure presented by ABATE of Howard County. Kids can enjoy the adventure of riding a motorcycle around a small course. Also, be sure to check out Morning Side Church’s bouncy house, pool noodle public art station, Mental Health America’s Say Something Nice station, the Kokomo Park Band’s 16-piece Street Fair Band, Kokomo Men of Note, Banner Flower House arrangement demonstrations and much more.

Sound of Music will celebrate its 40^th anniversary with a Greater Kokomo Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. followed immediately by a performance from Johnny & The Remotes.

At the corner of Main and Sycamore streets, there will be live music throughout the day and evening on the Rhum Academy Stage, with Lineage headlining at 7:30 p.m. The full line-up includes:

• 11 a.m.: Festival welcome and national anthem
• 11:05-11:55 a.m.: Sami and James Lightsey
• Noon-12:30 p.m.: Zion, Darren and Darnell Smith
• 12:30-1 p.m.: Tim Edwards
• 1-1:30 p.m.: Averie Stone
• 1:30-2:30 p.m.: Jewel Jasay with Shayden, Aerie and Vivian
• 3-3:30 p.m.: Kristen Flowers Band
• 3:30-4 p.m.: Ione Wallsmith
• 4-4:20 p.m.: Jen Bird
• 4:20-4:40 p.m.: Arden Brittain
• 4:40-5:10 p.m.: Bekah Cripe
• 5:20-5:50 p.m.: Kokomo Park Band Street Fair Band
• 5:55-6:20 p.m.: Erin Soutar
• 6:25-7:15 p.m.: Student bands

Community Howard Regional Health will have its CareMobile parked on the square to serve as a feeding and changing station for parents and babies. They will also offer hands-on CPR training.

At the corner of Sycamore and Buckeye streets, the Kokomo Fire Department will have a 1935 Aherns-Fox antique fire truck for kids to sit on and take selfies.

You can find all the vendors and attractions on our full map here.

Those wishing to attend are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets are on sale now during business hours at any First Farmers Bank & Trust location, all Kokomo-Howard County Public Library branches and at the Greater Kokomo Downtown Association, located in Suite 102 inside Inventrek Tech Park, 700 E. Firmin St., Kokomo.

(Not sure where to park downtown? Our Downtown District maps helps guide you to public parking lots. Check it out here.)