Strawberry Festival: Couple digs into a delight they've been coming back to for 36-years

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ROANOKE (WSLS10) - Many told WSLS10 the strawberry shortcake is the star of the show at the Annual Strawberry Festival. This is the event's 36th year.

"This is a lot, lot to eat," Jo Ann Sanders told us. "It is good. I love the shortcake."

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Side by side, Jo Ann Sanders and her husband Garry dug into a delight they've been coming back to for 36-years.

"Since it started, I'm not sure how many years ago…I worked for Norfolk Southern over here and it was right there in front of our building," commented Garry.

‘We worked at the railroad," said Jo Ann. "So, we would see a lot of our friends. You know, everybody you talked to they were coming here for a strawberry shortcake."

Before all the vendors, it was just the strawberry shortcake that started Roanoke's Community School's Annual Strawberry Festival 36-years-ago.

"The first event was held in Crest Star Plaza and we made $2,500," said Community School's Marketing Director Pattie Stratton.

A big difference from the $75,000 the school raised from the festival last year. Stratton said the idea of creating an event around strawberries originated from a parent.

"The school wanted a fundraiser and they wanted something that was organic and that would involve the community on a larger scale," said Stratton.

Each year, the festival brings new and returning visitors.

"It's something we look forward to every year," Jo Ann told us.

The festival will continue into the weekend.