CHASSELL, Mich, (WZMQ) – On Thursday an army of volunteers met at Centennial Park in Chassell to help the Lions Club cut over 1,400 quarts of strawberries for the 76th annual Copper Country Strawberry Festival.
Pam Hiltunen, one of the festival’s organizers said the volunteer turnout today was even better than usual.
“It’s the people in the community that come together and work together,” said Hiltunen. “Last year we had a nice turnout, this year is even better, and I just can’t be happier than I am right now watching all these people work together for such a great event.”
The turnout could be because the volunteers came from all over the UP and the whole Midwest.
One volunteer, Erica Bates, said, for her, the Strawberry Festival runs in the family.
“It’s really cool because it’s a family reunion for us every year because the family comes in, I mean we got people from Wisconsin here, and from downstate,” said Bates. “I have been doing this as long as I can remember because my aunt and uncle, they own one of the strawberry farms, and our extended family has showed up to help with this for many years.”
The festival is organized by the Chassell Lions Club, and the club president, Steven Palosaari, said the festival is one of Michigan’s oldest.
“It’s one of Michigan’s longest running festivals actually, and even the governor of Michigan once came up here to present some awards.”
Now the Lions Club and volunteers will turn the strawberries into over 5,000 strawberry shortcakes, so if you want to try the fruits of their labor for yourself, head on down to Chassell for a historic and delicious sweet treat.
The festival will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
