SAUGUS – The Saugus Historical Society held its annual Strawberry Festiva Saturday — with traditional shortcakes and hot dogs available alongside jewelry, plants and antiques from vendors.
“The Strawberry Festival has been a tradition in Saugus for decades. It is an important fundraiser for the Historical Society, who sell delicious strawberry shortcakes for only $5,” said Selectman Debra Panetta, a member of both the Historical Society and the Garden Club who also participated in the event.
The festival serves as a fundraiser to help the society pay for their annual needs — and this year they hoped to fundraise around $400.
Panetta said that the festival was a wonderful opportunity for friends and neighbors to get together, “where we feel a sense of community and caring for our town and each other.” Her daughter, Sabrina, came to help at the festival too.
“It’s an old-fashioned community event to bring the community together and remember the times when Saugus had many farms,” said Saugus Historical Society President Laura Eisener.
She said the Strawberry Festival has been held in the town since the 1980s, and resumed last June after a hiatus forced by the pandemic. Eisener expected a few hundred people to show up at the event this year.
Traditional shortcake, hot dogs, soda, and chips were served in American Legion building for people to come “and make lunch,” said Eisener. The hot dogs were donated by Kayem Foods, the buns were donated by Trader Joe’s, and the condiments were donated by Kelly’s Roast Beef.
The Saugus Garden Club was among the main vendors at the event. The club’s co-President Donna Manoogian said that they have been partnering with the Historical Society for many years, and the Strawberry Festival was an important fundraiser for them.
“We are selling mostly perennials, and those will be outdoor plants that come back every year. We have some indoor plants, we have cut flowers, and garden accessories,” said Manoogian.
She said that there were “over 20 ladies working and helping with the sale,” and that they expected about 30-40 people to stop by throughout the day.
Lorraine DiMilla, co-president of the Garden Club, said that the members of the club brought their plants for sale, and they took donations too
Michael Beamer from “Beakers All Season Solutions” donated two Japanese maples and Juniper Blue Point that he bought specifically for the event because he wanted to beautify his community.
One of the vendors, Susan Bishop, said she was selling a lot of antique fishing gear, glassware, and jewelry, because “people always like jewelry.” She also said that it was a perfect day for an event like this because some previous years it was too hot.
“I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, and the people are wonderful here,” said Bishop.
Another vendor, Barbara Smith, said she was selling jewelry, boxes, glasses, adult clothes, baby clothes, and some vintage items.
The residents said they loved the event. Some of them, like Zoila Santana said they popped in because they were passing by and saw that something curious was happening.
Others, like Ann Erekson, a Saugus resident, came on purpose. She said she was looking for a craft table because she was doing a lot of drawing.
Some came to support the organizers like Maureen Murray, a member of the Historical Society, who comes to the festival every year.
For many the Strawberry Festival became an opportunity to meet old friends and spend some time outside.
“I’m on my break and I love to see other vendors, and to meet old friends, and it’s a wonderful day to be outside, meet people and spend a little money,” said Kathy Murphy from the Garden Club.
