PORTLAND, Tenn. — Chamber of Commerce officials in Portland recently announced the date for the 2020 Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival to be help on May 8-9. As an added bonus for Lynchburg folks, if you go, you can support Lynchburg’s own Barking Pig BBQ team as they travel to Portland to be a barbecue vendor during the event.

In the early 1900’s, folks in Portland shipped out over 30 railroad cars a day filled to the brim with strawberries. In addition to a large number of strawberries farms, the town boasted a fruit processing plant, a canning factory, and a freezing facility that produced fruit for places like Breyers Ice Cream and other national brands. In 1941, to celebrate their strawberry life, the community hosted the very first Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival … a southern tradition that’s continued ever since.

Each May the annual event brings about 30,000 folks to the quaint, southern town to celebrate the sweet, juicy southern berry. They still enjoy several local strawberry farmers who sell berry during the festival along Highway 109 near Market Street. There also a carnival, live music, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, inflatables, kid’s activities, and, of course, the Strawberry Festival Parade with strawberry-themed floats.

For more information leading up to the event, follow the Festival’s Facebook page or for additional details and a complete schedule of event visit their website. Portland is located two hours from Lynchburg just off Interstate 65 near the Tennessee Kentucky state line. •

{The Lynchburg Times is an independently owned and operated newspaper that publishes new stories every morning. Covering Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}