MARYSVILLE – The king will be in town this week.
No, not Elvis or LeBron, we’re talking abot the king of the 87th annual Marysville Strawberry Festival – Nathan Weller.
He will be accompanied by Princesses Katelynn Melohusky and Kaitlyn Norris on the Marysville float, which has won several awards in other parades already this summer.
A highlight of their performance is their dancing to the song, “The Jam,” which is this year’s festival theme.
The Grand Parade, however, is not until next Saturday at 7:45 p.m. There will be lots happening before then.
Today, the week of activities kick off with the Berry Run at 9 a.m. at the Tulalip Amphitheatre.
Also today, the Kids Party in the Park is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Asbery Field.
Tuesday, the Fashion Show will be at Leifer Manor from noon to 2 p.m.
The Funtastic Carnival comes to town Thursday at Marysville Middle School. It runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, but shuts down at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Talent Show will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Marysville-Pilchuck High School auditorium.
The popular Market in the Park will take place from 2-9 p.m. Friday at Asbery Field. It continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Kiwanis Beer and Wine Garden starts goes from 5-10 p.m. Friday at Asbery Field. It also runs from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
That night, at the Asbery Field Performance Stage, there will be entertainment from 4-6 p.m. with mixed rock by Petty Differences and blues from 7-9 p.m. by Jenny & the Blue Moon Boys.
Saturday’s always the big day for the festival. Along with the activities already mentioned, it includes a new event starting at 11 a.m. It is at Totem Middle School. It’s called the Creative Kids Arts Celebration and will include hands-on activities along with artwork displays done by local students. Performance art also is part of that event.
Music kicks off at noon with rock music by The A Band, followed by Pennies for Puppies at 1 p.m., Patrick McHenry & the Chinooks play country at 2:30 and Aardvarks United plays mostly classic rock from 4-6 p.m.
Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contests take place in the early afternoon at Asbery Field.
The Kiddies Parade kicks things off at 5 p.m. downtown, followed by the Grand Parade, also on State Avenue.
Music on Sunday includes Voices of the Villages at 11:30 a.m. and No Rules plays rock from 1-3 p.m.
Maryfest, Inc., the nonprofit all-volunteer committee that runs the festival, has had a complete turnover in leadership this year.
