The sweetest place to be in Wiscasset Saturday was St. Philip’s Episcopal Church for its 69th annual Strawberry Festival and, if the big turnout is any indication, the tradition will continue for many years to come. By mid-morning cars lined Hodge and Warren streets and filled the church parking lot with license plates from New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey and beyond.

Visitors were greeted at the entrance with friendly hellos from volunteers including Seaver and Anne Leslie of Wiscasset. The Leslies were selling floral arrangements of red, pink and white peonies they grew in their gardens at Old Stone Farm, their home on Dickinson Road. Joining the Leslies was their daughter Frances who now resides in Boston but returned home for the festival. Ellie Cotta of Alna was lending a helping hand as well.

In the vestry, guests could sit and indulge themselves on a dish of strawberries topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream, while enjoying music played by Wiscasset artist Mat O’Donnell on his acoustic guitar. Pastor Tom Junkert who seemed to be everywhere at once encouraged everyone to visit the craft tables manned by local artists and the used book sale that because of the threat of rain had been moved inside the church.

“It’s been wonderful and so far, the predicted rain has held off,” Junkert said encouraging Wiscasset Newspaper to be sure and say happy birthday to Linda Trowbridge who was outside selling freshly picked strawberries by the pint. “Linda told me she’s never missed a Strawberry Festival,” Junkert added. Trowbridge later confirmed this. “Yes, that’s true, I started coming as a child and haven’t missed one yet. I grew up on Federal Street, Wiscasset, Cowley was my maiden name,” she said. Trowbridge now resides in Edgecomb with husband Thomas Trowbridge, the town’s former fire chief. Helping sell pints of strawberries was Dee Dalton of Wiscasset. By 11 o’clock the ladies had already sold four cases.

Teaming up this year to man the hot dog tent were Tom Rankin of Wiscasset and Lincoln Richardson of Westport Island. Business was brisk! Suzanne Rankin, Tom’s wife, was in the church kitchen with other volunteers making the strawberry dishes.

Selectman Terry Heller, another volunteer, paused long enough to enjoy a yummy dish of strawberries. “Heavenly,” she said. And the rain did not start until the festival was concluding.