VCPA hosts Annual Strawberry Fest
Blue Flame Music fills the historic Vandalia chapel with their signature live bluegrass fusion on Sunday afternoon. Pictured, left to right; Savanna Musgrove on fiddle, 2018 National Flatpick Champion Luke Lovejoy and 2023 National Mandolin Champion Ethan Batan. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS
Members of the Vandalia Community Preservation Association (VCPA) serve up fresh strawberry shortcake inside the historic one-room Vandalia School. Pictured from left to right are volunteers Cathy Boler, Jason Kinney, Caroline Riley, Barb Shoemake and Susie Summerlot. TRAVIS CURRY | THE OWEN NEWS
History, community and sweet treats came together on June 7 for the Seventh Annual Strawberry Fest, hosted by the Vandalia Community Preservation Association (VCPA). The historic village in Owen County welcomed a fantastic turnout of locals and visitors alike for an afternoon dedicated to celebrating regional heritage and supporting community preservation.
Attendees gathered at the historic one-room schoolhouse to enjoy homemade strawberry shortcake before heading over to the chapel for a lively performance of bluegrass fusion by Blue Flame Music. Organizers declared the event a resounding success, with all proceeds directly benefiting the ongoing maintenance and preservation of Vandalia's landmark chapel and schoolhouse, both of which are proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
