Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival
Our History:
In April 1954, three charter members of the Mattituck Lions club were in Florida to visit a friend. At his invitation the four men went to the Plant City Strawberry Festival and the idea for the Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Festival was born. On June 16, 1955, only a little more than three years after the club’s founding, the Mattituck Lions Club celebrated its first Strawberry Festival and this year will be the Club’s 68th.
The club archives tell the story of the first festival held on the third Saturday of June, Father’s Day weekend. For a total of six hours Ed Buchak, the first Strawberry Festival Chairman and fellow club members entertained about 1,000 guests. Lions and their friends and families served food and beverages, which of course included local fresh strawberries and Strawberry Shortcake. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the 1st Strawberry Festival recorded a net profit of $787.00
From the beginning, club members realized their idea had promise and could grow into something very special, especially if properly planned and nurtured. It is doubtful the club’s charter members could have imagined what the festival would grow to become in those early days. Throughout 66 years of planning, the festival’s importance can be measured not only in the amount of money raised for charity but also its positive impact on the North Fork economy.
Club records are not clear as to who is responsible for the innovations that today are Strawberry Festival traditions. In 1956, the club started baking cake in the school. It appears as though Hulling Night (to be held this year on Wednesday June 15th, beginning at 5PM) became a permanent fixture beginning in 1957. Many community volunteers still fondly recall gathering in what is now the headquarters for Kolb Mechanical Corp on Old Sound Avenue. In 1958, the late PDG Cliff Saunders, Jr., one of the most beloved Lions in New York State, was Festival Chairman and reported net profits of $1,638.00. Club records indicate as the number of activities and attractions increased so did the number of guests coinciding with an increase in net proceeds. For the first time the 1958 post festival meeting minutes show the formation of committees with committee chairman to assist in the planning process. The first Strawberry Festival Queen was crowned in 1956. Many thanks are extended to previous Festival Chairman who introduced other traditions including the craft show, carnival, midway, international food court, strawberry daiquiri’s, coloring contest, raffle, entertainment, fireworks, business vendors, LIRR excursion, media coverage, website, corporate sponsors, VIP seating, chocolate covered strawberries and the visual splendor of the Club’s tents and signs.
