The Inter-Mountain file photo Officials are expecting a huge turnout for the 84th West Virginia Strawberry Festival in Buckhannon from May 9-17.

BUCKHANNON – The momentum for the 84th annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival is “high” with more than 20 marching bands, 15 stage bands, returning entertainment and more, officials said.

During a recent Buckhannon City Council’s meeting, Shane Jenkins, the president of the West Virginia Strawberry Festival Association, informed Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner and the council members that the energy behind planning the festival “has reached an all-time high.” The annual festival will take place from May 9-17.

“We’re excited, and the momentum that we’re seeing across the board right now is unlike any we’ve seen,” Jenkins said. “We feel energy just throughout the community… (community partners) are busier than ever right now getting things buttoned up and ready to go for this festival.”

Jenkins said that officials are expecting a higher attendance this year based on recent digital outreach on social media. At the time, Jenkins said the festival’s Facebook page had reached more than 800,000 views, and he explained that these are engagement numbers they normally only see during the festival and not before.

The Disc-Connected K9s frisbee dog entertainers will be returning for the festival this year, Jenkins said, noting officials were excited to have the world championship winning group back. The Disc-Connected K9s will be performing across from the Stockert Youth and Community Center on East Main Street throughout the week of the festival.

Jenkins also spoke about the choice of the Grand Marshal of this year’s Grand Feature Parade, Owen Schmidt, a former West Virginia University football star who went on to play as a fullback in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders.

“We’re excited for him as well,” Jenkins said. “He’s going to stay around afterwards and meet some people. So I encourage you to go down and meet him.”

When speaking on the festival’s Grand Feature Parade, Jenkins admitted officials have been seeing a “flip-flop” compared to what they usually witness. As Jenkins explained, while they usually have to try and find bands for the parade, this year they have 23 bands committed to performing.

“So, we’re trying to find things to fill in between those musical groups,” Jenkins said. “So, if you know anything, send them our way, but it’s a good problem to have right now.”

On April 8, the West Virginia Strawberry Festival announced that one of the bands performing in the parade this year is the Banda Musicale Puccini Cave from Cave, Italy. Founded in 1972, the Italian marching band has performed all over the world and has played for four Catholic Popes, including most recently for Pope Leo XIV.

During the recent council meeting, Jenkins also informed the mayor and council that the festival will be seeing more live entertainment this year with “roughly 15” stage bands performing. The festival will be adding Tuesday night, May 12, to the week’s live entertainment at the Jawbone Park. Jenkins also thanked the council for their part in planning a “large scale entertainment act” at the Main Street stage on Friday night, May 15. Jenkins added that while he could not say more on the “large scale entertainment act” at the moment, the announcement would be “coming out soon.”

On April 3, the West Virginia Strawberry Festival announced that country music band Parmalee will be the festival headliner this year. Parmalee, who had Billboard’s most-played country song of 2022, will be performing on on the Main Street stage on Saturday, May 16.

For more information about the 84th West Virginia Strawberry Festival, visit wvstrawberryfestival.com.