30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Long Grove's Annual Strawberry Fest sees romance with strawberry-infused cups of comfort
It was indeed the summer of love at Long Grove's signature Strawberry Fest this year.
Over the three consecutive-day weekend starting on Friday, June 27, people celebrated birthdays or got engaged in Long Grove. One couple made tentative plans for their wedding to be held outside at next year's Strawberry Fest.
Dressed in strawberry-themed clothing on June 28 and dancing in front of the main stage on Robert Parker Coffin Road in the same spot where they met at Strawberry Fest 2023 were Kimberly Kushlakus of Round Lake Beach and Jay Goeppner of Hoffman Estates and Chicago.
Goeppner said it is, 'Strawberry Fields forever, and it's called being in love and finding that right person in life and making sure that you honor the places and people that were there for you.
'It was an amazing night,' Goeppner recalled of meeting Kushlakus.
'You never know, some very mystical and magical things can happen,' Goeppner added.
It was 'absolutely' love at first sight, confirmed Kushlakus, who first saw Goeppner using an ATM machine near the stage midway. 'I fell in love.
'I loved him before he even saw me,' Kushlakus said with a smile.
'My friend and I, we came here to this spot and we were watching the band and the next thing I know, he (Goeppner) was right beside me,' Kushlakus recalled. 'And we danced all night. We want to get married right here in this spot,' Kushlakus said while standing in front of the main stage.
After meeting the two lovebirds in person who had revealed their hope for a 2026 outdoors wedding at Strawberry Fest,
'We're going to figure out how to make that work,' said Ryan Messner of Barrington, Long Grove insurance business owner and president of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association.
On Saturday afternoon, one other couple got engaged at Strawberry Fest, Messner confirmed.
'It's always that small city charm that people want to come to, and they find romance here as well,' Messner said. 'It's exciting because even like in the winter, when we did our carriage rides, we had three couples get engaged.
'And they all want to do it at the (covered wooden) bridge (Historic Robert Parker Coffin Road Bridge),' Messner said. 'We're part of it, we want to be part of the community, if there are things like this (weddings) that we can create, we're going to do it.'
The iconic covered bridge continues to take recorded hits by oversized vehicles since its reopening in August 2020.
Clear height restriction signs are posted on the bridge (at 8'6'). A newer metal frame has protected the bridge's driveability, and the green wooden part gets replaced.
The covered bridge would experience no accidental hits over Strawberry Fest, among Long Grove's roster of main fundraiser festivals, since the main stage is situated in front of the bridge, and the event closed off Robert Parker Coffin Road.
Strawberry Fest is held on the fourth weekend of June and features strawberry-infused cuisine such as strawberry donuts, strawberry sangria and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Enjoying a fresh strawberry treat with her grandparents from Long Grove, Michele and Joel Polakoff, was Mia Lasko, 6, a rising first-grader of Buffalo Grove. Mia wore pink and had a pink balloon.
'We come to all the fests because they're wonderful, every one,' Michele Polakoff said.
In the spring of 2024, scenes were filmed in Long Grove for the Great American Family channel production called 'Once Upon a Christmas Wish,' released late last year. The movie features Mario Lopez of 'Access Hollywood' and 'Saved by the Bell' fame, along with spouse Courtney with their son Dominic.
Joel and Michele Polakoff were extras in that holiday film.
'Long Grove was a perfect town for that kind of a movie,' Michele Polakoff said. 'Long Grove is romantic.'
Also pretty in pink at Strawberry Fest with her pink balloon was Alice Voigt, 18 months, of Inverness.
'This is our first time here, it's great, the music,' said Alice's mother Laura Voigt, who had plans to try some Strawberry Fest barbecue plus chocolate dipped strawberries.
Going for a spin on a carnival ride were the Dean siblings of Long Grove, Miranda Dean, 14, a rising high school freshman and Alexander Dean, 11, a rising sixth-grader.
'It's adorable,' said their parent, Suzi Dean, about their family hometown of Long Grove.
According to all festival proceeds help to fund improvement projects including street lighting, Covered Bridge Park maintenance, road signage, banners and free activities such as yoga and music in the park, plus winter holiday attractions.
Messner estimated that at least 35,000 people attended the paid-entry Strawberry Fest 2025 with the sunny, warm weekend weather.
'We appreciate everyone coming out,' Messner said. 'We love to provide a great experience.'
