The Whitchurch-Stouffville Strawberry Festival is preparing for its 42nd annual community celebration in Stouffville, Ontario, with event dates set for June 26 to 28, 2026. While the festival remains a hallmark local event, applications for volunteer roles are currently open as of April 27, 2026.
The festival has been a volunteer-driven tradition for over four decades. Following a period of uncertainty in 2024 when key leadership positions were left vacant, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville entered an expanded partnership with the festival’s board of directors in 2025. This arrangement allows the municipality to manage operational tasks such as vendor coordination and entertainment, while the volunteer board continues to oversee legacy events like the pancake breakfast and the red berry café.
The current board, led by Chair Sue Sherban and Vice Chair Elizabeth Fraser, oversees a diverse range of volunteer opportunities for residents aged 15 and older. These roles vary from low-impact positions like information ambassadors to high-impact tasks such as logistics, setup, and cleanup. For students participating in the event, the festival provides an opportunity to earn community involvement hours, provided that forms are signed by the volunteer committee chair at the end of each shift.
Those who have already been accepted as volunteers for the upcoming season are reminded that mandatory training meetings will be held closer to the event date. Additionally, pre-festival setup work, including the installation of signage, is scheduled to begin on June 6, 2026, at 10 a.m. and will require volunteers to have access to their own transportation.
