Festival fun for a great cause

Strawberry shortcake will be on the menu at the Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival. [File photo by Meagan Gumpert]

The 11th annual Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival on March1 will raise funds for Habitat for Humanity of Marion County to build a “Strawberry House” for a qualified family in need of affordable housing.

The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McPherson Governmental Complex at 602 SE 25th Ave., Ocala. A highlight of the event will be a car show featuring a wide variety of cars, motorcycles, off-road vehicles and more. Recent years have seen as many as 100 vehicles on display at the event.

Bob Wannall plans to display his 1964 and 1982 Buick Rivieras. The 1964 has been in his family since his father purchased it new.

“I only got to drive it to the prom back then,” Wannall said with a laugh.

The Marlin Blue color 1964 Riviera is original except for the seat covers and has 141,000 miles on the odometer. Power is provided by a 340 hp, 425 cubic inch V-8 engine.

The 1982 white Riviera convertible with a 307 cubic inch V-8 engine was purchased about six years ago from someone on Marco Island and “needed some love,” Wannall said.

Wannall Is a member of the Riviera Owners Association, which notes on its website that only 1,248 of the 1982 convertibles were manufactured.

“The ‘82 Riviera has four-wheel disc brakes (while) the ‘64 has drum type brakes,” Wannall said.

Wannall is pleased to support the Habitat Ocala Strawberry Festival because “it brings the community together to help a family in need attain an affordable home.”

Joe and Diane Schandl of New Smyrna Beach will display Joe’s blue 1959 MG speedster sports car.

“The MG was my first car back in 1971. I used it for school. My dad got me this car and it has been a lot of fun to work on and drive,” he wrote in part in a text. “We are always looking forward to doing car shows that give back to a great cause.”

Joanne Black, development director with Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, stated in an email that the goal is to raise $60,000. She called the festival “a mission-driven event dedicated to raising funds to build a decent, affordable home for a low-income family in need.”

“This event has successfully raised funds to construct a home lovingly named the ‘Strawberry House,’ a symbol of the community’s generosity and commitment to making homeownership a reality for low-income families. However, with the rising costs of construction materials and labor, funds raised now cover only half the cost of a home,” Black stated.

“Thanks to the support of local businesses and community partners, additional resources are being provided to cover the remaining costs, ensuring that another deserving family will have a place to call home,” Black wrote, adding that more donations are needed and welcomed.

The Habitat for Humanity website describes what visitors can expect at the event: “The festival starts with over 235 unique and exciting vendors, a kid’s zone with a petting zoo, strawberry food items that melt in your mouth, a bigger-than-ever car show with cool cars, trucks, and motorcycles, a pie-eating contest, a BMX show, and a variety of live entertainment throughout the day.”

The event also will offer strawberries from Plant City for sale.

A number of area nonprofits will have booths and the event will be supported by 700 volunteers, including those from the Marion Therapeutic Riding Association, who will assist with parking. The $5 cost of parking will go to benefit MTRA and Humanity for Humanity of Marion County programs.

For all the details, go to habitatocala.org/strawberry