MARTINS FERRY — Fourth and Walnut streets in Martins Ferry will soon be overtaken by strawberries on Saturday.

Project Forward’s annual Strawberry Festival will take place from noon until 9 p.m.

The fifth annual festival aims to offer strawberry-flavored treats and family-friendly activities to kick off the summer.

On Friday, Project Forward members prepared strawberry cups, strawberry baskets, strawberry pies, strawberry shortcake, strawberry sundaes, strawberry ice cream nachos and chocolate-covered strawberries at St. Mary’s Catholic Church kitchen.

Project Forward Vice President Katie Kendall said the event will feature live music throughout the day from Jamie Kropka and his banjo, The Chris Casalinuovo Band and Tongue N’ Cheek. Inflatables, face painting, 60 craft vendors and a beer tent with the festival’s “famous” strawberry wine slushies and strawberry beer will also be available.

She added the festival will also include 12 food trucks.

The event will feature a car show hosted by the Martins Ferry Civics. Entry costs $5, with proceeds benefiting Martins Ferry youth sports. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.

At 2:30 p.m., the fun will continue with a dog show. Call or text Peg Ricadonna at 740-381-7650 to enter.

Kendall said the festival was revived in 2018 after previously being discontinued.

“We brought it back because we wanted to find a way to revitalize Martins Ferry and to let people know that Martins Ferry is still great to open your business or to raise your family in,” Kendall said. “So we started with the Winter Festival and Strawberry Festival to raise funds. We’re hoping that within the next year or two to have some big projects lined up and doing some small business incubators and revitalizing the downtown to help attract more new businesses to the Martins Ferry district.”

Project Forward is a revitalization group in Martins Ferry working to encourage downtown improvements and attract new businesses.

Martins Ferry Safety Director and Project Forward committee member Melissa Yeso added that the group is responsible for installing the city’s new historic downtown banners and has recently partnered with the JB Green Team to improve streetscapes.

“We would like to thank all of the community partners, like the city of Martins Ferry and the Lions Club, who really come together to help prep the downtown,” Kendall said. “Even local people have come out to weed-eat, clean and just really show support to get the city ready for this festival.”

Sponsors for the festival include State Farm, Unified Bank, The Times Leader, Hot Rod Tattooing, Kendall Behavioral Solutions, Wilson Funeral Home-Heslop Chapel, Belmont County Tourism, Belmont Savings Bank, Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, Deluxe Toy and Hobby, Stecker Law Group and Linda Brown.

She added that Saturday’s festival is expected to draw nearly 4,000 people to the city.

“A lot of people from out of town travel here from Pittsburgh and all over for the festival,” Kendall said.