Festival showcases strawberries and art

Admission to the Gate House Museum and the South Carroll Fine Arts League sponsored event is free.

Local and regional artists will show and sell their work, including photographs and acrylic, oil, pastel and watercolor paintings, said Gale Ratley, South Carroll Fine Arts League chairwoman.

The league, an organization of artists in the Sykesville-Eldersburg area, plans to find a permanent gallery to showcase its members’ work, Ratley said. The League has used space at ‘‘A Likely Story” bookstore and Simplicity tearoom in Sykesville to display artwork, Ratley said.

Artists and visitors alike can also take inspiration from Italian street paintings by creating chalk and pastel drawings along the sidewalk.

‘‘We’re looking for all kinds of artists to participate and we’re marking off spaces,” Ratley said.

The Tree of Life Theatre Troupe in Sykesville will entertain audiences with a performance of ‘‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”

At the Gate House Museum, situated across the park, visitors can view exhibits on the 10th anniversary of the museum and an interactive display called ‘‘Guess What?” that challenges visitors to guess how certain historical items were used.

Errol Smith, museum curator, described the Strawberry Festival – now in its 25th year – as a ‘‘town tradition” that used to be held on Main Street.

Smith said he plans to help run the cash register at the concession stand of strawberries, shortcake, ice cream sundaes and hot dogs. Proceeds from the Strawberry Festival will benefit the Gate House Museum.