4/16 Strawberries & Cream Festival

STRAWBERRIES & CREAM FESTIVAL

Sunday, April 16, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Bring your friends and family out to celebrate the history of the Crosby Arboretum’s former use as a Depression-era strawberry farm. Enjoy live music and giveaways, fresh strawberries and ice cream, and Picayune Frog Lemonade, participate in the children’s cupcake decorating contest (see website for rules), and more! Event will be held on the Pinecote Pavilion. Free Admission.

The Crosby Arboretum Children’s Cupcake Decorating Contest, 2023!

*The challenge: children are to decorate a cupcake celebrating Native Mississippi Flowers. Be able to name the plant you have chosen and tell the judges a little bit about it when presenting your decorated cupcake to the judges.

*Participants are to check-in with the Cupcake Staff on arrival.

*Participants are to bring their own cupcake to decorate. Cupcakes can be any size, shape, or flavor.

*Participants are to bring whatever items they want to use for decorating their cupcake (icing, sprinkles, pipe cleaners, etc). Flowers or plants may not be used. Sharp, dangerous, or toxic items cannot be used.

*All cupcakes must be decorated during the Strawberry Festival in the supervised cupcake decorating area. Decorating begins at 1 PM and ends at 2:30 PM. Each participant must work be themselves with no help for anyone else. Verbal help and/or artistic assistance from others is strictly prohibited.

*The Arboretum will have pictures of native MS flowers for use by participants as needed. Participants may choose their native flower prior to the event. Go to the Arboretum website - crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu - scroll down, click on the orange box labeled Wildflower Center, and view native flowers.

*The cupcakes themselves will not be judged. Only the artwork and knowledge of the native flower it is based on will be judged.

*Once the competition is over, each participant can take their cupcake home….or, eat them!

Age groups:

7 years and younger

8 to 12 years of age

12 to 15 years of age

Categories for each age group:

*Best use of theme (Native MS flowers) – creativity and difficulty will be taken into account

*Knowledge and presentation of the flower chosen

*Anything Goes

All cupcakes must be completed by 2:30 PM (or earlier). Awards are at 2:45 PM.

Winners will be presented with prizes and an award.

Decision of the judges will be final.