The first weekend in June is a magical time here. Beginning modestly in 1977, the Troy Strawberry Festival now attracts more than 100,000 people for food and fun. The dream of one man grew into one of the largest festivals in the Midwest and has been named the best summer festival in the state by Ohio Magazine. With cherished events like the strawberry pie eating contest and Strawberry Queen pageant, the festival has long signaled the start of summer. And nothing says summer like the sweet smell of the immensely popular strawberry donuts. Lifelong Troy resident and former journalist David Fong presents the story of the sights, sounds and tastes everyone looks forward to all year.
David Fong is a lifelong Troy, Ohio resident who has attended dozens of Troy Strawberry Festivals over the years. He is a 1992 graduate of Troy High School and a 1996 graduate of The Ohio State University, where he majored in journalism. After twenty-two years working at the Troy Daily News, he began working for the Troy City Schools in 2019 as director of communications. He lives in Troy with his wife, Michelle; daughter, Sophie; son, Max; and feisty dog, Millie Jo.