A sweet, red, juicy portion of a documented 328 quarts of locally grown strawberries awaits a ladle of hand-whipped cream that topped desserts for an estimated 1,000 visitors to the 2026 Hollis Strawberry Festival, an event of June 28 presented at Monument Square in Hollis by the Hollis Town Band and the Congregational Church of Hollis with extensive support from volunteers and local businesses. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

HOLLIS – A legacy born in 1946 matured into an 80th annual celebration of the Hollis Strawberry Festival, an event presented June 28 at Monument Square, courtesy of the Hollis Town Band (HTB) and the Congregational Church of Hollis (CCH).

The success of the Hollis Strawberry Festival was made possible through the efforts of the Friends of the Hollis Strawberry Festival, a dedicated team of volunteers representing the CCH, the HTB, the Hollis Woman’s Club, the Rotary Club of Hollis-Brookline, members of Hollis Brookline Rebels Cheerleading, the Hollis-Brookline Robotics Team 1073 and others from Hollis Boy Scout Troop 12.

Their work was supported by the generosity of numerous sponsors, including Platinum-level donor Brewer Landscaping, whose staffers mowed a nearby field to provide additional parking areas. Hayward’s Ice Cream of Milford, Brookdale Fruit Farm, Lull Farm and Millyard Bank were backers, along with many other local businesses.

A wider Hollis community and neighbors from surrounding areas joined visitors drawn that day to the square, a landmark that is the town common, to buy the berries whose purchases go to supplement local scholarships and community programs.

Event Co-chairs Carol Birch and Kimber Harmon, both residents of Hollis, credited a valiant corps of volunteers for a pre-event Hulling Party where chit chat and berry-stained vinyl gloves aided in the plucking of caps and stems from berries by the hundreds.

Isabelle Wildberger-Murdock, a resident of Hollis and the 15-year-old owner of a business, "Quill by Isabelle — Book Inspired Creations," whose launch was mentored by an entrepreneur class at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), displays some of her handmade creations, products that are literature focused and paired with book counterparts, such as a gift package from her catalog (iCloudPhoto Sharingcloud.com) featuring a Wizard of Oz Cowardly Lion with a rare MinaLima edition hardcover of the book nestled within a wooden basket decorated with a red bow. (Info: quillbyIsabelle@icloud.com) Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Elsewhere, the pre-event Baking Team browned 45 pans of strawberry shortcake.

“This year, we used 328 quarts of strawberries from local farms,” said Birch.

“Those 45 pans of strawberry shortcake and 48 quarts of hand-whipped cream topped 15 tubs — 45 gallons — of vanilla ice cream from Hayward’s of Milford that made at least 1,000 dessert orders.”

Visitors nibbled their sweet treats seated at a dozen round banquet tables lining the grassy common.

The spectators had a full view of a mid-afternoon Hollis Town Band concert of patriotic tunes, marches and classics.

The Sullivan Family of Hollis pauses during the recent Hollis Strawberry Festival to finish their strawberry shortcake with hand-whipped cream beneath some shade trees alongside Monument Square. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

The band has been conducted since 1985 by David Bailey, director. His credits include a post as former music director for seven years of the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra and the leader of the Nashua Flute Choir for five years.

Bailey notes on the band’s website (hollistownband.info) that new players with instruments of their own are welcome. The ability to play sixteenth-notes and read music proves proficiency.

Other attractions for visitors included crafters and scouts and youth from a local robotics team.

Members of Girl Scouts Troop 59156 sold handmade bracelets to raise money to help build a playground and new library play area at Marguerite’s Place, a Nashua nonprofit supporting families experiencing homelessness.

The Hollis-Brookline Robotics Team, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 1073 “The Force Team” and their remotely controlled robot, “Crashout,” were featured exhibitors at the Hollis Strawberry Festival and were cheered for their mechanical applications of science, technology, engineering and math.

Hollis Strawberry Festival servers, from left, Julie Kasper, Randall Clark, Rev. Tanya Stormo Rasmussen, pastor of Congregational Church of Hollis, and Carol Birch, co-chair, along with Kimber Harmon, co-chair, Anita Walker and Dot Hyde display some sweet concoctions. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Elsewhere, Isabelle Wildberger-Murdock, a resident of Hollis and the 15-year-old owner of her business, “Quill by Isabelle — Book Inspired Creations,” whose launch was mentored by an entrepreneur class at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), displayed some of her creations, literature focused and paired with beloved books, such as a gift package from her catalog (iCloudPhoto Sharingcloud.com) featuring a Wizard of Oz Cowardly Lion with a rare MinaLima edition hardcover of the book nestled within a wooden basket decorated with a red bow. (Info: quillbyisabelle@icloud.com).

The menu at the ticket table, manned by volunteers, ensured that nobody left hungry.

Offerings on the price list included a Strawberry Combo of shortcake, berries, ice cream and homemade whipped cream for a sawbuck. Other generously-portioned dessert options included Traditional Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Sundae, a bowl of berries and whipped cream or plain vanilla ice cream in a bowl or on a cone.

David Bailey capped the mood of the day by marveling that the Hollis Town Band has been active there since 1943. The Hollis Strawberry Festival began in 1946.

“We have had a deep appreciation for everyone who has shown their support for so many years.”

Gathered at the Hollis Strawberry Festival beverage table to welcome visitors are some of the event volunteers, foreground left, Andrea Seddon and Faeryn Seddon, members of the Congregational Church of Hollis, seen here with associates, background left, Carol Birch, festival co-chair, and Susan Krupp of the Hollis Woman's Club. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Bailey invites inquiries about the Hollis Strawberry Festival of 2026, band participation or upcoming events by contacting the website at hollistownband.info, or via email to htbdirector@gmail.com.

The Hollis-Brookline Robotics Team, FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Team 1073 — "The Force Team" — and their remotely controlled robot, "Crashout," were featured as exhibitors at the Hollis Strawberry Festival where they displayed applications of science, technology, engineering and math. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Members of Girl Scout Troop 59156 gathered at the Hollis Strawberry Festival to sell handmade bracelets whose proceeds are earmarked for building a library play area and playground improvements at Marguerite's Place, a Nashua nonprofit supporting families experiencing homelessness. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Hollis Town Band Director David Bailey thanks the audience for their applause upon completion of a concert of pop tunes, marches and patriotic melodies during the recent Hollis Strawberry Festival. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON