TROY — There are a lot of events happening this weekend and it could be even hotter this weekend.
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We made it to 91 degrees across the area on Friday.
One of the busiest events this weekend is the Troy Strawberry Festival.
Organizers are expecting many people and want to keep everyone safe.
News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis said there will be extra firefighters on hand this weekend.
Organizers say they are ready for Saturday’s crowds as the 2023 Troy Strawberry Festival kicks off Saturday at the Square in Troy.
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Lewis says the crowds are gearing up for this weekend.
“We’re just really excited,” said Jamie Blevins. “We got our strawberry donuts this morning, so we’re excited to get some food and walk around and see things.”
There is plenty to take in this weekend in Troy, ranging from the food to the strawberry mascots.
“Friday night is always the kick-off for the Strawberry Festival,” said Shelly Smith. “So, it’s always a good time to come down, check out the food, the vendors and just have a good time.”
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Lewis says the sun will be intense this weekend as people pack into Downtown Troy and this is the kind of weather Shelly says she likes.
“I prefer the warm weather,” she said. “Typically, it is very warm. It’s either warm or it rains but for the most part, it’s usually pretty warm.”
Troy firefighters say it is a good idea to be prepared this weekend.
“Make sure you bring hydration, sunscreen,” said Chris Hoyng, Troy Fire Department paramedic. “There’s not much shade here.”
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Lewis says there will be plenty of Troy Firefighters on scene.
“We’re up staffing, we’re going to have seven to eight people here throughout the weekend,” said Hoyng. “We’re going to have four people on a bike team and we’re just going to be patrolling and making sure everybody’s safe.”
That is one of the goals as people from all over the area come out to have a good time.
“The best part of the Strawberry Festival is the community,” said Tammy Walkup, 2023 Troy Strawberry Festival Chairperson. “You just kind of feel a part of the community when you’re walking around here and I like to think that we’re welcoming to people that are from out of town and we love sharing what Troy has to offer.”
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The Troy Fire Department says local hospitals will also have tents out this weekend.
The hours of this year’s Troy Strawberry Festival are 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
For more, visit this website.