QUINCY, ILL. -- A local church spent it's Friday making some tasty preparations for a century-old Quincy tradition this weekend.
Dozens of volunteers spent the afternoon stemming and cutting up 500 pounds of strawberries in preparation for the Melrose Chapel's annual Strawberry festival.
The festival kicks off Saturday afternoon.
These delicious treats will top desserts ranging from strawberry sundaes to homemade strawberry shortcakes.
It's all part of a tradition that began 136 years ago.
Event co-chairman Lowell Glas said, "It started 136 years ago when the church had a Strawberry Festival for the people of the church. Then they started bringing their own friends and it grew to what it is today. We go through 500 pounds of strawberries and I would hate to know how much ice cream."
All proceeds for the event go towards paying for local and foreign church missions.
The Festival kicks off at three Saturday afternoon and runs through 7p.m. or until the sweet treats are all gone.
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