To keep hungry festivalgoers satisfied for longer into Saturday afternoon, the Chassell Lions Club is making more.

An extra 160 quarts will be prepared for this year’s batch, bring the total to about 1,400, said Dan Crane of the Chassell Lions Club.

“We’re making a little bit more shortcake, buying more Cool Whip, and we’ll be cutting up more berries,” said Crane, also owner of the Crane Berry Farm.

He and other strawberry growers in the area are up to the task. Helped by cooler temperatures and rain, this year’s crop is faring well.

Lions Club volunteers apply dollops of Cool Whip to strawberry shortcakes at 2019’s Copper Country Strawberry Festival. The Lions Club is preparing 160 more quarts than usual this year to better meet demand. (Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette)

This year saw 2 inches of rainfall in June, after having none a year ago. And despite some fluke events like a hailstorm, there was nothing on par with the frost that wiped out three-fourths of last year’s crop, Crane said.

“The timing is going to be very good for the festival,” he said. “The early varieties are winding down, but the mid season varieties are just coming. I talked to some of the other farmers, and production has been good.”

The farm couldn’t get one of the varieties it usually plants. So Crane added Galetta. Though not as high volume as other varieties, it produces a “sweet, nice, good-tasting” berry, he said.

Crane picked his first quart this year on June 25, nine days later than last year.

“For the timing for the festival, it’s about where it should be,” he said. “I prefer to have them come in closer to July than the middle of June. Mother Nature controls that, and we’re just along for the ride.”

A berry-themed Volkswagon Beetle rolls through Chassell during 2019’s Strawberry Festival parade. This year’s festival returns Friday and Saturday. (Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette)

Along with preparing more berries, the Lions Club will also be making its own shortcake this year. Michigan Technological University, which usually prepares the shortcake, has its kitchen under construction.

The Lions will be making the shortcakes this week with help from Shelby Turnquist and Houghton-Portage Township Schools.

MTU ordered the same mix as usual, and rented out racks and trays, Crane said.

“That’s a little bit of an added load on the Lions Club, but we appreciate Houghton Schools stepping up and helping us make the cakes this year,” he said.

Before any shortcakes can be served up, the strawberries have to be ready. The Lions Club is looking for volunteers to help with the strawberry cleaning, which will take place at the Centennial Park pavilion from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The festival returned last year after COVID forced the cancellation of most events in 2020. Last year’s revival was without two long-running features that will return this year. After the parade Saturday morning, the Chassell Township Fire Department and First Responders will again be serving up their chicken barbecue. Children’s games will also be held in the park.

With good weather forecast for the weekend, crowds should be out in force. Saturday’s parade begins at 11 a.m.

Numerous community organizations will take part, including the Strawberry Queen candidates, one of whom will be crowned after a pageant starting at 7 p.m. Friday.

More events will take place in Chassell throughout the festival, including arts and crafts vendors at the park, and an open house at the Chassell Historical Center with science lessons Saturday aboard the Agassiz.

“It’s just a good opportunity to get out, gather together and do a lot of family-friendly activities and just enjoy the beautiful weather up here — and of course have shortcake,” Crane said.

A full schedule of festival events is available at chassellhistory.org/about1.