THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995                 TAG: 9505240137
SECTION: FLAVOR                   PAGE: F1   EDITION: FINAL 
COLUMN: MORSELS
SOURCE: RUTH FANTASIA
                                             LENGTH: Short :   40 lines

PUNGO FEST IS NOT JUST BERRIES LOOK FOR SAUSAGES, FUNNEL CAKES, A LLAMA EXHIBIT BUT NO BEER AT ANNUAL EVENT

MY HUSBAND IS beginning to resemble those statues of Buddha you see in Chinese restaurants. I partially blame the Pungo Strawberry Festival for his transformation from slim to substantial.

The festival, this year from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, is filled with food. There are the sausages, Italian and Polish; the barbecue; and the ribs. And those sugar-coated funnel cakes, strawberry pies, ice cream and sno cones. But no beer.

The annual fest, selected as one of the top 20 festivals or special events in the southeastern United States, is for families. Alcoholic beverages aren't sold or allowed. Another good reason to attend.

Activities will include old favorites like the parade (11 a.m. Saturday), arts and crafts, pig races, carnival rides and a pie-eating contest. New this year is a llama exhibit, an Elizabethan exhibit and an old-fashioned steam engine display.

Then there's my favorite, the final judging of the strawberry cook-off, at noon on Sunday. This year, as a contest judge, I get to eat the entries.

If I'm not careful, my husband won't be the only one looking rather ``statuesque.'' MEMO: The Pungo Strawberry Festival is near the corner of Princess Anne and

Indian River roads in Virginia Beach. For parking and festival

information, call 721-6001. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

The Pungo Strawberry Festival is this weekend from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

by CNB