Here come the festivals: strawberries, soul food, local dishes and Virginia pork

Strawberry fields

Strawberry shortcake anyone?

The Ashland Strawberry Faire will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the streets adjacent to Randolph-Macon College. Besides strawberries, the free community event will feature music, arts and crafts, and antiques, as well as the crowning of Little Miss and Little Mr. Strawberry.

Find out more: http://www.ashlandstrawberry faire.com Hanker for soul?

The Stone Soul Music and Food Festival will be held Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. on Brown's Island. The event will feature 20 R&B and gospel acts and food from a dozen of Richmond's best soul food restaurants (full menus and $1 tastings). Admission: $20. A portion of the proceeds benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Details: (804) 501-0765 or (804) 672-9299, or http://rope.wpzz-fm.fimc.net/StoneSoul/HOME.html Broad Appétit

Broad Appétit, billed as the smorgasbord in the street, will be held Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. along the 100-300 blocks of West Broad Street. More than 50 restaurants will be offering $3 samples of their signature dishes.

The event also will feature fresh produce, breads and confections from local organic farms and specialty food providers, as well as wines from Virginia wineries. The "Whodunit?" art exhibition will be on display at Ghostprint Gallery, 220 W. Broad St. Admission is free. Details: http://www.broadappetit.com or call (434) 634-6611. Celebrating pork

Next Wednesday, the Virginia Pork Festival will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Greensville Ruritan Club Grounds in Emporia. The menu includes barbecue, country-fried ham and red-eye gravy, sausage biscuits, spareribs, pig's feet, pork burgers . . . well, you get the idea. Tickets: $32. Details: http://www.vaporkfestival.com Coming Friday: free doughnuts

The Krispy Kreme Doughnut store at 4910 W. Broad St. will celebrate National Doughnut Day on Friday, by offering every customer one free doughnut in any variety. No purchase is necessary.

For details, visit http://www.krispykreme.com -- Bill Lohmann