GET A FIRST TASTE of this year’s harvest at one of the many strawberry festivals taking place around Maine this weekend:

CAPE ELIZABETH

WHAT: Third Annual Cape Farm Alliance Strawberry Festival

WHEN: Kicks off 6 to 9 p.m. Friday with a lobster bake and pig roast (plus strawberry sweets, of course) at Shady Oak Farm. On Saturday, the festival moves to Maxwell’s strawberry fields from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Shady Oak Farm, 30 Fowler Road, and Maxwell’s fields, Two Lights Road

HOW MUCH: Admission to the Saturday event is free. The lobster bake and pig roast costs $25. Tickets are available at the Jordan Farm Market and Alewives Farm Stand.

WHAT ELSE: There will be live bluegrass music and a silent auction at the lobster bake and pig roast. On Saturday, there will be live local music, a craft market, tractor rides for children and strawberry treats: strawberry shortcake, homemade strawberry marshmallows from The Well; strawberry smoothies from MOJOs; Flatbread Pizza with a strawberry savory flatbread; strawberry ice cream and strawberry rhubarb sorbet from Kettle Cove Ice Cream; and strawberry cookies, strawberry tarts and salad from The Good Table.

INFO: capefarmalliance.org

NEW GLOUCESTER

WHAT: Annual New Gloucester Strawberry Festival

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Congregational Church Vestry, 19 Gloucester Hill Road (just off Route 231)

HOW MUCH: Admission is free, but you’ll pay $5 for the “Super,” a homemade biscuit with strawberries and Hodgman’s Frozen Custard. Traditional shortcake costs $4.50. Strawberries only are $3.50.

WHAT ELSE: The Berry, Berry Good Band will play, and there will be a bake sale as well as a “history table” selling memorabilia.

INFO: 926-3188

SOUTH BERWICK

WHAT: 36th Annual Strawberry Festival

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Central School grounds, 197 Main St.

HOW MUCH: Admission is free. Strawberry cheesecake and strawberry shortcake cost $5.

WHAT ELSE: Trolleys provide free transportation to the festival from the Marshwood Great Works School on Route 236, the Community Center on Norton St., Powder House Hill and Agamenticus Field. The day begins with a road race and pancake breakfast, and there is also a large food court where non-profits will sell hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken barbecue, sandwich wraps, fried dough, frozen lemonade, etc. There will be live entertainment; a climbing wall, pony rides and other activities for kids; and a craft show featuring more than 100 artisans.

INFO: southberwickstrawberryfestival.com

WISCASSET

WHAT: St. Philip’s 59th Annual Strawberry Festival

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 12 Hodge St.

HOW MUCH: Free admission.

WHAT ELSE: Strawberries, strawberry shortcake and chocolate-dipped strawberries will be for sale. There will also be fiddle music, a pie auction, a bargain basement thrift store, a plant table, a hot dog stand, crafters, and a bake sale featuring homemade strawberry jam.

INFO: 882-7184

POLAND

WHAT: Poland Community Church Strawberry Festival

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Grounds of the Poland Spring Resort, 543 Maine St., Poland Spring

HOW MUCH: Purchase a red wristband for $8 for all you can eat, or purchase strawberry treats individually.

WHAT ELSE: All strawberries are picked locally at Chipman Farm. There will be live music.

INFO: 998-5710

RAYMOND

WHAT: Strawberry Festival

WHERE: Nathaniel Hawthorne House, 40 Hawthorne Road (at the corner of Hawthorne Road and Cape Road)

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Saturday for historical talk; 7 to 9 p.m. for strawberry shortcake and social

HOW MUCH: The lecture is free. The strawberry shortcake afterward costs $5, or $3 for children.

WHAT ELSE: Dr. Steven Rogers, former senior historian at the Department of Justice’s war crimes and human rights office in Washington, D.C., will speak about Hawthorne’s visits to Maine and his years at Bowdoin College.

INFO: To reserve a spot, call 655-7660 or email jmanoush@fairpoint.net

BRUNSWICK

WHAT: Strawberry Festival

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Mall/gazebo area on Main St.

HOW MUCH: Free admission

WHAT ELSE: This is a benefit for the First Parish United Church of Christ music program. Strawberry shortcake will be for sale (small $4, regular $5, super $6), along with strawberry sundaes, homemade strawberry jam and homemade strawberry-rhubarb pies.

INFO: 729-7331