I know it’s only beginning to look like summer, but enough is enough – it’s time to make it happen. And there’s no better way to start than to take in the Strawberry Festival this weekend at Bellevue’s Crossroads Park.

It’s great fun for the entire family and packed with plenty of food and entertainment. Best of all, the event itself is free.

Bellevue has had a Strawberry Festival longer than it has been a city. Far longer. The event began in 1925 when strawberries, and other types of truck farming, were a major industry around here. Now, thanks to the sponsorship by the Eastside Heritage Center, it helps remind us of our roots – literally.

There will be strawberries, of course, piled high on shortcake. There also will be around 90 food and vendor booths, a classic auto show (on Sunday), a number of heritage activities and exhibits and a family fun area with lots of activities where kids can work off their energy from eating all that strawberry shortcake.

Speaking of the fun stuff, there will be carnival games, giant inflatable attractions, face painting, a big purple slide, rock climbing and mini-golf.

If you live nearby, you can walk to the park just east of Crossroads on Northeast Eighth Street. For those who live a bit away, take advantage of free parking and shuttle service at the Kelsey Creek Center at Main Street and 148th Avenue Southeast.

There’s also a couple a nice historical touches at the festival.

The Eastside Heritage Center will have a mini-museum where you can see such historical exhibits as a corn-grinding machine, old-fashioned logging equipment, a traditional canning machine, and eye-catching photos of Bellevue’s past.

The Center also will provide a traditional canning machine that will let you create a time capsule by sealing your “artifacts” for posterity. Bring things from home or find them at the festival.

The weather forecast says it’s going to be 67 and sunny on Saturday. That’s close enough for summer.

See you at the Strawberry Festival.