GROVE CITY — With the terrible winter of 2013-14 over and done with, the 24th annual Grove City Strawberry Days is ready to welcome summer with open arms.

“People are really antsy to get out and go somewhere,” said Mary Kay Mattocks, festival chairman.

The event kicks off Thursday night with a pig roast and will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Grove City Memorial Park.

Mattocks said the festival generally brings in about 8,000 to 10,000 people, but she said there is no way to officially count. She said the event is very weather-dependent, and great weather boosts attendance.

“If we have that, I’m sure we’ll get more than (8,000 to 10,000),” Mattocks said.

She said part of the reason for the event’s enduring popularity is free admission and free activities.

Although strawberries are the namesake of the festival, Mattocks said the rough winter has made it difficult to get local berries. She is hoping to be able to find a good supply of local fruit.

“Strawberries are at a premium right now,” Mattocks said.

This year’s event brings no new major features.

“If it’s not broken, we don’t fix it,” Mattocks said.

However, she said organizers try to add new things to the “strawberry patch” children’s area. New this year will be face painting.

Additionally, the Toonbrian caricature sketches, Christine’s Sand Art and Finders Keepers Mining will take place each day at the strawberry patch.

Dora the Explorer will appear from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Horse-drawn wagon rides will take place every day.

The event will feature 19 food vendors, which is more than last year. Vendors are made up of local nonprofit groups, with no commercial food vendors allowed.

Additionally, there will be more than 100 crafters and other vendors.

Musical acts will play on Friday, from 2 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday, from noon to 9 p.m. A talent show will take place on the stage Sunday, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

With next year’s festival being the 25th annual, Mattocks said organizers are hoping to do something new or special in 2015, but nothing has been discussed yet.

“We are thinking about something to do for next year,” Mattocks said.

Parking is available at the high school parking lots. There will be no parking at the park.