Thursday, May 1 is Strawberry Day at the State Farmer's Market in Raleigh. Join the fun and celebrate the arrival of the first locally-grown strawberries of the season. (They are so much better than the strawberries shipped from California , I promise!)

Strawberry Day festivities include free strawberry samples, a chance to meet Suzy the Strawberry (the NC Strawberry Association mascot), and a strawberry dessert contest, where you can put your best strawberry recipe to good use--the first place dessert wins $100--and serious bragging rights.

Strawberry Day is really more like Strawberry Lunch Break--it takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.--so plan accordingly, and don't wear a white shirt to work that day!