BERRY NICE TO SEE YOU. Close to 200,000 folks are expected along Strawberry Lane (Princess Anne and Indian River roads) at the Pungo Strawberry Festival in Virginia Beach (May 28-29) . Pick your own, watch a pie-eating contest, and indulge in the classics (strawberry ice cream) and the quirky (strawberry tacos). The town also honors Memorial Day with a Patriotic Festival (May 27-29) on the oceanfront. Headliners include Patti Labelle and Wayne Newton. Army-philes will have an M1A1 Abrams Tank Simulator display and a rock wall to climb.
About 3 1/2 hours from the Beltway in Virginia Beach. Strawberry festival: Free. 757-721-6001,http://www.pungostrawberryfestival.com. Patriotic festival: Most events free. 800-822-3224http://, www.patrioticfestival.com.
--Anne McDonough