Sunday, May 22, 2005

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