Last Minute Invite: DC’s Oldest Church Holds DC’s Oldest Strawberry Festival

John Philip Sousa won't be around for tonight's early evening concert of the Strawberry Festival at St. Paul's Rock Creek Episcopal Parish, like he used to be.

Instead, the Latin combo Quin Tango will have the honors of closing a weekend-long party that's been thrown annually since 1866. Music starts at 5 p.m. Admission is free.

The church, older than any in the city, celebrates its 300th Anniversary in 2012.

Yesterday's festivities had karate exhibits and low-tech magic shows (think rabbits out of hats) and face painting and oodles of home-grown strawberries and, most awesomely, a happy, low-pressure vibe that made DC seem like a small town. Which it was back in 1866.