Barbara, The many "Yankee" festivals associated with PENNY around Binghamton, NY along NY Rt. 17 are always good, friendly with lots of pick'n and great food. One of the best is Wrench Wranch in Green County and there are others close bye there. Get there Wed to get a good spot. It's crowded these days. First one had eight camper couples. Everything about it is premium, and it's held three times per summer.
The Smokey Green festival set the standard for all the rest upstate. It lasted ten short days every year. It was held at the Washington County (NY) Fairgrounds and any old timer remembers it most fondly. When it ended it was as big a loss as Union Grove. The festival still held along the St Lawrence is premium as well. Any festival in Ohio or Indiana I have found to be great for pick'n. Bass Mountain in NC has always been a treat. Arcadia on Rt. 30 in MD is perhaps the best remaining in the old tradition. The Fire Co. people who run it see to it everyone is treated special. They also hold big name concerts during the winter in the firehouse. Most of the various festivals held thruout VA are special each in their own way. The Stanley festival is a must do. Many of the original festivals are now gone.... but not forgotten. Gettysburg was at its onset a fine festival but then priced out the good old pickers on fixed incomes. Union Grove, Gloryland Park and Coniwingo were killed by the party crowd as were many others that were the standards of the day.
I have attended none of the festivals you mention. I know Strawberry Park is boycotted along with some others in the area. I hesitate to say more on that on a public forum. :)
If you would like to continue this discussion my e-mail is picksad28@hotmail.com. I am a "Yankee" from NJ now in N/E PA. later, MT