What flavor is spring fever?

For many in these parts, it's strawberry.

Now that the sweet red jewels are ripening, with a short season of just three to four weeks, people can go a little fruity for them, as strawberry fests break out at farms, churches and restaurants.

Here's a sampling of those we've heard about.

Tomorrow, if the weather allows, Downtown's Strawberry Way is the perfect venue for the annual Strawberry Festival of the Smithfield United Church of Christ, 620 Smithfield St. (412-281-1811). From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in addition to strawberry shortcake and sundaes, you can order barbecued ham sandwiches, kielbasa and kraut, halushki and pierogies and more, while listening to live jazz. If it rains, they'll just move it all into the church social hall.

This Sunday, Pleasant Hills Community Presbyterian Church, 199 Old Clairton Road, hosts its Old-fashioned Strawberry Festival. From noon to 2:30 p.m., a ticket ($4 or $2.50 for kids 3 to 10 or $20 for a family) entitles attendees to a dessert made with berries from Triple B Farms, Forward; kids games and other entertainment; for a little more, you can get more strawberry treats and a light lunch, and it all benefits church ministries. Call 412-665-2000.

At Trax Farms on Route 88 in Finleyville, the annual Strawberry Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 12 through 14.

The "fun for the whole family" ranges from a petting zoo to pony rides, but the main event is the array of strawberry treats the place sells, from muffins and cakes to soda and preserves. You can even get Trax's homemade strawberry ham ($6.49 a pound).

Of course, you can buy the farm's strawberries or pick your own; for times and availability call 412-835-3246 or visit traxfarms.com.

Triple B Farms in Forward also turns red this time of year, holding its Strawberry Festival June 13-14. Until 1 p.m. both days you can indulge in a strawberry pancake breakfast and try new strawberry smoothies. Triple B also offers picked berries and berries for picking as they're available (call 724-258-3557 or visit triplebfarms.com).

The farm market is offering a new flavor of fudge -- Strawberry Pretzel Salad -- and Chocolate-Covered Strawberry. You can get the farm's own brand of new-this-season strawberry shortcake-flavored coffee. If that sounds too out-there, just tuck into the bakery's Sky-High Strawberry Pies and strawberry breakfast breads.

From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 12, Shadyside Presbyterian Church's 17th Strawberry Festival offers a menu of fresh strawberries and cake and ice cream with grilled hot dogs, chips, root beer floats and other drinks, and baked goods to go. Proceeds benefit Gwen's Girls.

Otherwise, there's no charge for fun including a cake walk, temporary tattoos and pony rides (412-682-4300 or shadysidepres.org).

From 4 to 7 p.m. June 13, a much smaller Strawberry Festival & Bake Sale will be held at the Bethany Presbyterian Church on Washington Avenue in Bridgeville. The Presbyterian Women there will feed you your choice of a ham barbecue or egg salad or chicken salad sandwich or hot dog plus potato salad and baked beans before you get to the cake and ice cream and strawberries. Cost is $7 ($5.50 for those 62 and older, $3 for those 4 to 12 and free for those 3 and under). Call 412-221-5132.

Also June 13, from 3 to 6 p.m., Round Hill Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth Township will hold a Strawberry Festival that is its 110th annual one. Eat in or take out and help fund a youth mission trip to Peterstown, W.Va., to repair houses (412-384-0790).

And what is it about Presbyterians and strawberries anyway? From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 13, Dormont Presbyterian Church on Espy Avenue holds its annual Strawberry Festival, featuring milkshakes, sundaes and chocolate-covered strawberries. Proceeds benefit church roof repair projects (412-531-1555).

Franklin Park's Soergel Orchards' Strawberry Festival is set for June 14, with grilled food, pony and hay rides, and lots of berries (soergels.com or 724-935-2090).

Look for local strawberries at many other stores, farms, farm markets and farmers markets around the region. Citiparks' Tom Driscoll reports "an abundance" of them.

PG tested

This summery salad combines three ingredients you might not think go together -- bleu cheese, balsamic vinegar, and strawberries -- but prove irresistible. Just be sure to allow the strawberries to sit in the vinegar long enough to infuse them with flavor. Candied pistachios add a delicious crunch.

-- Gretchen McKay

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 cup pistachios, shelled
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups strawberries, stemmed, cut in quarters
• 4 cups arugula
• 1/4 cup crumbled bleu cheese
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (to serve)
• Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Heat sugar and water together. Toss pistachios into mixture. Spread on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove and season immediately with sea salt. Allow to cool. Remove from pan, chop into small pieces.

Heat brown sugar and 1?4 cup balsamic vinegar with bay leaf. Place strawberries into a bowl over another bowl filled with ice. Pour hot vinegar mixture over the strawberries and allow to cool. Remove the strawberries from the vinegar.

To serve: Combine arugula, cheese and strawberries with olive oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat. Place on 4 plates, top with candied pistachios.

Serves 4.

-- Western Pistachio Association (westernpistachio.org)