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Garden Grove Strawberry Festival: How Sweet it is to be in Garden Grove

Garden Grove’s proximity to major attractions, community events, and unique brand of culture make it an excellent launching point for a California getaway. The City of Youth & Ambition’s location within Orange County gives travelers short trips to attractions like Disneyland (one mile) and Knotts Berry Farm (seven miles). Every visitor to the city should make time for a visit to Grove District Anaheim Resort. Here travelers will find 10 major hotels, a variety of restaurants, and the Anaheim Gardenwalk, an entertainment and retail hub with something for every interest.

 

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival is the second largest city festival in the Western United States, and it will take place May 25-28 in Downtown Garden Grove. This free to attend and family-friendly event is the premier fundraiser for the Garden Grove community. Each day of the event brings unique activities, but attendees will encounter 35 carnival rides, contests, hundreds of vendors, live entertainment, games, and more every day of the event. The festivities kick off on Friday (May 25) with the Tiny Tots King & Queen Contest (pageant for kids 3 to 6 years old) and the Welcome & Strawberry Cake Cutting Ceremony (featuring a giant strawberry shortcake). Saturday (May 26) brings the Strawberry Stomp 5K Run (through the streets of downtown), a parade with bands, floats, and live entertainment, as well as, the fan favorite Strawberry Idol Karaoke Contest. Sunday (May 27) features Berry Berry Beautiful Baby Contest (contest for kids three months to three years old) and Miss Garden Grove and Friends (variety show) at the amphitheater. On Monday (May 28) the event wraps up with the Redhead Roundup Contest (best hair contest for redheads) and live music performances on two stages. ResortsandLodges.com interviewed Event Representative, Judy Cooper, to learn more about this community celebration for a great cause.  

 

RAL: How long has the event been running?

JC: The 60th Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the community.

 

RAL: How many annual attendees do you draw?

JC: Last year’s attendance was over 300,000 people.  

 

RAL: What demographic does your event attract? Children? Families? Couples?

JC: All of the above. There is something for everyone!

 

RAL: What makes this event unique?

JC: There is so much to do for so little money. Plus, the event supports a variety of excellent local charities. This year’s theme is “Celebrating 60 Years of Fun and Funding Charities.”

 

RAL: Take me through a day at the event. What can I expect as an attendee?

JC: Admission is free. Special one-price ride-all-day wristbands will be offered for all festival days at $30 per wristband on Friday and $35 each on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Tickets for individual rides can also be purchased separately at $1 per ticket. Highlights include the Friday evening giant strawberry cake cutting ceremony at 6:00 pm at the Showmobile (Acacia and Main streets) when a free cake is served to over 2,000 people. Saturday morning begins with a 5K Strawberry Run followed by an 8:30 am VIP celebrity breakfast at the Garden Grove Community Center. Next is a parade at 10:00 am with film and TV celebrities, floats, bands, equestrians, and characters.

 

All four festival days include 35 carnival rides, five contests, over 200 food and sales booths, games, music, and free live entertainment in the amphitheater and Showmobile. Contests include the Berry Beautiful Baby Contest, Redhead Roundup, Strawberry Idol Karaoke, and Tiny Tots King and Queen.

 

RAL: Will there be any guest appearances?

JC: The 2018 celebrity line-up so far includes Mackenzie Hancsicsak (play young Kate on This is Us), Parker Bates (plays young Kevin on This Is Us), Kristin Carey (Scandal), Kimrie Lewis (Scandal), Nancy Linehan Charles (Minority Report, Young Sheldon), Nicole Bilderback (Good Girls), Sally Pressman (Army Wives; Good Girls), and more. Many will be available for autographs Saturday at 1:30 pm at the signing table outside the Courtyard Center on festival grounds.

 

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?

JC: There are many hotels near Disneyland which is only a few miles from the festival grounds.

 

RAL: Does the event support a particular cause in the community?

JC: The event has raised over $7 million since its inception in 1958. This year fourteen non-profits received a combined total of over $150,000. The Festival also benefits many non-profit groups whose food and game booths collectively raise over $100,000 more. The board awards scholarships to local school students, underwrites parade participation for school bands, and treats over 2,000 special needs kids to a day of free rides and food.

 

For more information about the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, please visit the event website.