Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Queen & Princesses' Sweet Success
 

Garden Grove--When you think of Garden Grove, California, what comes to mind? Crystal Cathedral Church, Disneyland, Harbor Boulevard? Most people think of the icons, but for the planners of the annual Strawberry Festival held each Memorial Day Weekend, you can imagine that their heads must be swirling with dreams of berry shortcakes topped with fresh, cold whipped cream.

The highlight to the launch of summer for Garden Grove is the wonderful Strawberry Festival. There are several such festivals throughout California in Oxnard, Santa Maria, and another Memorial Day Weekend event in Arroyo Grande on the Central Coast, but this Southern California favorite eclipses anything else going on in the region, and guarantees your summer will be berry sweet.

The Strawberry Festival began in 1958 to celebrate the then abundant strawberry fields that filled the community with the tasty smells of ripe berries. Launched by the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce, the event was so popular, it took root and has been anticipated each year since. It has been operated as a nonprofit event throughout its history, and proceeds benefit charities.

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Parade Highlights

Giant Strawberry Cake Cutting Opening Ceremony begins Friday evening at 6 p.m.

Strawberry Festival Parade starts 10 a.m. Saturday on Corner of Chapman & 6th, heads down Chapman to Euclid, and ends at intersection of Stanford near festival grounds.

Schedule For 2010:

FRIDAY – MAY 28

1:00 P.M TO 10:00 P.M. WRISTBAND DAY $25 entitles wearer to all rides, all day.

4.00 P.M.* Tiny Tots King & Queen Contest For 3-6 Year Olds (Amphitheater)

6:00 P.M. Welcome And Giant Strawberry Shortcake Cutting Ceremony The world's largest strawberry shortcake will be cut by the Mayor and Miss Garden Grove and served FREE to all who attend.

(Location: Showmobile at Main & Acacia)

7:15 P.M. Strawberry Jammin' Talent Contest With Celebrity Judges

SATURDAY – MAY 29

10:00 A.M to 10:00 P.M. Carnival Rides, Game And Food Booths

12:00 A.M to 01:30 P.M. Celebrity Autographs on Festival Grounds (near Community Courtyard Center)

1:00 P.M. SILENCE band, plus TV celebrities Jimmy Jax Pinchak and Braedon Lemasters (Amphitheater)

2:00 P.M. Dyversity (Showmobile)

3:00 P.M. Steddy Girl Drill and Dance Team (Amphitheater)

6:00 P.M Karaoke Contestants Pick Songs And Enter Contest Before

6:45 P.M. (Amphitheater) 3rd Degree Blues Band (Showmobile)

7:00 P.M. Drawing For 25 Contestants (Amphitheater)

7:30 P.M "Strawberry Idol” Karaoke Contest For Contestants 16 Years Or Older (Amphitheater)

SUNDAY - MAY 30

10:00 A.M TO 10:00 P.M WRISTBAND DAY $30 entitles wearer to all rides, all day.

10:00 A.M to 10:00 P.M. Carnival Rides, Game And Food Boothsstrawberry

11:00 A.M. Berry Berry Beautiful Baby Pageant For Babies 3 Months To Under 3 Years (Amphitheater)

2:00 P.M. The Guardettes (Amphitheater)

2:00 P.M. Full Spectrum (Showmobile)

6:30 P.M. The Mai Tais (Showmobile)

7:00 P.M. Miss Garden Grove And Friends Stage Show (Amphitheater)

MONDAY – MAY 31

10:00 A.M TO 10:00 P.M. WRISTBAND DAY $30 entitles wearer to all rides, all day.

10:00 A.M TO 10:00 P.M. Carnival Rides, Game And Food Booths 12:00 P.M. Red-Head Roundup Contest For All Ages (Amphitheater)

1:00 P.M. Scarlett Reign Teen Band (Showmobile)

2:00 P.M. Punch And Judy (Showmobile)

3:00 P.M. The Colony Of Performing Arts (Amphitheater) Mee Dee Oker Bluegrass band (Showmobile)

For the teens who sign up and try out to compete for the crown,

 Evolution Fireball Flying Bobs Giant Scooters Giant Wheel Grand Carousel Mardi Gras Funhouse Orbiter Pole Position Spinning Coaster Ring of Fire Spin Out State Fair Slide Wave Swinger Zipper Eagle 16 Scrambler Viper Wind Surfer Wacky Worm Coaster Berry go Round Tilt A Whirl U Toob Funhouse Morbid Manor Funhouse Balloon Samba Chopper Hopper Dizzy Dragon Jumping Jumbos Lolli Swings Looney Tooter Train Raiders Tom Kangaroo Jet Ski Roadsters Ride Height Restrictions for Kiddie Rides is 36 inches. 4 Wristband Days! Ride all rides, all day for one low price! Friday: $25 ... Saturday, Sunday & Monday: $30 each day $1.00 individual tickets for rides also available at the booths. Rides require 3-5 tickets each.

 Berry, Berry Beautiful Baby Pageant 3 Months to Uunder 3 Years Contest: Sunday May 30th at 11:00 A.M. .---Amphitheater Signups begin at 10:00 A.M. Here’s how to enter Baby Pagent Winner Tiny Tots Queen - 2008 How about those adorable 3 to 6 year olds crowned Tiny Tots King and Queen? Besides having a trophy, cash and a gift card, the winners ride in our parade! Contest: Friday May 28th at 4:00 P.M.---Amphitheater Signups begin at 2:30 P.M. Here’s how to enter Tiny Tots King and Queen - 2008 Are you or any child, guy or gal you know a knock-out redhead? Time to get some well-deserved FAME for that MANE and enter our Redhead Roundup! Contest: Monday May 31th at 12:00 Noon ---Amphitheater Signups begin at 11:00 A.M. and closes at 11:55 P.M. Here’s how to enter Pent up inhibitions disappear once you stand on the stage of our 500 seat amphitheater and belt out that song! If you are over 16 years of age, sign up and share that talent in our fabulous Strawberry Idol Karaoke Contest! Contest: Saturday May 29nd at 7:30 P.M. ---Amphitheater Registration begins at 6:00 P.M. and ends at 6:45 P.M.

Guided tours of the museum facilities are provided on the third Sunday of each month from 1:30 pm.  For information, call 714/530-8871. (Always call first before going. Information is subject to change without notice) Strawberry Festival  is the largest community-sponsored event in the 13 western states has over 300,000 visitors and participants. A parade, celebrity autograph breakfast, four-day carnival and an arts and crafts fair and is  held Memorial Day weekend on the Village Green. The Strawberry Festival Association for information 714-638-0981 Tet Festival Sponsored by the Vietnamese Community of Southern California, celebrates the arrival of spring and the first day of the lunar year. The event is held in the Garden Grove Park. The park is located on Westminster Blvd. between Magnolia and Brookhurst.  Korean Festival  Celebrating Korean history, tradition and culture, this family oriented event features a parade, and carnival, the event includes an open-air market.  Korean Chamber of Commerce 714-6381440.