Strawberry Festival

The Stilwell Strawberry Festival

The Stilwell Strawberry Festival is the longest continuous running event in Oklahoma. It’s an event held the second Saturday in May, which celebrates the fruit that put us on the map - strawberries. Stilwell Foods once was the place that froze the delicious berries, grown over many acres across the county, and for sale at grocery stores.

The event is so popular that when vendor booth applications open on January 1, they fill up quickly.

MORE INFORMATION:

Strawberry Festival in General Strawberry Queen

Berry Growers Behind the Scenes Official Website

Tables full of strawberries being sold at the annual Strawberry Festival

Photo: Renee Fite

Lily Ritter is the 2024-2025 Strawberry Festival queen

Stilwell Kiwanis Club started the event, which began in 1947 and was a competition with each of the farms entering one of their berry pickers for the title of Strawberry Festival queen.

Today the queen must be from the county and that contest is held in the spring. It is a college scholarship program where girls have the opportunity to learn poise, public speaking, a group performance routine and fashion, including street wear and formal wear. Kiwanis volunteers mentor the girls.

During her year, she visits schools and clubs and promotes Stilwell, the festival and Kiwanis, and in May goes to Oklahoma City for Strawberry Day at the Capitol.

Friday evenings of the Festival weekend now offers Stilwell’s Got Talent. Following the competition a band performed last year.

< Lily Ritter, 2024-2025 Strawberry Festival queen

Saturday is a full day of fun for families and everyone. The morning begins early with a 5-K run, and includes a parade with marching bands, crowning of the Strawberry Queen, strawberry judging and a huge strawberry auction fund-raiser, live music, pony rides for kids, and tons of arts and crafts vendors. A carnival sets up on Wednesday and runs through Saturday night, and the rodeo is a highlight of the weekend.

It has also traditionally been the reunion weekend for class and family reunions.

Each year the Stilwell Kiwanis Club looks for ways to grow and improve the festival. The group is always looking for new volunteers and members.

Bryce Miller checking out the berries at Miller Farms >

Photo: Renee Fite