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.
Strawberry Festival in General Strawberry Queen
Berry Growers
Behind the Scenes
Official Website
Strawberries being sold at the annual Strawberry Festival
Photo: Renee Fite
2025 Strawberry Festival
by Renee Fite
City of Stilwell Director of Public Relations and Media
Old friends hugged, strawberries were purchased to take home, and live music was the backdrop of a perfect Strawberry Festival celebrated under blue skies.
Shoppers filled the streets, many eating turkey legs and funnel cakes topped with powdered sugar and strawberries, as they walked and talked. Laughter rang through the air as people enjoyed the festivities.
On the Kiwanis stage a band set up, a new strawberry queen was introduced with her court, and strawberries were being judged.
Trący Sims, Kiwanis president, visited with friends in front of the bandstand.
“I love the weather, and the berry auction raises more money to help the children,” said Sims.
Flats of berries were set up on tables on the side of the stage, with Naomi Fusion, OSU Extension educator, keeping an eye on the seven flats of prize winning berry entries until time for judging after the parade.
From Kansas, Brielle Winters, age 9, and Malachi Kocher were enjoying pineapple whip in fresh pineapples.
Photo: Renee Fite
Meet the 2025 Strawberry Queen, Karlee Jo Ingram, center, with first runner-up, Samantha Taylor, left and second runner-up Savannah Cunningham, right.
photo: Renee Fite
Standing at the curb, Mariah Hooper watched the parade with her family, mom Amy Vann and sister Kiana Hooper. She’s been coming to the festival since she was young.
“I’m 29, I love the parade and the different varieties of things they have here. All the people who come to town, the rodeo and the carnival,” Hooper said.
Her family hosts a Horseshoe Tournament at the Methodist Church at noon.
Vann said, “I’m 56, so I’ve been coming for 40-something years. I enjoy the parade and all the different people and the floats.”
“I see a lot of family and friends from high school days. We used to ride horses in the parade, not no more,” Vann said. “I like the food, fry bread and brown beans. You get your money’s worth from Shawnee Livers, and they make good Indian tacos, too.”
Kiana Hooper likes seeing all the law enforcement in the parade. She’s in law enforcement at Northeastern State University.
“I like all the old vehicles,” she said.
Nadie, 5, likes the candy, looking around and going to the carnival. Not far away, Kasey Joseph, daughter Lanie Catron and Sawyer, 3, were watching the parade.
“We’re usually here, last year she (Lanie) graduated from college. I like seeing our royalty and different people, and our hometown doing something fun like this,” Joseph said.
Lanie also likes the food, “corn dogs and funnel cake,” and looking around at vendor booths.
“There are always new ones, and I like to buy berries for strawberry shortcake or strawberries and ice cream,” she said.
Krista Bradley and Tyler Davis were announcing parade entries as they passed by.
“It’s one of the largest festivals we’ve had, phenomenal weather, and it just keeps getting better,” Davis said.
Bradley loves the energy of the town on festival day.
“I’m a really big kid, when I see the carnival go up I know it’s almost time,” Bradley said. “I love how happy everyone is on festival day, here with family. And the excitement in this town is contagious. We really get to show everyone what Stilwell is all about.”
After the horses and riders passed by, signaling the end of the parade, all attention was on the stage.
Shelby Mendoza, from Payne County OSU Extension, was the berry judge.
“I love strawberries. judge them on uniformity, color, ripeness and blemishes,” said Mendoza. “It’s fun, and a little challenging.”
Bryce Miller won third place in the berry competition, but sold 250 flats of berries Saturday morning. His wife, Lindsey, was selling strawberry jelly she made.
“I enjoy getting to meet everybody and share knowledge. People think you just put them in the ground and they grow,” Miller said.
Mayor Jean Ann Wright and her grandkids rode in the back of a pickup truck in the Strawberry Festival parade.
Photo: Renee Fite
Shelby Mendoza, Payne County OSU Extension Educator, judged the berries. Winners were Juan Navarro, 1st place; David Guevarra, 2nd place and Bryce Miller, 3rd place.
photo: Renee Fite
Outgoing Strawberry Queen Lily Ritter said it has been an absolutely wonderful year.
“It still feels unreal, being queen has been so amazing. I’m about to move three hours away to OSU (Oklahoma State University) to study Early Childhood Education and be on the competitive cheer squad, but my heart will still be here. I’ll still come back to the festival and it will always have the same vibe. Everyone treats me so well. I have such a special bond with everyone, even though I may not know them, whether they’re from out of town or in town, it’s like one big family.”
Kiwanis member Teresa Keen was on stage with husband Ralph, who runs the sound.
“I’m enjoying the fragrance of the berries. And I enjoyed the new school jazz band earlier today,” said Keen.
Stopping to say hello, Mike Pinkerton was enjoying the event and his retirement.
“You never know who you’re going to see. I did the 5K Run several years, but didn’t make it this morning,” Pinkerton said. “It’s a good time to look for Mother’s Day gifts.”
With her umbrella open to keep the sun off, Violet Gore, 94, was enjoying the festival from a bench at Fletcher Park, which was filled with visitors eating, walking and playing.
“I love seeing people, seeing the parade and seeing the sunshine,” said Gore.”I walked and looked at crafts this morning, some were even open at 7 when I was looking around. I enjoyed the Christian music, it was good.”
Looking at all the vendors items for sale, Tylie Garay stopped to buy a fabric bracelet for her nephew, Kayne Pritchett, 3.
“I love being able to be out in the town with everyone and seeing all the vendors. Kayne loves these colors,” said Gary as she tied the bracelet on his wrist.
With pineapple whip in fresh pineapples, Malachi Kocher and Brielle Winters, age 9, were figuring out how to balance, eat and walk with their delicious treats.
“We’re from Kansas, it’s our first time here. I like the people and the vendors,” said Kocher.
Every year people travel to come to the festival. Myklee and Leo Williams were looking for berries.
“We came to see our great niece graduate from high school an decided to make a weekend of it. We’re looking more for strawberry themed food,” he said.
Driving from Oklahoma City with the OKC Car known as "Club 40 and a 5th," to be in the car show, Gwen and Ottis Wilson were enjoying the day. They had two cars in the show, with the ’65 Chevy Impala his favorite. He’s had it for 26 years.
“I mixed three candy reds to get this color, I didn’t want anyone to have the exact same color,” he said. “Some people know a lot about cars and some just like the way they look. They’re all interesting.”
Gwen was really enjoying the day. The family has been traveling to car shows for three years, and she really liked Colorado.
“There are a lot of vendors. I enjoyed the parade and all the princesses. I plan to eat funnel cake. I saw strawberries and brownies on a stick my husband would love. I hope I can find it,” she said. “Everybody here is really nice.”
Myklee and Leo Williams came from Edmond to buy strawberries and berry related foods on Saturday. They bought strawberry jelly from Lindsey Miller.
Photo: Renee Fite
Violet Gore, 94, drove to town and arrived at 7:00 a.m. to enjoy the Strawberry Festival.
photo: Renee Fite
The winning berries for 2025 belonged to Juan Navarro.
photo: Renee Fite
