Annual Strawberry Festival

Please help promote Annual Strawberry Festival :

Sat May, 8th

2nd SATURDAY - A major event of the spring season is Stilwell's Annual Strawberry Festival held the second Saturday in May. From a modest beginning in 1948, the Festival has grown to become a nationally known event with over 20,000 in attendance.

The first Strawberry Festival was held on Saturday, May 10, 1948. It was the result of some innovative Stilwell Kiwanis members seeking a way to promote the city of Stilwell, as well as the more than 1000 acres of beautiful, delicious, strawberries grown on the rocky hillsides of Adair County. The businesses, schools, other organizations, and the Strawberry growers were all in agreement with the potential and were involved in the planning and implementation.

The first queen was required to actually be a strawberry picker and had to be nominated by a strawberry grower. The contestants wore jeans, straw hats, and white shirts. The fancy formals would come later. The contest was held on the courthouse steps, and the girls were seated in chairs from the courthouse. The berry growers also furnished the 8000 free servings of strawberries and ice cream.

From the modest beginnings of the first Strawberry Festival in 1948, today's activities have expanded to cover more than one day. Included are:

• Rodeo Performances for two or three nights
• Arts and crafts
• Carnival
• 5-K "Run for the Berries"
• Two-mile parade
• Crowning of the Queen


• Noon luncheon
• All-day bandstand program
• Strawberry Auction
• THOUSANDS of FREE Servings of Strawberries and Ice Cream
• Pow Wow
• Annual All School Reunion

Phone : 918-696-7845   (Always call and confirm events.)
Email Address : festival@strawberrycapital.com
Web Address : www.strawberrycapital.com