The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival returns Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 28, through Monday, May 31, 2027, at Village Green Park at Main Street and Euclid Street. It is the 67th festival, admission is free, and it opens with free strawberry shortcake on Friday at 6 p.m.
Expect a Saturday parade, a carnival, free concerts on two stages, and food and game booths run by local nonprofits. The 2027 schedule of events has not been posted yet, so this guide pairs what is confirmed with how the festival has worked in recent years, as of September 28, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Friday, May 28, through Monday, May 31, 2027 (Memorial Day weekend) |
| Hours | Friday 1 to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., as listed on the festival’s directions page |
| Where | Village Green Park, 12732 Main St., Garden Grove, CA 92840 |
| Highlights | Free shortcake on opening night, Saturday parade, carnival, free concerts |
| Admission | Free |
| Rides | Wristbands were $43 Friday and $48 Saturday through Monday in 2026. 2027 prices not yet posted. |
| Pets | Not allowed, except service animals |
| Official site | strawberryfestival.org |
What’s on the menu
The shortcake
The festival bills its opening-night cake as the world’s largest strawberry shortcake. It is cut at the opening ceremony on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Strawberry Stage, at Main Street and Acacia, and slices are free. According to the festival’s history page, Herb’s Black Forest Bakery has made the cake for more than two decades, and about 4,000 slices get handed out.
Booths that give back
Food and game booths are run by nonprofit groups, so what you spend on a snack supports local organizations. Local and regional vendors sell goods alongside them. The 2027 vendor list has not been posted.
The weekend, day by day
The 2027 schedule is still to come. Here is how the 2026 festival ran, which is a good guide to the rhythm of the weekend:
| Day | 2026 highlights |
|---|---|
| Friday | Tiny Tot King and Queen contest at 4 p.m., opening ceremony and shortcake cutting at 6 p.m., then tribute bands at the Garden Amp |
| Saturday | Celebrity breakfast at 8:15 a.m., parade at 10 a.m., celebrity autograph signing at 1 p.m., free concerts all day |
| Sunday | Berry, Berry Beautiful Baby contest at 11 a.m., Strawberry Fashion Frenzy at 1 p.m., free concerts |
| Monday | Redhead Roundup contest at 11 a.m., free concerts until 9 p.m. |
The two music stages are the Strawberry Stage at Main and Acacia and the Garden Amp at 12762 Main St. Both host free concerts through the weekend.
Rides
Butler Amusements runs the carnival, with major rides and kiddie family rides. In 2026, ride-all-day wristbands were $43 on Friday and $48 on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, including a $3 service fee. Single ride tickets were $1 each, with rides taking 4 to 8 tickets, and a $15 Fast Pass add-on for shorter lines was sold on site. Check the rides page for 2027 prices and Butler’s height requirements.
Getting there
- Rideshare: The festival says parking is limited and highly recommends rideshare.
- Parking: Lots listed on the festival’s directions page include United Methodist Church, Coastline College, the OC Library, Garden Grove City Hall and Community Center, and Garden Grove High School, among others.
- Where not to park: Absolutely no festival parking in the Costco lot or the Steel Craft lot.
- Bus: Routes 37, 54, and 56 serve the area.
Tips
- Shortcake timing: The free cake is a Friday evening thing. If that is your reason to go, plan around 6 p.m. on May 28.
- Parade day: The parade runs on Saturday. The route map is on the festival’s directions page.
- Leave the dog home: Pets are not allowed on the grounds. Service animals are.
- Late May sun: Most of the festival is outdoors. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat for the daytime hours.
Family notes
Kids are a big part of this festival. In 2026, the contests included a Tiny Tot King and Queen contest for ages 3 to 6, a baby contest, a fashion contest for ages 10 and up, a Redhead Roundup open to all ages, plus an art contest and a youth writing contest for ages 4 to 18. Pre-registration for the 2026 contests opened May 1. Watch the contests page for 2027 details.
A little history
The Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce organized the first festival in 1958 to celebrate the area’s strawberry fields and to bring the east and west sides of the city together. When the Chamber stepped away, residents formed the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association, a nonprofit that is separate from the City of Garden Grove. The festival says more than $7 million has gone to hundreds of nonprofits over the years, including schools, libraries, youth groups, and local police and fire departments.
Accessibility
The festival’s website does not list accessibility services. Service animals are welcome. For questions about access, contact the festival through the official site before you go.
Still to come
The 2027 schedule of events, stage lineups, parade celebrities, contest dates, wristband prices, and vendor list. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are posted.
Sources
- Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, official site (2027 dates, edition, shortcake, stages, booths)
- Directions, Maps and Parking (address, hours, parking lots, bus routes, pets)
- Schedule of Events (2026 schedule)
- Rides (2026 wristband and ticket prices)
- Contests (2026 contests)
- History and Archives
Featured photo: Irvinetustin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
