BURT WARD, celebrity grand marshal, waves to the crowd and shoots a selfie in the Strawberry Festival parade Saturday morning (OC Tribune photo).

If it’s Saturday on a Memorial Day weekend in Garden Grove, there must be a parade. The highlight of the 59th annual Strawberry Festival, the colorful event coursed down streets of the central part of the city before a large and enthusiastic crown stretched out along Chapman Avenue and Euclid Street.

The big attraction, along with the bands, cheerleaders and local celebrities, was Celebrity Grand Marshal Burt Ward, who played Robin, the Boy Wonder, in the campy Sixties TV show “Batman.” The theme of this year’s festival is “Honoring Our Community Superhero Volunteers.”

JACK WALLIN, one of the original founders of the Strawberry Festival (OC Tribune).

Ward, snapping selfies and waving to the crowd, rode along in the famous Batmobile vehicle. The car itself attracted many admirers once parked near the festival grounds in the Village Green Park, and attendants had to shoo people away from getting too close to the iconic customized 1955 Lincoln Futura.

Saturday morning’s procession featured Theme Grand Marshal Randy Barth, bands and cheer teams from local schools, classic cars, and more. A small sea of American flags were waved, and there were many dogs, bicyclists and shouting vendors to complete the picture. The weather was overcast and a bit humid, but that didn’t seem to dampen anybody’s spirits in this sixth decade of community spirit, fund-raising, local history and lots and lots of strawberries.

The festival continues at the park at Euclid and Main streets Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with Monday’s hours at 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

PACIFICA HIGH cheerleaders made their voices heard (OC Tribune photo).

RANCHO ALAMOS High School band toots its horns in the Strawberry Festival parade on Saturday (OC Tribune photo).

GARDEN GROVE HIGH cheer team showed its enthusiasm in the parade Saturday (OC Tribune photo).

GARDEN GROVE Councilman Kris Beard (waving) and Mayor Steve Jones (smiling at center) rode on a fire truck in Saturday’s parade (OC Tribune photo).