A sunny Dawn Wells on a sunny day

Cloudy skies in the morning gave way to sun and sunny smiles for Saturday’s Strawberry Festival Parade in Garden Grove. Large crowds lined the parade route from 9th Street to Chapman Avenue to Euclid Street to see the highlight of the 61st festival celebrating the community’s agricultural past.

Dawn Wells, the celebrity grand marshal, was as perky and sweet as her character Mary Ann from “Gilligan’s Island.” She waved and smiled and chatted with spectators, and the long line of autograph seekers after the parade testified to her enduring appeal.

The parade featured high school marching bands, floats, local dignitaries and more. Spectators of all ages waved flags, cheered their favorites and munched on food from both the festival grounds and nearby businesses such as McDonald’s and Starbucks.

Events on Saturday following the parade included the Ochoa Boyz in concert at the Festival Amphitheater followed by the Strawberry Idol Karaoke Contest. On Sunday attractions will include the Berry Berry Beautiful Baby Contest and a revue by Miss Garden Grove and Friends.

On Monday, it’s the Redhead Roundup Contest and a performance by Foundations Dance Co. For a full listing of events, go to https://strawberryfestival.org/current-event-schedule/.