Enter Now Through May 1st – Winners Announced on Thursday, May 22nd
Youth Writing Contest – America’s 250th: Reflections on Our Journey, Dreams for Our Future
America’s 250th anniversary is a once‑in‑a‑generation moment, and to celebrate, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association is inviting youth, ages 4 to 18, to share their voice through writing. Young writers are invited to reflect on the past while imagining the next chapter of America’s story.
Writing Prompt (All Ages): Describe a memory, story, or historical idea that inspires you, and how that inspiration can help build a brighter future for America.
Online registration will be accepted until May 1, 2026. Winners will be announced on the Festival’s website and social media accounts on Friday, May 22, 2026 and contacted to pick up their prize during the Festival weekend.
Note: In order to access the entry form, you must first be signed into a Google account via Gmail, YouTube, etc.
Each age group will have one 1st place winner. Winners will be selected by the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association Directors and Associates.
The overall winner for each age group will receive:
- A Medal
- A One-Day Ride Pass for the 2026 Festival
- Recognition on our website and all Strawberry Festival social media pages
Age groups for judging:
- Emerging Berries: Ages 4-6
- Bright Berries: Ages 7-11
- Stars & Strawberries: Ages 12-14
- Berry Bold: Ages 15-18
Participants will be judged using the following criteria, with consideration given to age-appropriate writing skills:
- Creativity and Originality
- Connection to the Theme
- Quality of Writing
- Mechanics (grammar, punctuation, spelling)
Essays and poems will be accepted. Minimum writing requirements for each age group:
- Emerging Berries (Ages 4-6): 2-5 sentences
- Bright Berries (Ages 7-11): 1-3 paragraphs or up to 12 lines of poetry
- Stars & Strawberries (Ages 12-14): 3-5 paragraphs or up to 20 lines of poetry
- Berry Bold (Ages 15-18): 500-800 words or up to 30 lines of poetry
RULES:
- Participants may submit ONE writing piece only. More than one writing piece will disqualify the participant.
- All eligible participants will be accepted. Contest is open to all skill levels of youth ages 4 to 18. Parent permission is required for all writers under the age of 18. Failure to include parent information for those under the age of 18 on the submission form will disqualify the entry.
- All writing submitted must be the participant’s original work. Any violation of copyright laws, writing that contains explicit or offensive content, or fails to meet Festival guidelines will be disqualified. All writing submissions will be checked for AI-generated writing and plagiarism. Any entry found to be created using AI-generated software or plagiarized will automatically be disqualified.
- All entries must be submitted digitally. Writing may be handwritten or typed. For handwritten entries, upload an image or PDF. For typed entries, upload a Document (.doc) or PDF. Google account required to access the entry form and upload submissions.
- Decisions of the Judges will be final.
If you have any questions, please contact us at contests@strawberryfestival.org.
* Strawberry Festival Board Members, Directors, Associates and their family members, immediate and extended, are prohibited from entering any Strawberry Festival contest.