Senate Recognizes Stilwell Strawberry Festival

The Oklahoma State Senate recognized Stilwell Strawberry Festival Queen Tawnie Goodwin and her royal court Wednesday as part of the annual Strawberry Day at the State Capitol.

Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah and Rep. John Auffet, D-Stilwell welcomed the group and had a resolution read recognizing the 61st annual Strawberry Festival which will be held on Saturday, May 10 in Stilwell.

The festival was started on May 10, 1948 by the Stilwell Kiwanis as a way of promoting Stilwell and its strawberry growers. The event attracts about 30,000 people a year, Wilson said.

“The Stilwell Strawberry Festival has grown into the one of the oldest events held in Oklahoma,” Wilson said. “People from all over the state and the region descend on Stilwell to enjoy the wonderful strawberries that are grown there. It’s truly a very special event.”

Rep. Auffet said he is continuously surprised at the positive exposure Stilwell and Oklahoma receives because of the festival.

“I’ve been amazed at the number of times I’ve had conversations with people about Stilwell and the first thing they mention is the strawberry festival,” Auffet said. “The festival has generated a lot of positive exposure for this small town. It’s a pretty big deal here.”