Put your heart into it: Pleasant Grove comes out for Strawberry Days Baby Contest
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- Marina Gish poses with her son at the Strawberry Days Baby Contest Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Pleasant Grove.
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- A mom poses with her baby at the Strawberry Days Baby Contest Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Pleasant Grove.
Strawberry Days is considered one of the best weeks of the year for the Pleasant Grove community.
“Everybody that is part of Strawberry Days, their whole heart is into it,” said event organizer Miriam Tomlinson.
Many residents show their enthusiasm by setting up their lawn chair on the parade route well before Saturday morning, or compete in a multi-day “Chalk the Block” contest. On Wednesday morning, it meant parents bringing their children to participate in the annual Strawberry Days Baby Contest.
At the event, which has been running for more than 20 years, approximately 200 children, baby and toddlers entered the contest, dressed in fun outfits and competing for victory in different categories, from “strawberry baby,” to best prince, princess, Americana, firefighter and police officer.
“We usually have around 200 children, babies and toddlers enter the contest,” Tomlanson said. “We have 38 winners across different categories. So we try and give it to a lot of the little children. Parents go all out, there are a lot of unique costumes.”
This year, one baby came dressed as a fire truck, and another as a Viking. Some baby girls wore nice dresses. Many parents brought multiple costumes to dress their babies in to compete in different contests.
Marina Gish, a Pleasant Grove resident, brought her toddler son to enjoy the festivities. His outfits included Kristoff from Frozen and a Strawberry. She said it was a great way for the community to come together.
“I feel like everyone gets so excited,” Gish said. “Looking around today, everyone’s wearing strawberry earrings and strawberry shirts and strawberry attire. Not just the babies, but the actual judges are, too. Everyone just loves the area, and just I feel like everyone comes together and it just makes it magic.”
Strawberry Days will continue Thursday with a “Princess Party” from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the rec center and the quilt show from 2-6 p.m. The Berry Special Festival is 4-6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, Strawberry Days Rodeo is at 8 p.m. and the carnival runs from 1-11 p.m.
On Friday, Huck Finn Days goes from 9 a.m. to noon at the rec center, where the storm drain is flooded and becomes a fishing pond, according to Tomlinson. A pie eating contest will be 5 p.m. at Rose Garden Park, the carnival is from 4-11 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 8 p.m.
On Saturday is the Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast from 7-10 a.m. at the Fire Station Downtown park, the Strawberry Days 5K is at 8 a.m., the Grand Parade on Main Street is at 10 a.m., the carnival is noon to 11 p.m. and the rodeo is at 8 p.m.
“For the entire area, it is so magical every year when the Ferris wheel comes out and all the carnival rides come out, (my son) gets so excited, and it’s just a blast,” Gish said. “I love Strawberry Days, like it is the highlight of the summer.”
