Emmy Award‐nominated actress Carolyn Hennesy has been named Celebrity Grand Marshal of the 56th annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival parade.
The festival will be held Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26 in downtown Garden Grove.
Since the festival’s 2014 theme is “Honoring Our Exceptional Educators,” Dr. George West, president of the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education and dean of Hope University, was chosen as the Theme Grand Marshal.
Emmy Award‐nominated actress Carolyn Hennesy has been named Celebrity Grand Marshal of the 56th annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival parade.
The festival will be held Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26 in downtown Garden Grove.
Since the festival’s 2014 theme is “Honoring Our Exceptional Educators,” Dr. George West, president of the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education and dean of Hope University, was chosen as the Theme Grand Marshal.
In addition, 10 TV and film stars will be joining them in the May 24 parade at 10 a.m. They include Aubrey Anderson‐Emmons (Modern Family), Lauren Potter (Glee), Thomas Kasp (Surviving Jack),
Xolo Mariduena (Parenthood), Kate Linder (The Young and the Restless), Jorge Diaz (Paranormal Activity:
The Marked Ones and East Los High), Cameron Ocasio (Sam & Cat), Lance Lim (Growing Up Fisher), Chloe Noelle (True Blood) and Knott’s Berry Farms’ Snoopy.
Carolyn Hennesy is known for her role as “Diane Miller” on General Hospital, a part she still enjoys. Kids
across America also know her as the haughty Mrs. Chesterfield on Disney Channel’s Jessie. And they love
her as the author of the bestselling Pandora children’s book series. Hennesy’s other memorable roles
include “Rosalyn Harris,” on HBO’s True Blood and “Barb,” on ABC’s Cougar Town.
Film credits include "Click," starring Adam Sandler, "Legally Blonde 2" with Reese Witherspoon and "Terminator 3" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
This year she will appear in Mostly Ghostly 2 opposite Bella Thorne and Ryan Ochoa.
Dr. George West has been serving preschool through graduate level students in Orange County for over 40 years as a teacher, professor, administrator, and school board member. Currently Dr. West serves as the president of the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education. He is also the Dean of College of Education and a professor of education at Hope International University. Dr. West has represented the university as a lecturer in schools and universities in Beijing, Hanoi, and Taipei. He has been recognized by his peers as a California Teachers Association WHO (We Honor Ours) Award recipient, the Association of California School Administrators’ State Business Services Administrator of the Year, as well as a city of Fullerton proclamation for community service and a Fullerton Chinese Cultural Association Award.
The festival will be held Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26.
Friday hours are 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Monday from 10
a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free. Special one‐price ride‐all‐day wristbands will be offered for all festival
days at $25 per wristband on Friday and $30 each on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Tickets for individual rides can also be purchased separately at $1 per ticket.
The four‐day event, which is the second largest city festival in the Western United States, will be held at
the Village Green between Main Street and Euclid Avenue in downtown Garden Grove. Last year’s
attendance was more than 300,000.
Highlights include the Friday evening official giant strawberry cakecutting ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Showmobile (Acacia and Main streets) when free cake is served to more than 2,000 people.
On Saturday morning, there will be the festival’s first ever 5K Run and the VIP celebrity breakfast at the
Garden Grove Community Center, with proceeds going to Casa Garcia’s We Give Thanks. This is followed
by a celebrity parade which starts at 10 a.m. with floats, bands, equestrians and characters such as Knott’s Berry Farm’s Snoopy and Ronald McDonald. Many film and TV celebrities will be honored in the parade.
All four festival days will include 35 carnival rides, four contests, more than 200 food and shopping booths, games, music and live entertainment in the festival’s 550‐seat amphitheater and Showmobile. Contests, held in the amphitheater, include the Berry, Berry Beautiful Baby Contest; Redhead Roundup; Strawberry Idol Karaoke; and Tiny Tots King and Queen.
Sponsorship support this year comes from Dyson, Clear Channel Outdoors, McDonalds, Care Ambulance Service, Sam’s Club, Costco, Garden Grove Hospital, Brandywine Homes and Casa Garcia. Media sponsors include Parenting OC, Orange County News and its community newspapers, Korea Times, El Panamericano, Farandula USA, Miniondas, Nguoi Viet Daily News, and several radio stations.
For more information, call 714-638‐0981 or visit www.strawberryfestival.org.
