Plans announced for 2025 Kirtland Strawberry Festival, Heritage Weekend - The News-Herald
From local volunteers to Notre Dame’s “Rudy,” people are coming from near and far for Kirtland’s 2025 Strawberry Festival and Heritage Weekend.
The annual festivities kick off June 12 and run through June 14. The free Strawberry Festival will take place at Kirtland Schools, 9150 Chillicothe Road, while the Heritage Run 5K, Fun Walk and related events will take place at various Kirtland locations.
The 65th annual Kirtland Strawberry Festival kicks off at 5 p.m. on June 12, according to information shared by Kirtland Kiwanis. After the opening ceremonies, a trivia contest will start at 6 p.m. and Bill March will play music from 7 to closing time at 10 p.m.
The festival returns from 3-11 p.m. on June 13, featuring salsa dancing and lessons from 3-4 p.m., a DJ from 3-8, and music from Ulterior Motive from 8 p.m. to close. Jungle Terry will visit the Kiddie Land Stage from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The festival’s second day will also feature the Strawberry Festival parade. Kiwanis said on its website that people interested in participating can show up behind Kirtland Schools at 5:30 p.m. Participants can distribute candy, goodies or information but must toss goods underhand.
The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. and heads west along Joseph Street, north on Elm Street, east on Maple Street and south on Chillicothe Road, ending south of the high school football stadium.
At 8 that evening, visitors can head to the Kirtland Elementary School gym to hear from Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, the former Notre Dame football player whose story was featured in the 1993 movie “Rudy.” Kiwanis described Ruettiger as a motivational speaker while the Kirtland Heritage Group said the event is the Heritage Weekend devotional.
Ruettiger will also lead a symposium and discuss his story with middle and high school students in the Kirtland High School gym earlier that day at 10 a.m., according to a news release from the Kirtland Ohio Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Ruettiger overcame poverty, dyslexia, his diminutive stature — as well as three rejections from Notre Dame University — before becoming a legend among the Fighting Irish,” the release stated.
The festival’s final day runs from noon to 11 p.m. on June 14. It will feature a robotics club demonstration in the Kirtland Elementary School gym from 12-8 p.m., a sidewalk chalk art contest from 1-3 and the Miss Kirtland contest at 6 p.m. There will also be music by Justin Geracci from 1-4 p.m. and Bad Betty from 7 to close.
The Kiddie Land stage will feature Swifty the Clown: Balloon Twister from 12-2 p.m. that day, while a magician will perform at 5.
Daily festival highlights include strawberry shortcakes, sundaes, supremes and chocolate-covered strawberries, according to Kirtland Kiwanis. There will also be rides, games, Kiddie Land, contests, vendors, a pony ride, a dunk tank and daily strawberry shortcake-eating contests.
Kirtland Kiwanis President Kathy Talty said that the club uses funds it raises from the event to support the community. The festival started in 1960.
“We don’t have any problems getting volunteers,” Talty said. “We’re a small community and this is our big event, so it’s very nice.”
The Kirtland Police Department introduced new security rules last year in response to reports of disturbances at other area summer festivals. The department announced this year’s rules in a news release, including:
• Minors who live outside of the Kirtland School District will not be able to enter after 8 p.m. without a parent or guardian. Officials will check identification.
• Kirtland students can enter without an accompanying adult after 8 p.m., but will need to show school identification or open the Infinite Campus app on their phones.
• Attendees and their bags are subject to search.
• Attendees cannot wear hoods or facemasks in the venue unless medically necessary.
• Attendees cannot bring outside food or beverages, markers, pens, spray paint or flammable items or liquids.
• Attendees cannot bring weapons, including self-defense sprays or pocketknives.
• Attendees cannot bring animals unless they are service animals that help a person with a disability.
“Any disorderly or turbulent behavior, whether juvenile or adult, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the department said.
Heritage Weekend
Alongside the Strawberry Festival, Kirtland Heritage Weekend will also run on June 13-14.
The weekend will include performances from the Utah Valley Children’s Choir at 1 p.m. on June 13 and the Nashville Tribute Band at 7 p.m. on June 14, according to the Kirtland Heritage Group. Both performances will take place at the corner of Joseph Street and Timothy Lane, across from the Kirtland Temple Visitors’ Center and Museum.
The Kirtland Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will also host a youth devotional at 4 p.m. on June 13.
The Heritage Weekend’s 5K Run and Fun Walk will start at 9 a.m. on June 14 at Kirtland Elementary School. Registration and more information are available at gcxcracing.com/kirtland. The Kirtland Stake said that Ruettiger and the Nashville Tribute Band will serve as the 5K’s starters.
Other scheduled events on June 14 include a charity pancake breakfast to support a local food pantry from 9:30 to 11 a.m. near the Kirtland Temple, 9020 Chillicothe Road, and rocket car rides from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Kirtland Community of Christ, 9017 Chillicothe Road.