Strawberry Festival Junior Court introduced in tiara ceremony

The Strawberry Festival Junior Strawberry Princess Court was introduced during a special tiara-crowning ceremony on Tuesday, March 31, at The River Center in Lebanon.

The tradition began in 1922 when Marjorie Billings was crowned Strawberry Festival Junior Queen, with her coronation kicking off the children’s parade, much like how today’s Senior Court coronation kicks off the Strawberry Festival.

There wasn’t a second Junior Queen until 1951, after which time the Strawberry Festival’s Junior Court was a regular feature until 1983. It was once again revived in 2018.

Since the mid-1900s, the Junior Court evolved, sometimes including boys, changing from third graders to second graders, and eventually removing the title of Queen.

Today, the Junior Princesses are randomly selected from applicants at each of the area schools.

According to Junior Court Co-Chair Daijah Prestenbach, about 40 second-graders applied to the court this year.

The 2026 Strawberry Festival Junior Court is Aubree Anderson, Adalyn Balagot, Adalynn Camper, Eden Cowgill, Carly Deckert, Delilah Quinlan, Gracie White and Piper Pettit.

Strawberrians watch over their Strawberry Princesses, who practice big smiles during a trial run of their tiara ceremony. From left, Strawberrian Tanya Smith, Princess Adalyn Balagot, Strawberrian Kimberly McGuigan, Princess Adalynn Camper, Strawberrian Jennifer Cable, Princess Aubree Anderson, Strawberrian Joan Wimmer and Princess Carly Deckert.

The 2026 Junior Strawberry Festival Princesses with, back row from left, Co-Chair Daijah Prestenbach and Chair Tayah Storkson. Junior Court, front row, from left: Adalyn Balagot, Adalynn Camper, Aubree Anderson, Carly Deckert, Delilah Quinlan, Eden Cowgill, Gracie White and Piper Pettit.

Center, 2026 Strawberry Festival Senior Princess Payton Voight places a tiara on the crown of Strawberry Festival Junior Princess Piper Pettit.

The 2026 Junior Strawberry Festival Princesses with Strawberrian escorts. Strawberrians, back row, from left: Tanya Smith, Kimberly McGuigan, Jennifer Cable, Joan Wimmer, Peggy Lewis, Lori Romeo, Dr. Heidi Blair and Victoria Dobrkovsky. Junior Court, front row, from left: Adalyn Balagot, Adalynn Camper, Aubree Anderson, Carly Deckert, Delilah Quinlan, Eden Cowgill, Gracie White and Piper Pettit.

The Strawberry Festival Tiara Ceremony was held at The River Center, providing a warm backdrop for the senior and junior courts, and the Strawberrians.

Center, 2026 Strawberry Festival Senior Princess Payton Voight places a tiara on the crown of Strawberry Festival Junior Princess Delilah Quinlan.

Strawberry Festival Junior Princess Adalynn Camper, far right, gives a royal curtsy after receiving her tiara and sash on March 31.

The 2026 Lebanon Strawberry Festival and Sweet Home Sportsman’s Junior Courts. Back row, from left: Abigail Williams, Leo Davis, Ardella Hadley, Emma Walls, Sydney Lou Smith, Allison Dickerson, Braiden Clark, Emmett Villines and Skiler Denue. Front row, from left: Piper Pettit, Gracie White, Eden Cowgill, Delilah Quinlan, Carly Deckert, Aubree Anderson, Adalynn Camper and Adalyn Balagot.