California's Strawberry Festival traditionally takes place in the third weekend in May each year. The festival which now ranks amongst the nation's top out door festivals will get underway this year on Saturday and Sunday, the 17^th and 18^th of May at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard. The site which is bordered by  Rose Avenue, the Pacific Coast Highway and Channel Islands Boulevard is located next to the Oxnard College and is just 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara.

The festival which is a is a non-profit 501©(3) organization run by an all-volunteer board and it  has won many accolades in the media since its inception twenty-four years ago. The festival has been featured in Discover America's Calendar of top 200 USA events in 2006. In addition it has been recognized by the Library of Congress for its extensive community oriented programs that benefit education, the arts and children. Westways Magazine, the official magazine of the LA chapter of the Automobile Association of America has also described the California Strawberry Festival as the “The Perfect Summer Kick Off.” while The LA parent magazine has conferred on the festival the title of the “Favorite Family Festival" several times.

Getting to the Festival

The festival is easily accessible by car via the Ventura Freeway (101) and Pacific Coast Highway and there is free parking including handicapped parking available at  the site of the festival. However, if you wish to save gas and  reduce your carbon footprint you can always choose to ride the free park and ride, Strawberry Express Shuttle service which will be available at key locations on the 101 freeway in Camarillo and Oxnard. This Strawberry Express Shuttle service is being sponsored by Coca Cola and Gold Coast Toyota and as an extra treat riders of the shuttle will also get a free beverage on the shuttle while supplies last.

The festival also has a partnership with Amtrak and offers  festival attendees a chance to get to the venue by train. These festival trains which offer a special kids ride free program will arrive and depart at the Oxnard Transportation Center . This venue  will also be served by the Strawberry Express Shuttle service. More information about the festival trains can be had by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL. The festival organizers have made sure that the festival is well served by public transportation as well.

Tickets to the 'Green' Festival

In 2004, the organizers of the festival showed much foresight when they introduced a recycling program at the festival. Now a new California state law now requires special events at outdoor venues to implement recycling programs to help “keep the venues green.”
Tickets to the California Strawberry Festival can be purchased online at ticketmaster . The tickets will also be available at the venue and admission is priced at $12 for adults, $5 for youths between the ages of 5 and 12 and $ 8 for seniors who are above the age of 63. Visitors who are in active military service and their dependants are also entitled to the discounted $8 tickets and are required to show a valid ID. Children under the age of 4 will be admitted free to the festival. Tickets that are sold at the gate on the day of the event will be available only on a cash basis. Moreover only cash will be accepted at the various food booths as well. To help the visitors to the festival several ATM machines will be available all over the festival grounds. Proceeds from the ticket and food sales go to benefit the community of Ventura county.

Events and Entertainment

The Festival promises to have much entertainment for all the family. There will be live entertainment all day long on both the days on the two specially set up stages for the event . For children the festival will have a special Strawberryland with free rides and other attraction as well as the Jest N'Time Theater with puppet shows, magic shows and comedy shows that feature clowns. Adults and children will both enjoy the Strawberry Promenade which will feature cooking demonstrations using strawberries and the  “Life of the Strawberry” exhibit as well as  lively messy contests like Tart and Toss and Strawberry Pie Eating. The festival will also have more than 50 food booths and over 300 Fine Arts & Crafts booths. Additional attractions include the Star Berry Hunt and a climbing wall as well as strolling live performers.

No pets except service animals and outside food and drink are allowed into the festival grounds. Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, chairs, tables and coolers are also not allowed on the premises of the festival. For more information you can visit the website of the festival or call the information hotline at 1-888-288-9242.

 

Images of strawberry confections originally posted on http://www.flickr.com  by AnshrutiR, desi.italy & quintanaroo.