California Strawberry Festival

Events & Attractions

The California Strawberry Festival invites you to join in the fun and taste the excitement.

Beyond the bountiful berries served every imaginable way, wherever you go on the Festival grounds you’ll find multiple ways to ripen your experience with participation. From the free rides and shows in Strawberryland to the exhibits and presentations in the Strawberry Promenade, and more, everything is always sweeter when strawberries are the main ingredients. 

ENTERTAINMENT

Dr. Kato Stage                                       Festival Stage

Presented by                                                         Presented by

Fielding the berry best in live entertainment, two Festival stages come alive with concert performances throughout the weekend. Offering a menu of musical tastes, concerts range from reggae and ska, to Latin pop and big band swing, with a medley of outstanding tribute bands and more. It all kicks off with the downbeat of the Oxnard High School Marching Band as students welcome patrons when the gates open each morning. 

View Musical Lineup of 2012>>

ARTS & CRAFTS

What better way to find that one-of-a-kind personal something you just can’t live without or the perfect gift, than to stroll the Festival grounds and visit with the artists who are presenting their original works. The California Strawberry Festival’s Fine Arts & Crafts presentation is a feast for the eyes with upwards of 200 booths showcasing a collection of creations from photography and oil paintings, to jewelry, textiles, woodwork, sculptures, glass, ceramics, garden art, and more. Artists from approximately 10 states participate in the juried showcase that is made possible in conjunction with northern-California based Pacific Fine Arts and has received accolades and awards from Sunshine Artist Magazine, and more.

STRAWBERRY PROMENADE - Presented by Wells Fargo in Partnership with FOOD Share

Jam-packed with interactive, imaginative and informative activities, the Strawberry Promenade tented oasis is haven for all things berry, including the field-fresh Life of A Strawberry exhibit. Presentations with experts and celebrity chefs happen throughout the day to cover a spectrum of strawberry topics, including the popular “Berry Blast Off Recipe Cookoff.” The Promenade is also home base for the Star Berry Hunt where patrons set off with a map and clues to solve a riddle while expanding their berry knowledge in a quest for prizes. All participants are in the running for the grand prize drawing of a Napa Valley getaway, courtesy of Shell Vacations Club.

2011 STRAWBERRY PROMENADE PRESENTATION SCHEDULE

(full schedule forthcoming; please check back for details)

12:00PM: BERRY BLAST OFF RECIPE CONTEST FINALS (SATURDAY ONLY)

Two finalists compete head-to-head to prepare the ultimate berry best strawberry dish in a timed challenge for judges. Top prize is a four-night Carnival Cruise Vacation courtesy of Shell Vacations Club (free samples offered to Festival guests).

12:00PM: CELEBRITY CHEF COOKING DEMONSTRATION (SUNDAY ONLY)

Join Australian-born Peter Edwards, Executive Chef and Manager of Watermark on Main restaurant, a seasoned, creative professional with over 15 years of progressive culinary experience. With new ideas from his recent work with chef Grant Achatz in Chicago at the #1 restaurant in the US, he shares his passion and innovations that bring out the best from California's rich culinary resources. Sample tastes provided.

2:00PM STRAWBERRY STORYTIME (SATURDAY & SUNDAY)

Enjoy a delightful reading of "The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear," and discover facts about the "Life of a Strawberry" during a kid's craft time that includes special free giveaways, courtesy of the Young Leaders Society's "Reading First" literacy program.

3:00PM GROW YOUR OWN STRAWBERRY GARDEN AND PRODUCE (SATURDAY & SUNDAY)

Learn to create your own sustainable home produce garden with tips and seed packets to get you started from the folks at FOOD Share. Grow boxes put your green thumb to the test, help save grocery money, and bring fresh foods direct to your table. Enjoy samples of a yummy strawberry salsa and take home the recipe you can use when your garden comes to fruition.

4:00PM STILL LIFE STRAWBERRY GUIDED DRAW (SATURDAY & SUNDAY)

Tap into your artistic talents with a fun and interactive "guided draw" presentation that finds you creating your own masterpiece strawberry etching. All that's needed is your enthusiasm, and you'll be surprised by the work of art you take home with you.

STRAWBERRYLAND FOR KIDS

Presented by:
A magical kingdom for the youngest seedlings of the family, Strawberryland For Kids features free rides and attractions, included in the price of admission. Whether it’s the Berry-Go-Round, KiddyTrain, the Rocke (Ferris wheel), Moat monster or Merry-Go-Round, and others, there’s lots to keep the smiles as plentiful as the berries. Kids won’t want to miss the Gull Wings “On The Go” mini-museum or the tented “Jest In Time Family Fun Stage,” presented by Dannon, with ongoing performances from jugglers, magicians, puppeteers and more.

"Jest in Time Family Fun Stage"    

Come and meet everybody's berry best friend, Strawberry Shortcake, the official Berryfest Princess of Strawberryland for Kids, making special appearances daily. Or, catch her strolling the Festival grounds, giving out free prizes and posing for pictures. Be sure to bring your camera!

Kids Care Zone - Presented by 

TOP VALU Markets

Kids Care Zone is nestled within Strawberryland For Kids, parents can take advantage of a helpful haven designed with their needs in mind. There’s a nursing station for moms, a baby changing station, and the “Lost Berries” tent where any children separated from their families are brought for safe keeping before being united with their loved ones.

IF IT SOUNDS LIKE MORE FUN, IT IS