California Corner

Festivals, Feasts & Fairs

OAKDALE--If Mom’s a chocoholic, what better way to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend than at the Oakdale Chocolate Festival and Chocolate Tasting? The first-time event, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and next Sunday, features entertainment, games, a tennis tournament and a juried crafts show in the park adjacent to the Hershey’s Visitor Center at California 108 and California 120. Tours of the Hershey factory are offered Saturday. Chocolate tasting is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days at the Oakdale Community Center; buses shuttle visitors from the park to the center. The festival is free; the tasting is $3 general, $1 kids. California 99 north; go right on Keyes Road, then left on Geer Road into downtown Oakdale. (209) 847-2244.

SAN DIEGO--Traditional music, dance, food and crafts are showcased at the San Diego American Indian Cultural Days, May 15-16 in Balboa Park, Park Boulevard and Presidents Way. Festivities, sponsored by the Indian Human Resource Center, are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days. Free. (619) 281-5964.

OXNARD--The 10th annual California Strawberry Festival celebrates the area’s juicy red gems, May 15-16 in Strawberry Meadows at College Park. Highlights, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. both days, include strawberry shortcake-eating contests, a strawberry tart toss, foods like strawberry kabobs and strawberry pizza, an arts and crafts show, children’s activities and live music. $5 general, $3 children 2-12 and seniors, free for kids under 2. A 10-kilometer race and a two-kilometer Family Fun Run begin at 8 a.m. May 16. U.S. 101 north; left at Rice Avenue, then go straight to Channel Islands Boulevard and follow signs. (805) 385-7578.

HEALDSBURG--Sip the creations of area wineries at the 22nd annual Russian River Wine Festival, noon-5 p.m. May 16. More than 35 Russian River-area wineries are represented; arts and crafts booths and live jazz are also featured in Healdsburg Plaza. $12.50 through May 14; $15 on the day of event. Special dinners are hosted at local wineries May 15. U.S. 101 north; take the Central Healdsburg exit. (800) 648-9922.

TEHACHAPI--Good times are a breeze at the second annual Tehachapi Wind Fair, May 22-23 at Mountain Valley Airport. Alternative-energy technologies are demonstrated with stunt kites, an electric car and people such as skydivers and world-class boomerang champions. Helicopter and glider rides are scheduled, and bus tours of a wind farm are offered. A five-mile hike through local wind farms begins at 9 a.m. May 22. Fair hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission; parking $1. California 14 north to California 58 west; take the first Tehachapi exit, turn left and follow signs. (805) 822-3222.