Strawberry Festival Returns

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the California Strawberry Festival returns to Oxnard Park this weekend for two days of live music, arts and crafts, games, children’s entertainment and a whole lot of berry-embellished foods.

Official opening ceremonies will be held at noon Saturday, but the gates to Strawberry Meadows will be open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The festival grounds offer three stages with continuous live musical acts performing folk, rock, blues, country, Cajun, Latin, Salsa and rhythm and blues. Featured performers: The Spinners, 1 p.m. Saturday; Meisner, Rich and Swan, 3:30 p.m. Saturday; Koko Taylor, 1 p.m. Sunday; Brewer and Shipley, 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

For the kids, the Strawberryland stage features magicians, puppeteers and others from 11 a.m to 3:30 p.m. both days.

The berry menu will include fresh strawberries, chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry kebobs, strawberry pizza and more.

Games and other activities: Strawberry Pancake Breakfast from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday; Waiters’ Race, 2:30 p.m. Saturday; Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest, 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 10K and 2K Run/Walk, 8 a.m. Sunday; Strawberry Tart Toss, noon Saturday and Sunday. Contestant sign-ups will be taken 30 minutes prior to each event.

Admission: $5, children $3. College Park is at 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. For more information, call 385-7578.