OXNARD : Strawberry Festival Is City’s Largest Ever

A few still-edible berries were left scattered on the pavement next to dozens of empty fruit crates. Unfastened red and green tents flapped in the wind, and whipped cream and red berry juice were smeared into the pavement.

Oxnard’s grassy College Park was looking just a little bit the worse for wear Monday after the biggest California Strawberry Festival in the city’s history.

As workers packed away tents and picked up trash in the aftermath of the two-day event, police estimated that a record 75,000 people attended the 10th annual festival.

Mae Currier, of Oxnard, was scouring the festival grounds with a metal detector on Monday. She wasn’t among the weekend’s party-goers.

Currier, who said she attended a smaller version of the Strawberry Festival when it was at the Channel Islands Harbor in the early ‘80s, said the crowds have become too big.

The solitude on Monday gave her the chance to search for silver and gold dropped by festival-goers.

“It’s a good hobby for a 72-year-old,” Currier said lifting the brim of her straw hat. “I got $3 and two hours of good exercise.”

Festival officials said it would be several weeks before they have all the tickets and revenue counted.

The clanking and crashing of aluminum poles that once held up booths featuring everything from chocolate-covered strawberries to strawberry nachos didn’t deter other recycling-minded folks who picked through the empty lots for booty including soda cans and beer bottles.

Manny Cisneros, 30, who said his work day began about 7 a.m., spent the morning picking up trash and dismantling tables. “The party is over and we’re cleaning up,” Cisneros said.

Police said they were pleased with the event because it was almost trouble-free. With 75,000 people cramming the park over the weekend, there was only one minor alcohol-related dispute and 15 lost parents, said Lt. Jamie Skeeters.

“Kids never get lost,” Skeeters said. “We helped them find their parents.” And in regard to the scuffle, he added: “We asked them to settle down or leave. They apologized and left.”