Oxnard Paying Tribute to the Strawberry

After nearly two decades of helping Oxnard celebrate the juicy strawberry, Don DeArmond thinks he’s seen it all.

The chairman of the California Strawberry Festival has enjoyed strawberry pizza (with cream cheese on a pastry crust); the strawberry projectile (pastries hurled through the air during a tart-throwing contest); and, perhaps the festival’s most popular treat, the strawberry funnel cake, (deep-fried and dripping with whipped cream).

“People just love it,” DeArmond said. “When we close at 6:30, we still have people in line wanting to get their funnel cake.”

As the 17th annual California Strawberry Festival kicks off this morning at Oxnard’s College Park, residents are whetting their appetites for yet another two-day tribute to the Oxnard Plain’s biggest crop.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 6:30 p.m. today and Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for seniors and children ages 5 through 12. Children younger than 5 get in free. Parking is free.

The festival has gained popularity for its unusual strawberry treats and a 330-booth craft show and entertainment. Last year’s event attracted a record 89,500 people. And, with sunny skies and warm temperatures expected through the weekend, organizers hope they’ll exceed that mark this year.

This weekend’s entertainment includes performances today by Starship and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Sunday’s stage events include The Association and Los Lobos.

Oxnard is one of the largest strawberry producers in the state, with roughly 6,000 acres planted in berries.