THE 2014 CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL’S
31st ANNUAL CELEBRATION


EVENT:
The 31st Annual CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL gets underway May 17 and 18, 2014 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard from 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m. After three decades of goodness and good deeds, the Festival has contributed $4 million to 20+ charitable organizations and funded scholarships by bringing people together for two days of strawberry bliss. The tasty tribute serves up a menu of delicious strawberry delights and more fun than you can imagine jam-packed into one weekend. Happenings include Strawberryland For Kids with rides and attractions, gooey contests, 250+ award-winning Fine Arts & Crafts exhibits, the Strawberry Promenade, the Green Scene, non-stop entertainment, and more.

FEATURES:
Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries -- from chocolate dipped, powdered, shortcaked and even atop pizza, berries abound as desserts, main courses and even thirst quenching delights. With more than 50 food booths to choose from, 100 percent of proceeds from non-profit booths benefit southland charities.

Live Concerts fill the air with non-stop entertainment on two stages within the 50-acre park, all included in the admission price. The medley of music offers something special for everyone. The Dr. Kato stage entertainment is presented by Budweiser and Festival stage entertainment is presented by Southern California Ford Dealers.

 

A Fine Arts & Crafts showcase with unique collectible creations from 250+ artists dot the landscape with exhibits specializing in paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, furniture, children's toys, and more. Artists are on hand to greet Festival guests. Nestled amidst the booths, the “Kids Interactive Berry Craft Patch” area provides make & take crafts and enter to win prizes.

Strawberryland For Kids, presented by The Ventura County Star, makes childhood wishes come true with rides and attractions like the Berry Zipline, Bungee bounce and others. The “Jest In Time” tented stage features ongoing puppet shows, juggling and entertainment for the young at heart.

The Strawberry Promenade offers a berry oasis where patrons can enjoy cooking demonstrations from celebrities Master Chefs to the Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest finals.

Contests get everyone into the act. Hearty appetites rule in the Strawberry Pie Eating Contest. The gooey Tart Toss finds strawberry goo flying into faces poking through cut out boards. The timed Strawberry Relay race requires teamwork to assemble and devour berry goodies. The Berry Best Hat contest encourages patrons to create and decorate an outlandish hat while the Berry Best Dressed Baby contest invites youngsters to strut in the best berry bling.

 

The Green Scene presented by Coca Cola, offers interactive exhibits that showcase simple ways to integrate eco-friendly lifestyle choices that can positively impact our environment.

The Community Connections booth presented by KTLA-TV and The Collection at Riverpark, showcases all the wonderful ways the Festival engages the community and gives back to impact lives by fundraising. Prizes and special appearances attract patrons.

DATE/LOCATION:
Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, 2014 from 10:00a.m. – 6:30p.m.
Strawberry Meadows of College Park, 3250 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard:
Limited on site parking is $10
Free park n ride shuttle service provided.
Host Hotel: Holiday Inn Express, Port Hueneme

ADMISSION:
Adults: $12; seniors 62+, active military and dependents with ID card: $8; Youths (5-12): $5, Free for kids 4 and under. Advance tickets available for purchase on line at http://strawberryfestival2014.festivalsetup.com/

GETTING THERE:
Flanked by Rose Avenue, PCH and Channel Islands Blvd., the site is adjacent to Oxnard College. Oxnard is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. Signs mark the correct exits off the 101 Freeway and PCH. Limited parking available for $10 (free shuttles offer ideal access)

FREE SHUTTLE: FREE Strawberry Express shuttle service offers six convenient Park N Ride locations off the 101 Fwy: Camarillo Premium Outlets, The Palms Shopping Center, Channel Islands Harbor, The Collection at Riverpark, Santa Clara High School, and the Oxnard Transportation Center (Amtrak offers rider discounts/shuttles meet trains). Follow signs for exits. Info at http://strawberry-fest.org/getting-there/free-shuttle-service

BACKGROUND: California is the nation’s leading producer of strawberries and they reign supreme in Ventura County, yielding annual gross revenues upwards of $691 million in 2012. Oxnard, with its unique coastal environment of ocean exposure provides moderate temperatures year round, is ideal for the luscious fruit that is annually exported to Canada, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong and beyond. In the early 80s with a quest to create a celebratory event that would pay tribute to the strawberry industry, then Oxnard Mayor, Dr. Tsujio Kato, City of Oxnard officials, and a handful of local strawberry growers gathered to explore possibilities. The Festival premiered in 1984 at Channel Islands Harbor. After eight years, the increasingly popular event outgrew its original site, moving in 1992 to picturesque Strawberry Meadows of College Park where it remains today. Throughout the years, Festival funds have contributed to park enhancements.

POSITIVE IMPACT: The two-day fete has grown from its inception to become known among the nation’s finest. The Int'l Festival & Events Association and the Library of Congress have recognized the California Strawberry Festival for its extensive community programs benefiting education, arts and youths. The Association's research also estimates the Festival's economic impact to the community hovers at approximately $7.5 million for the two-day event. Proceeds from food booths run by local Southland non-profit organizations reap 100 percent of revenues, and since the Festival began, more than $4 million has been raised to enrich lives.

EVENT CONTACT:
Info line:      888-288-9242 Use our convenient Mobile app: Text “berry” to 95577
Visit us:       http://strawberry-fest.org
Like us:       http://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaStrawberryFestival
Follow us:   https://twitter.com/CAStrawFestival
Pin us:         http://pinterest.com/CAStrawberry
See us:        http://instagram.com/castrawberryfest
Watch us:    http://youtube.com/CAStrawberryFest1

MORE INFO:
2014 Califonia Strawberry Festival Berry Best Trivia
Offers and special discounts to groups that include free tickets


For tickets please click Here
For map and location click Here