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33rd annual California Strawberry Festival (May 21-22) benefits local charities, students

by Community Contributor • May 20, 2016 • Comments Off

Students benefit from the California Strawberry Growers’ Scholarship Fund with proceeds going to the Dr. Tsujio Kato Memorial Scholarship. Courtesy photo.

OXNARD — The 2016 California Strawberry Festival gets underway with its 33rd seasonal celebration May 21 and 22 on 15 picturesque acres at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard.

Ranked nationwide among the top outdoor Festivals, the event boasts strawberries in every way imaginable, live concerts on two stages, more than 200 Fine Arts & Crafts booths, the Strawberry Promenade with celebrity cooking demonstrations, Strawberryland For Kids with rides and attractions, and wholesome, gooey contests, appealing to all ages.

An estimated 1.5 million strawberries will be consumed over the weekend where the regions most prolific crop is the main ingredient for fun. Food offerings include strawberry pizza alongside a strawberry beer, strawberry nachos, strawberry funnel cake, strawberry crepes, chocolate dipped strawberries, or fried strawberries, are more your style.

The event also includes a selections from 50 food booths, including a “build you own” strawberry shortcake tent to pile on the goodness or enter the “Strawberry Shortcake Build Off” contest.

Festival supports charities

With each bite of berry bliss from the non-profit food booths, 100% of sales support their causes. The formula has proved to be a fruitful enterprise with more than $4.5 million dollars benefiting a multitude of southland charities over the past decades.

From upgraded computers to new sports uniforms, buses for field trip outings, repairs, new construction, research, after school music programs, and more, revenues from two days of celebrating impact the lives of others.

Officials charities include: 20th Century Onyx Club, Black American Political Association of California, Inc. (BAPAC), Boy Scouts of America Ventura County Council, Buena High School Music Association, Calvary Nexus Church, Camarillo Roadrunner Youth Football Inc., Citizens Advisory Committee, Community Bible Mission, El Concilio, Inlaketch, JACL, Messiah Fellowship Center, National Latinos Peace Officers Association, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Oxnard Ambassadors, Oxnard Buddhist Temple, Oxnard High School Band Boosters, Oxnard Kiwanis Club, Oxnard Panthers Youth Football & Cheer League, Oxnard Police Activities League, Oxnard Police Explorers Post 9286, Oxnard Police Reserves, Oxnard United Soccer Club, Oxnard Waves Youth Soccer U16, Pacific Camp Family Resource, Inc., Pacifica Triton Athletic Booster Club, Rotary Club of Oxnard, Rotary Club of Oxnard Sunrise, Santa Clara High School Athletics, Santa Clara High School Girls Basketball Team, SEIU Local 721 City of Oxnard Chapter, Soroptimist International of Oxnard, Students Securing and Achieving their Future Through Education (SSAFE), The Salvation Army, TRI-GLAD, Trinity Community Baptist Church, United Way of Ventura County, Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of DST, Inc., Ventura County Chapter Blacks in Government (BIG), Ventura County Parents of Murdered Children, Inc., Ventura High School Wrestling Booster Club, Ventura Teen Challenge.

Students also benefit from the festival

The festival also contributes to the California Strawberry Growers’ Scholarship Fund, administered by the California Strawberry Commission. These statewide scholarships benefit the children of strawberry farm workers in their pursuit of continuing post-secondary education.

Established to honor the memory of Dr. Kato and his contribution as founder and chairman of the original Festival, the Festival funds the Dr. Tsujio Kato Memorial Scholarship, awarded to Oxnard Unified School District students transitioning from high school to college.

The Festival has funded a $25,000 endowment to support students at California State University Channel Islands via scholarships in perpetuity.

Serving up wholesome family fun while paying tribute to the region’s rich agricultural heritage and giving back, is what the Festival is all about.

“We work year round for an event that takes place in 48 hours,” says California Strawberry Festival Chairperson Kim Gibas. “As volunteers, we’re committed to hosting an exceptional celebration that brings family and friends together for a great time.” She adds, “We strive to top the experience year after year.”

LOCATION:
Strawberry Meadows of College Park, 3250 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard.
Oxnard is 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Santa Barbara. Free park ‘n’ ride shuttles run from convenient locations just off the 101 freeway offer direct access. Limited parking is available on site for $10.

ADMISSION:

Adults: $12; seniors 62+, active military and dependents with ID card: $8; Youths (5-12): $5, Free for kids 4 and under.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance at www.strawberry-fest.org.

EVENT CONTACT: