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Chocolate Covered Strawbarry Assembly Team raising funds for the Oxnard Buddist Temple

Strawberries Take Center Stage At 40^th Annual California Strawberry Festival, May 16 and 17

For strawberry lovers, the 40th Annual California Strawberry Festival, May 16 and 17 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, was the place to be and was overflowing with families having fun tasting strawberry surprizes and enjoying the many exciting rides available at the spacious Ventura fairgrounds event.

Adorable daughter and dad were Strawberry Parade ready and having a wonderful time.

This 40th Anniversary California Strawberry Festival was one of the best ever. So enjoyed watching families getting photo ready for the annual Strawberry parade, and listening to the Oxnard High School Band, who were fantastic and performed all weekend.

Festivalgoers indulged in such treats as chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberry-topped funnel cakes, strawberry pizza, strawberry nachos, deep-fried strawberries, strawberry tacos and strawberry beer, margaritas and smoothies.

Among the unique strawberry-themed desserts at Mama Carol’s Kitchen booth are sweet strawberry nachos, sweet strawberry tamales (featured in Woman’s Day magazine), Dubia chocolate and strawberry cups, and strawberry beignets. Carol Maldonado, owner of Mama Carol’s Kitchen, has been selling her creations at the festival for over 25 years.

“Our beignets were our biggest sellers last year,” says Maldonado, who has her family help out in her booth at the festival. “It’s always been a family event. We have regulars who stop by every year. We love to see so many happy people and reconnect.”

The Kabob Shack offered a combination of strawberry, banana and brownie kabobs, drizzled with milk and white chocolate. Over the course of the festival weekend, Kabob Shack goes through more than 100 pounds of chocolate and about 140 flats of fresh strawberries.

“My favorite part of the California Strawberry Festival is seeing the smiles and excitement when I hand someone one of our treats,” says Kabob Shack owner Stacia Mizukawa. “It means everything.”

VIP luncheon guest Alicia Sorkin from Carpinteria savoring volunteer served chocolate covered dessert strawberries

Another festival favorite was the chocolate-dipped strawberries from the Oxnard Buddhist Temple. Two shifts of 30 volunteers dipped giant strawberries into melted Merkins chocolate. They then put the strawberries in cupcake holders and set them on racks to cool. The strawberries were sold individually and in three- and six-packs. The booth sold about 20,000 chocolate-dipped strawberries over the two-day festival. Oh, they were so sweet and delicious!

Festival hours were 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days. I so

enjoyed getting there early, finding a good parking space, and having time to enjoy all the delightful venues included on the helpful event map, and collect give-a-ways like fresh Kiwi fruits. I found a new sun bonnet at the hat booth to enjoy while perusing the fairgrounds, and was impressed with the local artists works like colorful Yana Mikhaylova paintings on display and Goddesscent, who creates individual perfume collections. From Beca Piascik hand made papers to Mob Leather gorgeous designer handbags it was all sensational!

CABO Restaurant Chef & Assistant served a delicious Mexican Buffet Lunch in the inviting California Strawberry Festival VIP Diningroom.

The VIP buffet luncheon was prepared and presented by Cabo Mexican Seafood Restaurant in Oxinard and it was spectacular looking and delicious down to the last bite, which included huge chocolate covered strawberries hand served by fun loving volunteers.

General admission was $15, active military with ID and family and seniors 62 and over, $10, youth ages 5 to 12, $8, and children 4 and under were free.

A limited amount of parking was available onsite for $30 per vehicle, but festival-goers could use free shuttles which ran every 15 minutes to the festival from nearby locatons in Oxnard and Ventura; with Metrolink and Amtrak's Surfliner making regualr stops throughou tthe festival weekend offering discounted fares. The train station is located steps from the fairgrounds which made it easy peasy for whole families to attend the festival.

For more news about the 40th festival, visit www.castrawberryfestival.org or follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram.