Strawberry Festival returns to Ventura fairgrounds. What to know and how to avoid traffic

Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star
Updated ·4 min read

Tens of thousands of people will head to the seaside fairgrounds in Ventura this weekend to celebrate all things strawberry from shortcake to carnival rides.

The annual California Strawberry Festival will have berry-themed artists, crafters, live entertainment and dozens of food booths Saturday and Sunday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd. The event is expected to draw more than 40,000 people over the two days.

Last year, the festival moved from Oxnard to the Ventura fairgrounds for the first time and posts about traffic gridlock and long lines flooded social media. Organizers have set up free shuttle service and worked behind the scenes to avoid similar issues, festival spokesperson Diane Rumbaugh said.

Here’s what to know before heading to the fairgrounds.

What can you do at the festival?

In this file photo, Elizabeth Koseyan, of North Hills, cooks her strawberry-marinated Yucatan pork tostadas with fresh strawberry corn salsa and avocado cream at the California Strawberry Festival.
In this file photo, Elizabeth Koseyan, of North Hills, cooks her strawberry-marinated Yucatan pork tostadas with fresh strawberry corn salsa and avocado cream at the California Strawberry Festival.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. There's a Strawberryland for kids and food from deep-fried strawberries to strawberry kettle corn. For $5, people can pile on stacks of strawberries and whipped cream for a build-your-own strawberry shortcake.

An arts and crafts showcase and live concerts and entertainment also will be available. This year, Strawberryland for Kids will be indoors, including the rides, Rumbaugh said.

How many people will go to the Strawberry Festival?

Roughly 20,000 people are expected at the fairgrounds each day. But Saturday is typically the busiest and attendance could rise closer to 24,000, officials said. To avoid the largest crowds, Rumbaugh suggested going on Sunday and heading out early.

Where to buy tickets?

Festival-goers can buy tickets online at CAStrawberryFestival.org. General admission costs $15. A discounted price of $10 is available for seniors 62 and over and $8 for children ages 5 through 12. Kids 4 and younger get in for free.

Tickets also can be purchased at the fairgrounds.

How to get there?

Take a shuttle for free: Park and ride for free on a shuttle, which are expected every 15 to 20 minutes at multiple locations. Shuttles operate from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

  • Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Head to Parking Lot F on the Hill Street side of the center.

  • Pacific View Mall, 3301 E. Main St., Ventura. Parking and pickup is behind the Sears building.

  • De Anza Academy of Technology & the Arts Middle School, 2060 Cameron St., Ventura.

  • Seaward and Harbor Lot, 955 S. Seaward Ave., Ventura.

  • Oxnard High School, 3400 W. Gonzales Road, Oxnard.

  • Parking costs $10 at San Buenaventura State Beach, 901 San Pedro St., Ventura.

Take the train:

Ride a bike: Organizers urged cyclists to take Santa Clara or Harbor Boulevard toward Figueroa Street and enter using the main festival entrance. A free bike valet will operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Drive: Cars headed to the fairgrounds are asked to take the Seaward exit off Highway 101 and head up Harbor Boulevard. The fairgrounds parking lot holds around 1,400 cars and fills up quickly during large events. On-site parking costs $20.

Ventura Police Department urged festival-goers to plan ahead of time and opt for the express shuttles or train service if possible to avoid traffic. The fairgrounds parking lot not only fills up fast, but turnover is low, Rumbaugh said. Once people park, they tend to stick around for much of the day.

What will the weather be like at the festival?

Crowds jam Main Street of the Ventura County Fairgrounds as visitors try to search for strawberry goods at the 37th Strawberry Festival in May 2023.
Crowds jam Main Street of the Ventura County Fairgrounds as visitors try to search for strawberry goods at the 37th Strawberry Festival in May 2023.

The forecast calls for the typical May gray, cloudy skies at least in the morning that could turn to sunshine later in the afternoon.

There's a slight chance of drizzle in the mornings and expect high temperatures around the mid- to upper 60s, said Rose Schoenfeld, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Have a question about the Strawberry Festival in Ventura? Email cheri.carlson@vcstar.com and we will try to update this story with the answer.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Strawberry Festival returns to Ventura fairgrounds. Here's what to know