Strawberry Festival Recap

Strawberry nachos. Strawberry popcorn. Needless to say these aren't your run of the mill foods. But for one weekend in mid-May, the central California city of Oxnard hosts its annual Strawberry Festival. The two day event tempts visitors from around the world with treats like strawberry pizza and the now ubiquitous deep-fried Twinkie... with strawberries.


There are two ways to get to the festival, via the 101 North or the more scenic coastal route of Hwy 1, assuming you're starting in Southern California. The 101 North is a pretty no-nonsense hour-long drive through the San Fernando Valley and the expansive farmlands of Central California. Hwy 1 takes a bit longer, especially getting through Santa Monica and Malibu, but once those suburban obstacles are cleared, it's a pretty clear and curvy shot to Oxnard.


The scenic route headed to Oxnard, CA

The entrance fee for the festival was $12, but more importantly, the food:

- Strawberry Nachos - I had nursed a large bottle of water the entire morning and into the early afternoon, so I was very hungry. Strawberry Nachos ($5) consisted of fried triangles of dough with strawberries and whipped cream. It was by far the most amazing thing I have eaten in quite some time.

The strawberry nachos were amazing!!

- Strawberry Pizza - While the name suggested something sweet and tempting, the actual product was far from it. For $5, I was served a slice of bland dough with a coating of plain yogurt and mashed strawberries on top. A dollop of whipped cream was added as if to make up for how lousy this dish tasted.

This vile and disgusting concoction was called strawberry pizza.

- Strawberry Lemonade - The lemonade overpowered the faint strawberry flavor in this $3 per cup concoction. I ended up drinking only half and dumping the rest.

- Chocolate-dipped Strawberries - A must-have at this festival, these jumbo strawberries were well worth the 3-for-$5 price. Juicy, sweet and a touch of chocolate. Perfect.

A must-have treat at this festival - chocolate-dipped srawberries.

- Funnel cake with Strawberries - The line was too long. And not moving. So no funnel cake for me.

- Strawberry Smoothie - This $2.50 drink was a combination of blended strawberries and Tampico orange juice. And mighty potent. The strawberry flavor was VERY strong.

- Strawberry Popcorn - Again, a long, non-moving line. Plus, it was $5 for a tiny bag.

Other treats included champagne with a strawberry, tostadas with guacamole and strawberry topping and the equally revolting mixture of strawberry beer. Traditional foods ranging from BBQ chicken to hot dogs and garlic fries were also available.

A myriad of food choices, once you make it through the crowd.

The festival also features a games area with a small Ferris wheel and a bumper car-like ride. An entire section was dedicated to various arts and crafts as well. Vendors sold candles, paintings, clothing and various knick-knacks.

Two stages also featured a string of tribute bands honoring Elvis, The Beatles, Springsteen, Johnny Cash and even Journey along with some original acts.

My 3-pack of fresh Oxnard strawberries... that took three days to finish.

The drive back took some time, thanks to a car accident in the one-lane area of Malibu. But once home, I was able to enjoy my 3-pack of fresh Oxnard strawberries... which I finally managed to finish off today.