A multitude of engaging activities let you enjoy the celebration by joining in the experience.
Contest Area presented by Coca Cola
Contests at the Festival
Berry Best Hat Contest
Presented by Players Casino
12:00pm at the Strawberry Promenade
Bring your own beautiful berry bonnet creation that puts the Kentucky Derby to shame and parade your strawberry style for the judges. Sign up at the Strawberry Promenade 30 minutes prior. Must be at least 15 years of age.
Winner receives fabulous prizes.
Berry Best Dressed Baby Contest
Presented by Smart & Final
2:45 pm at the Jest in Time Family Fun Stage
Open to infants up to four years of age. Youngsters, with the help of their parents, parade across the stage to the “oohs and aahs” from the crowd. All participants receive recognition. Sign up at the Jest in Time Family Fun Stage 30 minutes prior.
Winner receives fabulous prizes.
Strawberry Tart Toss
11:00am and 2:30pm
Ready set goooooo! Take aim for in your face fun.
Strawberry Shortcake Eating
1:00pm and 4:00pm
A timed challenge you can really sink your teeth into. Devour every last bite of strawberry pie, sans utensils. Available to contestants 13 years of age or older.
Pre-Festival Contests
Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest
Presented by Ventura County Star
Hearty congratulations goes to Jake Hagen from Granada Hills who wins this year’s contest!
Do you have what it takes to take the title of Berry Best Recipe? If so, watch this space for our 2019 contest and enter your best original, non-baking, strawberry recipe of your favorite sauce, dessert, entré, dip, drink, jam, spread, appetizer, snack, etc.
Each entrant receives a complimentary ticket to attend the Festival. Grand prize winner and runner up will each receive fabulous prizes.
Now it’s quicker and easier to enter because your entry can now be completed online.
Contest Rules
Jake’s 2018 Winning Recipe
Coconut Shrimp with Strawberry Chipotle Dipping Sauce and Sweet Coconut Rice
Previous Winners’ Recipes
2016 Winner – Lemongrass-Ginger Strawberry Shrimp Crisps & Strawberry Avocado Mash
2015 Winner A – Strawberry Vinaigrette Marinated Bacon Steak Spinach Salad
2015 Winner B – Steamed Strawberry Coconut Poke Cake
Elementary School Youth Art Design Contest
Each year, the Festival reaches out to Ventura County school districts inviting teachers and their K through 6th grade students to create a colorful strawberry design as part of their curriculum highlighting Ventura County’s rich agricultural heritage. All students who submit a design receive a free ticket to the Festival. Finalists receive recognition and prizes.
Out of 1,633 entries from kids in kindergarten through sixth grade, the colorful creation featuring a sweet-smiling strawberry of 8-year-old Allison Chavez was selected as grand prizewinner of the California Strawberry Festival’s 35th Anniversary Celebration. Allison’s design will be on display Festival weekend in the Community Connections booth.
In honor of her accomplishment, Festival organizers brought a party to her second-grade classroom at Haycox Elementary School and presented her with her framed artwork and a $100 gift certificate.
Click here for info and guidelines
Click here for Youth Design Entry Form
Official Poster Contest
As a symbol of each annual celebration, we showcase an original work from the winner of our poster contest. It’s been a part of the Festival’s heritage since our inception and has grown to become a coveted honor of recognition. The grand prizewinner receives $2,000 and their creation serves as the symbol of the 35th Anniversary Festival with branding and souvenir posters, collectible t-shirts and merchandise.
In 2017 we opened up our submissions to include the digital arts. This year, we offered an online submission option.
Congratulations to Natasha Aitouganov of Sherman Oaks who is our 2018 winner. Born in Belarus, Natasha began drawing at the young age of seven. Her parents, realizing her talent, immediately enrolled her in art school. After immigrating to the United States in 1993, she studied production design at the American Film Institute. She has been a production designer for many years as well as a professional artist.
Natasha used a combination of line graphics and watercolors to produce her digital art piece. When asked about her process, she answered, “When I began thinking about the poster design, I asked myself, ‘what’s the best thing about strawberries? Naturally, it’s their taste.’” Her winning design perfectly captures the wonderfully delicious taste of our Festival’s namesake.
This is the first time Natasha has entered the California Strawberry Festival’s official poster contest and she’s very happy she did. “Winning the contest is an incredible feeling!”
2018 Battle of the Bands
Presented by Cumulus Media
Congratulations to Danielle Stacy for winning this year’s competition. She will be playing at 11:00 AM on Sunday, May 20th on the Festival Stage. Check the rest of our exciting entertainment line up here.
