California Strawberry Festival prepares to open

The gates at the California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The event is celebrating its 30th anniversary by showcasing Ventura County’s top crop.

But not all the berries will be coming from the strawberry fields in Oxnard.

They will need more to feed the crowds everything from strawberry shortcake to strawberry pizza.

The event will include cooking demonstrations by Lisa Lillian, known as “Hungry Girl.”

And there will be eating contests and non-stop live music and entertainment.

To avoid the usual festival traffic jam at College Park on the corner of Channel Islands Boulevard and Rose Avenue, visitors can hop on free shuttles that will have stops throughout the city.

For more information, log on to: www.strawberry-fest.org.