Today we are going to explore one of the most popular Strawberry Festivals in California. Located in the beautiful city of Santa Maria, these festivals are a great way to enjoy the summer season. Whether you’re looking to pick the freshest strawberries, sample various food items, or take part in the many activities and attractions, these festivals are sure to please. There’s something for all ages, including live music, amusement rides, and a variety of vendors offering unique items. Plus, you never know what surprises await you as the festival line-up changes each year. So don’t miss out on the fun – come join the festivities and make lasting memories with your friends and family.
Festival Summary
The Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is an event that brings the entire community together to celebrate the area’s top agricultural commodity. Attendees can expect to find traditional favorites such as carnival rides, strawberry tasting, and a children’s coloring contest. The festival is a reflection of the area’s businesses and culture, with vendors from all backgrounds offering their services and goods to attendees. The Center Stage is where performers can shine like a star, and concerts, dancers, jugglers and more will be scheduled from noon to 10 PM daily.
A new edition to this year’s festival is the Chalk Festival, where artists can create strawberry-themed masterpieces in front of the Convention Center. There will also be a children’s chalk area for them to get creative. In addition, the “Strawberry Cruizin” theme is being carried on with an expanded Classic Car Show, showcasing cars from the 1930s-1970s.
The festival will be held April 28-30, 2023 and tickets are available at presale prices until April 24 with discounted rates for seniors, youth and kids. Parking is $10 and Carnival Daily Unlimited Ride Wristbands are $30 presale and $40 onsite. Don’t miss this opportunity to create unforgettable memories with family and friends.
History of this event
The Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is organized by the 37th District Agricultural Association and is administered by the State of California. The festival is a celebration of Santa Barbara County’s number one commodity, the strawberry.
The event features traditional favorites such as carnival rides, strawberry tasting, and a children’s coloring contest, as well as a variety of new attractions including the Chalk Festival and the expanded Classic Car Show. The Center Stage is your opportunity to shine like a star—performances are scheduled from noon until 10 PM daily. Applications are open and available on the Santa Maria Fairpark website for vendors, performers, and new this year, a chalk art display. With something for everyone to enjoy, the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is sure to delight the entire family.
Discovering the Basics: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
The Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is a celebration of Santa Barbara County’s number one commodity. Attendees can expect the traditional favorites, including carnival rides, strawberry tasting, and the children’s coloring contest. Those interested in showcasing their business, goods, or services can take advantage of the various vendor opportunities available. The Center Stage is the perfect setting to show off any performing talent. Performances are scheduled from noon until 10 pm daily.
Ticket prices are available for presale or at the gate. Adults (12-61) pay $15 while youth (6-11) and seniors (62+) pay $13. Kids (5 and under) are free. Carnival Unlimited Ride wristbands are also available for $30 pre-sale or $40 at the ticket booth. Daily parking is priced at $10.00. Special offers are also available on select days.
The festival will be held April 28 – 30, 2023, with gates opening daily from 12 noon – 10 pm. Attendees can look forward to a variety of activities, from carnival rides and the Classic Car Show to a Chalk Festival and the traditional strawberry tasting. With something for everyone, the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is sure to delight the entire family.
Best Time to Visit and Parking
To get the best deal, you should buy presale tickets online before the festival begins at a discount. These tickets are available from March 24 to April 24, and involve a processing fee.
If you are planning to attend on Saturday, Youth (6-11) admission tickets are available for a discounted rate of $5. Senior (62+) admission is free on Friday. Parking facilities are available at a daily rate of $10.
To avoid the crowds, the best time to visit the festival is during the weekdays and before 6pm. The park closes at 10pm, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the grounds, check out the performances and browse the food and market stalls.
Best Food in the Santa Maria Strawberry Festival
Best Food of Strawberry Festival The Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is an opportunity to sample some of the region’s tastiest strawberry treats. One of the most popular dishes is the Santa Maria Style Barbecue, which features a local specialty of slow-cooked tri-tip steak served with a homemade salsa made from fresh strawberries. Definitely a must-try! The festival also serves up some delicious strawberry-inspired desserts such as strawberry shortcake, strawberry crepes, and strawberry sundaes.
Of course, for those who like their strawberries on the tart side, there will be plenty of options for both fresh and frozen varieties. Best Food at the Carnival Paul Maurer Shows/Carnival provides an array of delicious carnival favorites such as crispy, hand-dipped corndogs, melted cheese nachos, and freshly popped popcorn.
Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy mounds of pink cotton candy, rainbow-colored slushies, and freshly-baked funnel cakes. Plus, there will be plenty of savory treats like fish tacos and freshly grilled meats. Best Food at the Car Show The Car Show also features a variety of food vendors, selling everything from street tacos to hot dogs. Enjoy a tasty funnel cake as you browse the classic cars, and sample some of the best barbeque in Santa Maria. For those with a sweet tooth, there will be plenty of ice cream, candy apples, and other seasonal treats.
Performance & Activities
The Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is a celebration of our county’s number one commodity. Attendees can expect the traditional favorites including carnival rides, strawberry tasting, and the children’s coloring contest. The festival is a reflection of our community, welcoming all businesses, big and small, to share their goods and services with an audience of tens of thousands of shoppers. The Center Stage is your opportunity to shine like a star, with performances scheduled from noon until 10 PM daily.
A new addition to this year’s Strawberry Festival is a Chalk Festival! The Fairpark is looking for artists to share their talents with festival attendees. An area in front of the convention center will be transformed into a gallery of strawberry-themed masterpieces. A children’s chalk area will be available for the little ones to join in on the fun as well, included with Festival admission.
Continuing on the “Strawberry Cruizin” theme, the expanded Classic Car Show will showcase classic cars from 1930s–1970s. Expect to see some “sweet rides” on display for all to check out.
Three Things you should know before you go!
The Santa Maria Strawberry Festival takes place April 28 – 30, 2023 at the Santa Maria Fairpark, located at 937 S. Thornburg Street, Santa Maria, California 93454.
Tickets are on sale now, with presale tickets starting at $12 for adults and $10 for youth, seniors, and unlimited ride wristbands at $30.
Attendees can also expect to enjoy a classic car show, a chalk festival, and carnival rides. For more information, visit the official website at www.santamariafairpark.com to find out all the details and activities that await!