THE ANNUAL Californian Strawberry coast festvity is here - the California Strawberry Festival. Originally, just the festivities going along with the annual strawberry harvest, the celebration now includes a parade, tournaments, live shows, music, arts and crafts, a pageant and acres of freshly picked berries all around.

Held in Oxnard, the largest strawberry producer in California, the California Strawberry Festival is in essence an agriculture fair based on the prime produce, though looking all around the venue, Strawberry Meadows of College Park, the festivities stand at the same par as the strawberries, if not more. The berries, fresh as ever begin being picked here from April to June, making the May held festival stand at the peak of the produce.

Apart from the sweet produce in its prime form, the berries at the California Strawberry Festival 2010 make an appearance in several forms of confectionary, bringing in the cooking and even art element to the festival. The berries can be found covered in whipped cream, incorporated in various forms of cakes, pastries, jams and the like to even becoming part of the decorations here. For the budding cooks at heart, there is the Build Your Own Strawberry Shortcake event, apart from several cook out challenges. However, others can look at the art and craft exhibitions here and the like.

The Berry beauty would begin the festivities for the Festival weekend. Crowned as the Berryfest Princess of Strawberryland, one of the belles from Oxnard would be the promoter of all ceremonies here for May 15 and May 16.

Can't wait to get the strawberry fest? Then proceed to the Strawberry Meadows of College Park, Rose Avenue, Oxnard. The festival is open for today and tomorrow from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Tickets to the California Strawberry Festival 2010 are available at the venue, with the general admission costing $12. While senior citizens and active armed forces personnel can get in for $8, children below 12 years of age will be charged only $5.