Vista Village Strawberry Festival

When: May 27, 2012
(Memorial Day Weekend)
Where: Downtown Main Street
Main Street and Hanes Place
Vista, CA (map)
Admission: FREE
Phone: (760) 414-9391
More info: Event website

Food Festival Highlights

The Vista Strawberry Festival is the only festival in San Diego County that celebrates all the joys and pleasure of the Strawberry. Vista was once the “Strawberry Capital of the World” and still boasts many strawberry fields. Come enjoy our celebration of the ‘berry as we bring over 200 vendors, athletic competition, pie eating, costumes, beauty, carnival rides, music, food, and much more together on Sunday May 27, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Historic Downtown Vista.

A Kids Zone will have rides on Main Street from Santa Fe to Indiana. Live music will play at an entertainment stage on the corner of Main Street and Michigan Ave. Food vendors will sell a wide variety of dishes, desserts and beverages.

Strawberry Events and Contests

Cooking Contest
We will have a Strawberry Cooking Contest in three different categories: Strawberry Dishes, Strawberry Desserts, and Strawberry Drinks. Don’t be shy, get those recipes going! Cost to enter is only $5.00/entry.

Pie Eating Contest
The Strawberry Pie Eating contest is a crowd favorite every year. There is no cost to participate. All participants get prizes. Join us at 12:00 p.m. at the Main Stage (1st National Bank Parking Lot). We will have 5 different age categories that will compete. Winners get fun prize-filled baskets. The age groups are:
• 5 and Under
• 6 – 8 Year Olds
• 9 – 12 Year Olds
• Teenagers
• Adults

Red Hot Car Show
Join us for the 2012 Tri-City Medical Center Vista Strawberry Festival Red Hot Car Show on Sunday May 27, 2012 from 8:00am to 12:00pm in Downtown Vista. The car show will take place in the Sonic Parking Lot on the Corner of S. Santa Fe and Main St. (map). This show is limited to pre-1972 Rods, Classics, Trucks and Special Interests. Registration is $15.00 in advance, and $20.00 on the day of the event. Check in is at 6:00am. Registration includes a t-shirt. Awards will be given out at 2:30pm. Space is limited, register now!

Little Ms. Strawberry Shortcake Contest
This contest has two age categories this year: 5 to 7 year-old girls and 8 to 12 year-old girls. The contest will be held at the Main Stage (in the the First National Bank of Southern California parking lot) at 1:00pm. Cost to participate is $10.00 per person. Preregistration is NOT required. You can register on-site. There are prizes for all participants and extra special prize baskets for the top 3 winners.

Costume Contest
The Strawberry Costume Contest is the cutest contest of the festival every year. There is no cost to participate. All participants get prizes. Creativity is encouraged! Come show the “beauty of the ‘berry!” Join us at 2:00 p.m. at the Main Stage (1st National Bank Parking Lot). We will have 5 different age categories that will compete. Winners get fun prize-filled baskets. The age groups are:
• 5 and Under
• 6 – 8 Year Olds
• 9 – 12 Year Olds
• Teenagers
• Adults

Video Contest
We are looking for people to submit 60 to 90 second Videos that express their love for strawberries. You could create a music video, a time-lapse video, or any other creative video you would like. It is time to SHOW and TELL!

Here is how it works. You create the Video. You upload it to YouTube. You email us a link to the video. We post it on our Facebook Page, Web Site, and more. The 10 Videos that get the most “Likes” will be shown in the Avo Theatre the day of the Strawberry Festival.

Homebrew Contest
The festival looking for the best Strawberry Homebrew Beer in the world (or San Diego County)! Do you have what it takes? Then it is time to get brewing (like right now, why are you still reading this). This contest is open to the first 25 contestants to register. There is a $10.00 fee to enter. 1st Prize will receive $200, 2nd Prize, $100 and 3rd Prize, $50. So get brewing. Here is the entry form. If you would like some tips or ideas of what the judges will be looking for, click here. Please use these labels for your brews. All entries are due between May 14 and May 21 in order to be considered for the grand prize of Strawberry Brewmaster! You must drop them off at Mother Earth Brew Company: (map) 2055 Thibodo Rd. #H ~ Vista, CA 92081.

Remote Control Races
Looking to have some Remote Control Fun? Join us at 1:00pm at the festival is on the track at the Vista Magnet Middle School. We will have remote control cars and helicopters for kids to race and jump. Their is no cost to participate. This event is sponsored by our good friends at Remote Control Hobbies in Vista.

Vista Strawberry 5000
The Easy Turf 5K race starts at the WAVE Waterpark in Vista (map), runs through Vista’s Kite Sculptures, and ends at the festival. All runners receive a t-shirt, a medal and fresh fruit at the finish line! For kids 12 and younger, there is a 1-mile run. For kids 5 and younger, there is a 1/4 mile dash. Fun for the whole family. The 5,000 starts at 7:35 a.m. Cost to participate is:

Adults ~ $24.00
18-year-olds and under ~ $18.00

A portion of your entry fee goes to North County Solutions for Change, so your entry can help make a difference to solve Family Homelessness in North County.

Fiction Workshops
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Writing Basics
12:00 to 1:00 — Finding an Agent or Editor
1:30 to 2:30 – Writing Paranormal
3:00 to 4:00 – Digital Publishing