Over a million and a half strawberries will be eaten over two days during the 39^th Annual California Strawberry Festival, May 17 and 18 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001).

Many of the 50 food vendors at the festival will serve strawberry-themed offerings. Festivalgoers can treat themselves to such treats as chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberry-topped funnel cakes, strawberry pizza, strawberry nachos, deep-fried strawberries, berry kabobs, strawberry tacos and strawberry beer, margaritas and smoothies.

One of the more unique creations festival visitors will find is the Dubai Strawberry Cup with Pistachios from Lemon Squeezy. “We use strawberries from our extended family’s farm, Sicilian pistachios, Belgian milk chocolate and crunchy kadafi,” says Lemon Squeezy owner Breanna Scales. “Everything is the highest quality.” This is Scales' first year at the festival. She will also be selling freshly squeezed lemonade made with strawberries.

For a twist on traditional fare, stop by the strwEATs booth where it will be serving strawberry tamales. The recipe was passed down from strwEATs’ owner Cecilia Ramirez Cid’s grandmother. “Our strawberry tamales are made with sweet masa and we incorporate a strawberry puree into the masa and put our own jam as filling,” says Cid. strwEats will also be serving strawberry cupcakes, churros, Fresas con Crema, waffles and cookies.

“It’s amazing what our food vendors can do with strawberries,” says Michael Thompson, festival board member. “Plus, for $7, you can create your own strawberry dish at our Strawberry Shortcake Experience.”

Festival hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days.

General admission is $15, active military with ID and family and seniors 62 and over, $10, youth ages 5 to 12, $8, and children 4 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.CAStrawberryFestival.org or at the festival. A limited amount of parking is available onsite for $30 per vehicle.

Festival-goers are encouraged to use the free shuttles, which will run every 15 minutes to the festival from nearby locations in Oxnard and Ventura. Metrolink and Amtrak’s Surfliner make regular stops throughout the festival weekend with discounted fares. The train station is located steps from the fairgrounds.

For more about the festival visit www.castrawberryfestival.org or follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram.