(((EDIT))) - IT'S FREE TO GET ITN!…read more So a friend invited me out for this yesterday (7/27/13) and it sounded interesting enough so a small group of us drove out to Oxnard for their Salsa Festival, which celebrates Salsa tasting (contest) and Salsa music/dancing. ========= LOCATION ========= Located in Oxnard, Ca. about 35 minutes north of Los Angeles. It's on 5th street in a park type area that leads into an outdoor mall / street. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=kLa12yvdm7h5jpoDLWm53g&userid=1pgT-Eeh-GIOlhOgHMMRZA ========== THOUGHTS ========== SALSA TASTING TENT - For $5.00 you get 10 "tasting" tickets and a bag of chips. There are roughly 20+ vendors / stands inside a giant SALSA TASTING TENT. These Vendors typically have 2-4 types of salsa for you to try. Each small cup costs one ticket. There are tables to stand / rest at to put your salsa and chips and try. There's probably 100-200 different types of salsa to try. Everything ranging from Strawberry Salsa, XXX super hot Ghost Pepper Salsa, to a Black Bean and Corn Salsa. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=4D0xJJstNFXWnCBpfoIUyA&userid=1pgT-Eeh-GIOlhOgHMMRZA My favorites were: ~ STRAWBERRY SALSA - the one with the pieces of strawberry. Tasted like a dessert syrup, i recommend it to counteract the hot ones. ~ SAN LUIS SALSA CO. - their guacamole is an award winner (lots of plaques) and it was truly the BEST guacamole I've ever tasted. It was so smooth, nice lemony hint, just pure smooth deliciousness.. ~ "RED HOT FOODS" stand and their XXX salsa. It was FLAMING hot. The first 15 seconds it tastes kind've bitter, then it starts to burn. Next your stomach and throat start to burn and finally you're tongue is on fire for about 5 minutes. I was so impressed I spent $10.00 on a bottle of theirs. ---------------------------------------- ~ THE SALSA STAGE - We didn't go here but its big and there's dancers and musicians playing the entire time. Lots of seating for this area, loved listening to the music in the backdrop during my day. ----------------------------------------- ~ THE CHEF DEMONSTRATIONS - There were signs for this right past the church and the mosque. It was a little seperate of the festival. It was held at "THE KITCHEN" restaurant in their banquet hall. Basically a chef, with a hostess/TV moderator come out and prepare a meal an d show you how it's done, complete with video camera and TV, just like on the FOOD NETWORK. This is awesome cause it's indoor and air conditioned and a nice 15-45 minute reprieve from the sun. The chef we got was "SHEME SANTIAGO" and Asian chef from "THE CAVE" restaurant @ the Ventura Wine Co. He made a Almond Jalapeno GELATO that was amazing. A hint of spice and sweet goodness, made from Coconut Milk. It was delicious. ========= THE FOOD ========= There's a variety of food tents throughout, mostly taco and empenada stands. Vallarta has a tent with their burritos and tacos. I tried OAXACO TACO's cause YELPERS said it was good. They lied. It was mediocre @ best, I've had waaay better tacos for the $2.00 they were charging. I also tried $4.00 LOBSTER BALLS from an Asian Fish n Chips tent. They were decent, nothing special. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=LSdTdsdkBoQaD1vTrIfbcg&userid=1pgT-Eeh-GIOlhOgHMMRZA ========== A FEW TIPS ========== ~ Bring water. It helps battle some of the hotter salsas. ~ Buy $1.00 sodas from the FISH n CHIPS tent. $1.00 cans beats the $2.50 bottles elsewhere. ~ Bring your own food. There's no check-in so you can bring in your own meals if you want to. ~ There's a HUGE police presence but it's not too overbearing. Enough police so if something happens they'll have it under control relatively quickly. ============ CONCLUSION ============ Go now! It was 98-degrees in Canoga Park at noon. It was 66-degrees in Oxnard an hour later, no joke. It's a good escape from the L.A. summer heat. It's free to go to, no admission so if you're balling on a budget, come listen to some music and see some fun stuff for free. The salsa tasting is ONLY $5.00 and totally worth it. Go now!!!

It STINKS ! I will never go back.... Unless you go back the the original format !…read more 2024 was HORRIBLE ! !

We had a grand time. The vendors share a smile and a free token gift. From the New York Bank who…read morelet my win of a lollipop be traded for two slushes to the Chiropractor Assistances who helped me get the Sheriffs when I saw an unconscious dog in a car before she gave my dad and I fabulous massages for a smile. The people were gone. I hope the dog was not in that he was not moving panting breathing This is not okay. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR. It was over 95. The day was a delight.

This is no longer a fiesta. It is a carnival with games and rides. Expensive food. So sad.read more

When the inlaws come in town, we're always looking for new ways to keep the family busy and in the…read moreholiday spirit. This year we went to the Channel Islands Harbor Parade of Lights. Big hit! Even though we arrived a half an hour before the parade was due to start, there was plenty of parking and places to plant yourself. Everyone was in a festive mood and locals were driving around in lighted, decorated golf carts. I had my eye out for fellow Yelper Jack F. This looked like his kind of fun! There were lots of boats with lights that remained docked. But the one's in the parade went all out. Lots of Santa Claus' and holiday tunes. And the lighted Santa and sleigh flying over the harbor were a big hit. We've all agreed to add this to our annual festivals to attend every year!

I went to the event today everything was good throughout the day and when it was closing at 8 pm,…read morethe final performance was not finishing up and security was starting to kick people out before the show did not totally end. That was totally unprofessional by them. They should of waited till the show ended not before

This festival returned in 2021 and was just wonderful! It is free to the public, the entertainment…read moreof music was phenomenal, the booths had so much variety and even the carnival part was a great experience. There were different food booths to choose from and some food trucks. My favorite was the Juarez food trucks. This next festival is this year in August 27th & 28th. Can't wait!

Spectacular! Small enough to be WELL WORTH IT, and large enough to make it worthwhile. I never…read morewould have known about it, had it not been for Living Social. I had a free weekend, I drove up, stayed near Camarillo Outlets, then drove into Ventura for the balloon festival. There's only need to attend ONE day of the three. It's a GREAT hometown festival, whose main attraction are the balloons. Parking is good, wish I had time for the town tour, arrived early to take in the fest, and stayed late to experience all the balloons. I had the opportunity to watch them roll out the balloon, line up the strings, participate in the group effort to stand 'er up while the balloonist blew hot air within. The lighting of the balloons at night is spectacular, but probably would have been even more so if every balloon was alit during the fest. See pics.

Buying tickets online was easier this year because you could print out your entrance ticket…read moreimmediately. They also had streamlined the entrance process at the gate. Only bummer - they had the same bad t-shirt art again this year. How about taking a lesson from the Avocado Festival and having local artists compete for the t-shirt art and then maybe people would buy them? We started at the Wine Tasting Pavilion. 5 wineries this year. $2 per taste. I liked 75% of the wines this year. And towards the end of tasting time, the pours definitely were more generous. Although I did think it strange that a summer event would have all red wines, except for one white - a Chenin Blanc that was delicious. The boys headed for the beer tasting pavilion but ended up just buying full glasses of beer. I did try a Summer Shandy beer that was excellent. Dinner was from the Spencer MacKenzie fish truck again this year. I tried a less flammable sauce this year and enjoyed my fish taco more. I also enjoyed an order of their seasoned fries - thin, not overly greasy and lightly sprinkled with seasoning. The vendors were varied for craft items. I didn't purchase any impulse items, but the girl with us did purchase a few candles. The band for Friday evening played mellow County music and it fit with the casual evening. (I heard there was an unbefitting Rock band on Saturday.) The balloons are always center stage here and we weren't disappointed this year. They started inflating them just before sunset. They had more present than the previous year we had attended. We loved the alien-looking balloon called Outlander. And the Humpty Dumpty balloon was a hit. The Limoneira lemon-shaped balloon was fantastic. There were many with colorful patterns. Another evening of awe, wine, good food and friendship! I hope we can attend again next year

First Annual Hamburger and Hops Music Festival - there better be another one next year!…read more The selection of beers were adequate - I felt as if a "Hamburger & Hops" festival should have had more vendors and a few more "burgers" than they did, but it ended up being a great day at the collection. I loved the music and the amount of people that turned out, as it felt as if the community really did end up coming together. Very fun - although it was my own fault i got sunburned haha. Can't wait for the 2nd Annual H&HMF!

Annual Festival. This year, it was on Sunday, May 3 from 11am-5pm. Bring cash for beer. No in…read moreand out privileges. Tickets: Located in Oxnard at the Collection. $10 for general admission or $30 for admission, 3 sliders, 1 beer, and a collectible beer glass to take home. Before the event, check to see if there is a groupon. You can pay before or pay when you arrive. Parking: There is parking because it is located near a bunch of restaurants and shops. We took Amtrak and took a cab (about $15 each way). They had people who would call cabs or shuttles for you after the festival. Security: Lots of security around. It was a safe environment. Everyone there wanted to just eat, drink, and have a good time. No one got out of hand. It had a friendly vibe. Layout: It's located on a grassy area. Lots of nice fountains, grass, seating, even outside couches to sit on. There is a play area for kids and we saw a lot of people who brought their children. The music stage was in the middle. They had beer stands all over and some food in the front and lots more in the back. ATMs located within the festival. There is a B of A right outside, you can just take out money there before you walk in. Music: DJs and bands were great. They played a wide variety of music that seemed to fit the mood perfectly. Beer Selection: You have to pay cash for beer. You have to buy beer tickets at a booth and then you use those tickets to get the beer. 4 tickets for $20. Firestone, Surf's, Burt's Honey, Island, BJ's, Anacapa. Surf's was probably the most popular and best tasting beer in my opinion. So good that they ran out of beer. Even if you have the souvenir pint glass, ask for your beer in a plastic cup (you'll get a little more beer and you don' t have to worry about dropping your cup). Sliders and Food: You can use your tickets or pay cash. Some places took credit cards. It's in the Sauce BBQ - very good, super fast service, the ladies serving the burgers were great! Haute Burger - Sliders were delicious (Ahi Wasabi was the best), but negative points for the wait time (we were of the first 10 people in line and waited 50 minutes for 2 sliders), they also changed their prices as we were standing in line. Blue Light Food Truck - solid Mexican food, but they ran out of asada fries :(. Busy Bees - delicious Tri-Tip. Overall, great selection. Hula Hut's Hawaiian Sliders - great selection of Filipino food. Overall, it was a fun festival. Great food, great beer. What more can you ask for?

For a free event I truly thought the Banana Festival was a great time. The fact that it's free and…read moreopen for all ages makes this the perfect weekend spot annually to partake with friends and family. I also appreciate the variety - initially I thought everything was "bananas only" but my friend informed me that while booths have banana specials and some banana centered booths, this is truly a well rounded event showcasing all kinds of different shops and food stalls for banana addicts and people just here for a good time and some non-banana items. I love a good theme but I'm not the biggest banana fan so I was happy to be able to try food and drink vendors that catered to the masses. This year I supported a few local vendors and tried lumpia, dim sum, and fresh fruit juices. The food and drinks were 10/10. I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of food and drink vendors they had. They also had a small beer garden which was great to see. Aside from food there were some shopping stalls, kids arts and crafts areas, and a kids play area. Again, great for all ages. Also throughout the day they had different artists and dancers to keep the crowds entertained. This event is super walkable and honestly I was able to see all I wanted to see in about 1.5-2 hours. A small but mighty festival. Some notable tips: I would highly recommend getting here early / at opening. Parking is sparse and when arriving close to opening I had to park pretty far, I didn't mind the walk but for those elderly and such it's smart to get parking closer in the beach lots. They also had a shuttle to get people from the lots to the event but I opted to walk. Also keep in mind that seating is always limited at these types of events... I felt like they did a good job of setting up multiple tables and chairs for people dining but by lunch all of the tables were taken. No issue for me as I was here early, but I could see as it got busier It would be difficult to be able to sit down to eat. All in all, this was a really great free event and I'm so happy I came. I definitely love to come support every year and I'm so grateful the community has such a fun festival such as this one.

We went to the festival thinking they would have all kinds of banana things to eat. You know like…read morebanana pudding, frozen chocolate covered bananas, banana shakes. NOPE the 3 largest producer companies were handing out free bananas.... That's it !!! There were plenty of food vendors but they were the same old thing you find anywhere. There were a few ride type things for the kids and a beer garden for the party people. Honestly if it wasn't for the car show out front of the festival it would have been a major disappointment. We did get our free bananas so the best thing to come from it was I made banana bread the following weekend. And if you go be prepared to either walk a ways or wait in line for the shuttle bus.

TACOS, TACOS TACOS!!! ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA, OLE!!!…read more BACKGROUND: 2015 marks the third annual T&TM Festival, presented by the producers of the legendary California Beer Festival. This two day event takes place at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard, fairly fresh and still expanding open air shopping center. STATS: 2-day event, July 18 & 19, 2015 Saturday - Sunday 11:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Online or at the door ticket purchase Premiere Two Day Pass $60 Saturday Tequila Experience $40 General Admission $10 (Saturday and Sunday) Kids 12 and under are FREE Ample free parking Proceeds benefit Food Share Ventura County's Food Bank EXPERIENCE: A couple fellow long-distance Yelper's and I have been attempting to synchronize our calendars for many many months. As many times as I've passed up their town, I was either on the way to a hike, or dashing back from a hike, in need of a shower. At last, while scrolling through my mail, I see this event. BAM!!! After some back and forth pinging, the event was calendared and tickets were bought online. Woo Hoo!! Snicker Alert: Parking was easy peasy and the entrance into this outdoor event, was simple. We pulled up our confirmation email on our cells, beamed our barcode, busted open our stash bags for security, heaven forbid we try to sneak a burger & beer into a taco & tequila event, and extended our over 21 year's wrist for banding and off we went. We steered straight for the beer ticket line, set out our tickets and grabbed ourselves a couple beers. Luckily for us Firestone was there with their 805 and WHA?!?!?! Don't judge, granted it was still the a.m., it's always drink-thirty somewhere. Or as one of my fave local Yelpers always says, "I'm not an alcoholic". According to fellow Yelper, this year the event was extended, it now occupies two areas divided by a street. The section at the entrance is appropriately spaced vendors selling drink tickets, knickknacks, beer, and margaritas. Across the street is where the bands played and taco trucks set their brakes and popped open their doors. SIDEBAR: Because the street that separates the two parts of this event, and the street is city owned, you may not cut through the street with alcohol in hand. Once we chugged our beers we were permitted to cut across the street to where all the action was going on, or setting up. Live music played as we roamed the grassy venue checking out the margarita and tequila vendors. As much as I wanted to try at least one taco from every truck, sadly the beers occupied a large portion of my tummy, not to mention, a creation of nachos I threw together while I was waiting for my one and only carnitas taco to be tossed together. Ok, I'll admit it, it was the GARLIC fries with cayenne pepper that really filled my tummy, and they were mighty yummy. Communal tables are available behind the entertainment stage, as well as a large grassy area in front of the entertainment stage. The tables make for a great setting for meeting people. and the grassy area, well let's just say, relaxing with eggcellent company, with beer in hand, music playing, people dancing sure did make for a great day! The rain that hit about 4:30 didn't damper the day one bit. After all, isn't that what frozen yogurt is for? #tequilaandtacomusicfestival #cityofoxnard #festivals

This was a fun event. We got the Tequila tasting experience and I say it was worth it. We came…read moreearly and were able to sample tequilas before the lines got huge. The event did get pretty packed but, it was a fun atmosphere and great music. Had the fish tacos and they were yummy. So many food vendors but we went there to drink. Also had the margaritas, recommended the regular margaritas. Got to see Lil Kim, among other smaller performances and DJS. They had three different stages with all types of music

OMG! Our first time at Cousin's Truck at CI Harbor today and it was Fantastic!! We'd heard they…read morewere good but this was a Really great lobster roll sandwich!! Lots of garlic butter on a toasted bun! We made the mistake of using the APP to order and saw the weirdest address...inside the mobile home park on the corner of CI and Harbor at a Pest Control business! Crazy!!! We finally found the truck by the events!

I love going to these trucks, there is always something new to taste. The past couple of times I…read morehave been addicted to Cousins Main Lobster Truck. Yes, first off, it is expensive and they serve you small portions. But its Lobster! from Maine! of course its going to be expensive!!!! The lobster rolls, lobster tacos are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!! And I'm not related to them in anyway, I didn't even liked lobster that much before. But the first time I tried one of their cold lobster rolls I was hooked. Now I can't wait until they come back on the 7/17 to the Channel Islands Harbor... Check them out. http://www.cousinsmainelobster.com/ Now I did try the Grill-Cheese truck, I'm not sure what they were called, I just wanted to try them because of the size of the line, I figured they have to be amazing grilled cheeses. NOPE! Mediocre at best. I can't believe I spent over an hour waiting for one of these things. I don't even eat cheese and I made an exception this time because I thought I was going to try the best grilled cheese sandwich ever! Sadly it was just a plain white bread with a few types of cheese not even melted all the way. YUCK! Anyways, they did have tons of other trucks there and it is a definite must go for everyone that loves all types of food.

Heard about this event because one of our friends belongs to a hula troupe which was performing one…read moreof the days. We decided to drive over and surprise her, and check out the event, too. The 11th Annual version was held September 26th & 27th, 2015. We'd never heard of it during it's first decade, which is a shame. Hawaiian dancers perform in abundance, and surfers are competing nearby. The day we were there it was crazy-warm for Ventura. Felt like a quick trip to Hawaii! Free admission, and parking at the Fairgrounds across the street. Suggest you hit the ATM before arriving, as many of the food vendors don't have provisions for plastic. Many vendors offer beach-y clothes, crafts, artwork, jewelry, and more. Worth a stroll to check them all out. Also great for people watching!

I enjoyed the hula. We enjoyed the vendors and the vibe - free day too - thanks!…read more Could use some umbrellas for sun control, and some less meat heavy food options (where's the poke!? ;)) I missed a lot of it up at the beach house taco shack waiting in line for something I could eat. But again, I liked the music and the hula was terrific. My friends are from Hawaii that we went with and all told chill, good day. Mahalo.