VISTA — Kickoff for the festivities will start with an early morning run followed by the street fair. Once again the Vista Chamber of Commerce is hosting the free festival event.
There is something for everybody at the Strawberry Festival,” Bret Schanzenbach, CEO of the Vista Chamber of Commerce said. “There will be different entertainment stages with live bands playing all day long and contests that will be going on throughout the day.”
A handful of these contests include the pie eating contest, Strawberry Idol, costume contests and more.
Schanzenbach went on to say how the daylong event will have a kids’ zone with carnival rides, an extensive food court and the Vista Craft Beer Garden with 12 different brewers taking part in the day.
The festivities will begin with the Vista Strawberry Run, which will consist of a 10K, 5K, 1-Mile Kids’ Run and 1/4-Mile Tots Trot.
“We call it San Diego sweetest run because there are strawberries at the finish line,” said Schanzenbach, noting that custom finisher’s medals are available for participants as well as t-shirts. “We have beautiful courses, and it’s a lot of fun.”
Adult runners 21 years and above are eligible for a free beer coupon in the beer garden.
According to Schanzenbach, 400 vendors will be on hand to accommodate the anticipated 100,000 attendees expected on this day. This year marks the most vendors the festival has ever had.
Schanzenbach extended thanks to Strawberry Festival title sponsor Tri-City Medical Center as well as Classic Chariots, who is serving as the title sponsor for the Strawberry Run.
“We couldn’t do this without our sponsors,” he said.
This festival year, a boosted, free-shuttle service, will offer guests three shuttles, running every 15 minutes. To take advantage of this service, Schanzenbach asks visitors to park at the Vista Courthouse Parking Lot at 325 S. Melrose Drive in Vista.
For more information on the Strawberry Festival and Strawberry Run, log onto VistaStrawberryFest.com.
