The 33rd Annual Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival will take place on the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, May 28th and 29th. The Strawberry Festival is San Luis Obispo County’s largest free Festival and is the primary yearly fundraiser for the Arroyo Grande Village Improvement Association. This family-style event brings together thousands of visitors and local residents to enjoy activities and entertainment, three carnival areas, the Strawberry Stampede, hundreds of art, craft and display booths, ethnic foods, and of course, scrumptious strawberry treats of all kinds as well as fresh strawberries by the box! Heritage Square Museums, antique shops, wineries and restaurants in the historic Arroyo Grande Village will also be open. The Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival has been named “the place to be on Memorial Weekend” by Sunset Magazine!
The Festival’s entertainment line-up is once again packed with captivating performers on Eleven Stages throughout the Village! Many types of popular music will be featured including ethnic, folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass and rock ‘n roll! Regional favorites such as GhostMonster featuring Nataly Lola, Mid Life Crisis, the Blue Moonshine Bluegrass Band, Dulcie Taylor, the Foppianos, BanjerDan and Andean musicians Huayllipachia will grace Festival stages. Several jazz groups will perform including New Orleans sounds from the Rag Bone Saints, classy jazz from Talia Ortega and Cool Notes and big band tunes from Cal Poly’s University Jazz Band. The Physicians Choice Folk Stage (Hosted by Songwriters at Play) will feature guitarist Dorian Michael, pianist Shelby Figueroa, jazz-pop vocalist Josh Rosenbaum and others.
America’s Funniest Cowgirl Karen Quest along with Ballooney the Clown will delight the kids at the Rabobank Family Stage. World champion unicyclist Jamey Mossengren renown Phoenix street performer and juggler Brent Fiasco will be featured both days! Full Circle Aikido students and the Troupe Benat Serat belly dancers will perform on the East End Dance Lawn. Hundreds of young dancers from five local dance studios will be featured on two stages as well as baton twirlers and color guards. Rides on live camels will be available on Nelson Street and three carnival areas will be spread around the Festival grounds! The Teen Plaza will be hosted by Music Motive and will feature several teen bands, a participatory Kids Drum Circle and the big Euro Bungee ride. The RKdians, the Bucket Busters and Santa Maria’s Society Jane Performance Team will also entertain at the Teen Plaza.
A special bicycle parking “Bike Valet” will be offered for free at the Festival this year! The Air Pollution Control District is covering the cost of the booth and teaming the up with Bike SLO County and Rideshare’s May Bike Month program to promote the free Bike Valet. Attendees can check their bikes at the corner of Nelson St and Mason St. – just south of the AG Creek and adjoining the Rotary Bandstand. Also new this year will be a special focus on all the vendors of Strawberry related products and food. A special insert in the printed Entertainment Schedule will feature all the Strawberry booths. As in past years, the Festival will offer remote parking at Arroyo Grande High School and lots near the AG Women’s Club and St. Pats School on West Branch. Silverado Stages buses will run all day both days to and from the remote lots and the Festival. This bus service is partially paid for with a grant from SLO County 4th District Supervisor Lynn Compton.
Refer to agstrawberryfestival.com or call 805-473-2250 for more information on the Strawberry Festival and the many other yearly activities in the Village. Also look for updates at: http://www.facebook.com/agstrawberryfestival