WATSONVILLE — Downtown came alive this weekend as large crowds attended the 23rd annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival.
Locals and visitors alike enjoyed two days of family-friendly activities, live entertainment, a carnival and assorted foods.
A number of booths run by local nonprofit groups and organizations lined Main Street to sell strawberry delicacies — everything from funnel cakes to strawberry pizza.
“This is a celebration for our community,” said Amy Mascareñas of El Pajaro Community Development Corporation. “People work really hard to support the strawberry harvest and industry here in Watsonville. It’s important to recognize that.”
This was El Pajaro CDC’s fourth year at the Strawberry Festival. Mascareñas and her crew spent their time selling flats of the fruit and other strawberry treats.
The next booth over, Pajaro Valley Shelter Services volunteers had for the second year running teamed up with Ella’s at the Airport to serve homemade strawberry shortcake.
“This kind of event is so vital for a city like ours,” said PV Shelter Executive Director Kimberly Ferm. “It’s not just a party — it’s a way to make connections, to see what is happening locally.”
Ferm pulled aside one volunteer, board member Casey Clark, who had only become aware of Pajaro Valley Shelter Services through a similar event.
“I considered myself an active member of the community,” Clark said. “But it wasn’t until I met Kimberly at an event similar to this that I learned about PV Shelter and what they were doing for this city. And now it’s a big part of my life.”
In addition to sampling strawberry treats, festival goers were treated to live music throughout the weekend on the main concert stage and in the nearby beer garden. On Saturday afternoon, dancing even broke out in the streets during Banda Herencia Tapatia’s set at the main stage.
The annual carnival was busy early on Saturday as well — with families eager to play games and try out classic rides such as the Berry Go Round and the Balloon Fiesta.
A large number of agencies, recruiters and vendors filled Watsonville Plaza and the surrounding streets.
Artist Paul De Worken of Monterey Bay Murals, who has been selling his signature Watsonville merchandise at the festival for the past five years, was part of it. He expressed his appreciation of the Strawberry Festival and how it attracts people from out of town.
“There are people out there who overlook Watsonville,” he said. “The Strawberry Festival is great because it brings people here. It shows them this is a great place to be.”
