Apricot Festival has full slate of activities

The Moorpark Apricot Festival will run Fri., Sat. and Sun., May 7, 8 and 9 at Arroyo Vista Community Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road in Moorpark. It features something for everyone. In addition to the carnival midway, craft show and live entertainment, this year’s festival offers many new activities. Many of these are—of course—apricot-oriented.

The three-day event will kick off with the Battle of the Bands from 5 to 10 p.m. Fri., May 7. The fourth annual Arroyopalooza and Battle of the Bands event will showcase live performances by local Ventura County bands including: Hurly Burly, Midnite Overture, Blue Root, Kickstart, Spencer, Vital Flame, Decoy, Stricken, Syngaia and Awake. Bands will perform on two separate stages for back-to-back performances. Admission is free.

The festival’s carnival rides and attractions will be open from 5 to 10:30 p.m. while the bands perform. The midway will be open from noon to 10:30 p.m. Sat., May 8 and from noon to 9 p.m. Sun., May 9.

Discount carnival tickets are on sale at the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center. Discount tickets are 10 rides for $10. There is a midway Mother’s Day special: mothers ride free with paid child on Sunday.

Saturday’s family-friendly musical fare includes local band One Last Dance at 1 p.m. At 3 p.m. Ray & the Corsairs will deliver a nostalgic tribute to the classic oldies of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. The oldies trend will continue at 5 p.m. with Captain Cardiac & the Coronaries. At 7 p.m. the Booty Shakers, a ’70s-era disco band, will perform.

Sunday’s music will be "a blast from the past," featuring music from 1910 to the 1970s. Beginning at 1 p.m., Ghosts of Radio will play the best of Chuck Berry, Stray Cats, the Rolling Stones and more in their rock ’n’ roll tribute. At 3 p.m. Riverboat Dixie will play Dixieland music from 1910 through the Jazz Age. The Kahuna Cowboys will perform at 5 p.m. in the festival’s final concert. Described as "an upbeat and humorous jug band," they will play a wide range of "good time retro music" from the ’30s, from Western swing to Hawaiian jug to blues, jazz and more.

A Craft Show & Expo will run from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Vendors from all over the Southland will offer gifts, jewelry, candles, scented soaps, clothing, wood work, pottery, artwork, sculpture and more.

Children of all ages are invited to compete in a coloring contest on Saturday and Sunday. Contest winners will be announced at 4:45 p.m. Sunday on the main stage. On Sunday (only) there will be apricot pie eating contests at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.

The Moorpark Moms Connection will present the inaugural Apricot Bake-Off. Judging is from 3 to 4 p.m. and winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m. Recipes from the bake-off will be included in the "Best of the Apricot Festival" cookbook.

The Moorpark Police Department will present several new activities to benefit DARE and Special Olympics. The inaugural Ventura County Fire Truck Pull will be at noon Saturday. Teams of six will compete to pull a fully-loaded fire truck 25 feet by a rope attached to the front of the engine. Awards will be given in four different categories. Entry forms are available at the Moorpark Police Department, Arroyo Vista Recreation Center and on the city’s Website at www.ci.moorpark.ca.us/recreation/avrcweb.html.

An inaugural Golf Ball Drop will also be held on Saturday. Golf ball tickets will be sold for $5 each. The balls will be dropped from a fire truck ladder. The ball that makes it into the cup wins.

The Moorpark Police Department will hold Apricot Pit Spits throughout the day on Saturday. For a small fee, festival-goers can see how far they can spit an apricot pit. Proceeds from these three activities will all go to support DARE and Special Olympics.

For more information about the Festival, please call the Arroyo Vista Recreation Center at (805) 517-6300.