Top notch entertainment scheduled for Strawberry Festival

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the E Family featuring Sheila E are among the many musical acts playing at the 25th anniversary California Strawberry Festival open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard.

Two stages will host performances throughout the weekend of classic rock, country, zydeco, Elvis, Latin salsa, rhythm & blues, and smooth jazz, along with tributes to Santana, Journey and Queen. Concerts are included with festival admission.

The schedule for May 17 is as follows:

•Festival Stage: 10:30 a.m., Relish (blues rock); noon, Big Adventure (progressive rock); 1:30 p.m., Michael John and The Bottom Line (guitar blues); 3:10 p.m., Caught Red Handed (country); 5 p.m., Light (Journey tribute).

•Dr. Kato Stage: 11 a.m., Bluz Boys (jump swing); 12:50 p.m., Raymond Michael's Tribute to Elvis; 2:45 p.m., Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (swing band); 4:45 p.m., Blowin' Smoke with Larry "Fuzzy" Knight (big band blues).

Following is the line up for May 18:

•Festival Stage: 10:30 a.m., Uncle Monkey (beach band); noon, Jeanne

Tatum & Co. (smooth rhythm & blues); 1:30 p.m., Savor (Santana tribute); 3:10 p.m., Skinny Little Twits (classic rock);

5 p.m., Acadiana with Teresa Russel (zydeco cajun).

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•Dr. Kato Stage: 11 a.m., Lil' Elmo ('50s, '60s show band); 12:50 p.m., Latin Rhythm Kings (featuring Cannibal and the Headhunters, Rudy and Steve Salas of Tierra); 2:45 p.m., Sheila E and the E Family featuring Pete Escovedo, Juan Escovedo and Peter Michael (pop, R&B, Latin jazz); 4:45 p.m., Queen Nation (Queen tribute).

Children have their own entertainment in Strawberryland For Kids at the "Jest in Time" tent theater, with puppet shows, comedy, juggling, magic and more. Televi

sion character Strawberry Shortcake will make appearances.

The festival also includes food vendors, strawberry delights, fine arts and crafts vendors, rides, gooey contests and more.

Admission ranges from $5 to $12, and proceeds benefit 20 Southland charities. Children four and under are admitted free.

The "Strawberry Express" offers free park-and-ride shuttle service from several locations. On-site parking is free.

For more information, call (888) 288-9242 or visit www.strawberry-fest.org.