The 42nd annual Citrus Festival of Santa Paula will take place July 17 to 19 at Harding Park, 1300 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula.

Hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Fri., July 17 and noon to 11 p.m. Sat. and Sun., July 18 and 19.

The theme this year is "Sweet Fruit, Sweet Life."

Activities include headline entertainment, carnival rides, a downtown parade, a car show, a family fun stage, and fruity fun and games. Additional features will be a citrus and avocado pavilion, specialty foods and arts and crafts vendors.

Entertainers are El Chicano, Tierra, Dazz Band, Los Cadetes De Linares and Carmen Jara, The Company Band, House Arrest, Principes Del Ritmo and La Sonora Dinamita.

The Citrus Festival Parade will start at 10 a.m. Sat., July 18 on Main Street in downtown Santa Paula between 7th and 11th Streets. This is a genuine hometown parade with classic cars, bands, community group floats, an antique fire engine and local equestrians.

Antique autos will be on display at the entrance to the festival from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Entry forms for the parade and car show can be downloaded from the festival website listed below.

The festival will have information and displays about the fruit of California, citrus ranching and the state's agricultural heritage. Daily admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under. Admission includes all live music and entertainment. Tickets for the carnival rides are sold separately at the carnival entrance.

The festival is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Paula and the city of Santa Paula. Event proceeds will support many youth organizations and programs in Santa Paula.

For more information, visit www.santapaulafestival.org.