Artist Info

California Strawberry Festival

Event Description

Arts & Crafts, May 18 & 19, 2024 Mandatory set up on Friday, May 17. Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 West Harbor Blvd. Ventura, CA

The California Strawberry Festival celebrates its 38th year and we’re looking forward to an exciting, family friendly weekend of fun and flavor that pays tribute to Ventura County’s robust, world-leading strawberry industry. Guided by an all-volunteer board, the California Strawberry Festival is a 501c3 organization that gives back to the community through four postsecondary scholarship programs and weekend fundraising opportunities for more than 30 local non-profit groups. To date, the Festival has raised more than $5 million to fund these causes.

The non-profit Festival draws more than 57,000  attendees from across SoCal by serving up a delectable strawberry delights, arts & crafts booths, live entertainment, contests for berry lovers of all ages, carnival rides, and more. Weekend event hours are Saturday 10:00am – 7:30pm and Sunday 10:00am – 6:30pm.

Customers enjoy free park ‘n’ ride Strawberry Express Shuttle Service from convenient locations off the 101 freeway. There is also limited customer parking on site for $20. General admission is $15, seniors 62+ are $10 and children ages 5-12 are $8. Kids 4 and under are free. Active military & Dependents with ID are $10.

Dates to Remember

February 12  Application postmarked
March 11  Selection results sent to applicants
March 18  Selected applicants’ space fee deposited
April 22  Customer postcard invitations sent to artists
May 6  Artist Instruction Letter sent

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Through March 17  Space fee refunds given
March 18 – April 7  PFAF Credit Slip given minus $50 per cancelled space
April 8 – Show  Space fee is forfeited

Pacific Fine Arts Festivals’ credit slip may be used towards any future space fee.

Rules & Regulations

General Rules

CONDUCT/DISPLAY APPEARANCE Arrive on time, promptly remove vehicle to the designated parking areas as stated in event’s Instruction Letter, booth open and ready each morning by stated time, never break down or retrieve vehicles for loading before the stated time and complete all show days scheduled. No non-service pets allowed. No children under 7, music that interferes with neighbors, open flames or generators, alcohol, drugs, or smoking allowed in or around booth. Clothing should be tasteful. Your display area should be neat, free of storage boxes or clutter, with tablecloths floor length on all sides. No displaying of “SALE” or “DISCOUNTED” type signage. Offensive/abusive behavior is not tolerated. An ignored request by staff to refrain may result in expulsion from the event. This is a professional environment—please strive to always reflect that in booth appearance and personal behavior.

ATTITUDE Our goal is to run a show that is fun as well as profitable for us all. As important as the search for art talent is we do not lose sight of the need for artists who are cooperative and easy for us and other participants to work with. No amount of talent or ability to sell will compensate for this. Aggressive behavior won’t be tolerated: harassing/abusive/threatening language, physical assault, failure to respond to staff instructions will be addressed and may result in participant’s immediate removal from the event.

WEATHER Be at the fair or festival no matter what weather is predicted. In case of rain, follow directions given by on-site PFAF staff. Arrive at the event prepared with heavy, see-through plastic and clamps to cover your work in case of rain, and at set-up always install at least 40 pounds of weight on each tent leg and display piece or, in the case of sidewalk events, throughout your display in case of wind (heavily weight all umbrellas, too).

PRODUCTS FOR SALE Pacific Fine Arts Festivals and/or designated agents reserve the right to restrict/remove products offered for sale based on quality and integrity as decided by Pacific Fine Arts Festivals. Products not included in application are not appropriate to include for sale and will be required to be removed from booth without prior-to-event approval by Pacific Fine Arts Festivals.

THEFT Although rare, theft does sometimes occur. Pacific Fine Arts Festivals, the Host of the Event, or the City in which the event is held cannot be held liable by exhibitors for any theft that may occur at the event.

EVENT MARKETING Your marketing for each event is an essential part of our teamwork in promoting the events. We offer free color postcards for you to distribute (on your application request the amount you’d like for each event) in addition to providing downloadable event graphics for your social media or email blasts to directly target YOUR customers. Additionally, for each event we create posts on Facebook and Instagram that are easily customizable and shareable. Take advantage of these or if you create your own content promoting an event. tag us too, #PacificFineArts and @PacificFineArts. LIKE and FOLLOW us to get the latest news!

COMMISSION EVENTS A 10% commission on gross, pre-tax sales is paid on all work sold as a direct result of this opportunity for public exposure including sales finalized after each fair or festival. Commissions are due postmarked to the office (PO Box 280, Pine Grove, CA 95665) by the Wednesday immediately following the event and any subsequent sales commissions, as soon as possible. For commissions, we also accept PayPal, Venmo and Zelle. Instructions included in event instruction letters.

INSURANCE Insurance is not required to participate in our events, but we strongly suggest obtaining business or event insurance to protect your business and work. There are low-cost event or yearly policies available through actinsurance.com. Visit https://pacificfinearts.com/insurance/ for a few resource options.

FIRE SAFETY Fabric used in your display (curtains, drapes, backdrops, table coverings and banners) must be flame-proofed or fire-resistant. Detailed information will be provided in status notification acceptance letters.      

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Each participant must have a 2A:10BC rated extinguisher in their booth. If NEW, Fire Departments require that it must be stamped with the CURRENT year on the label or bottom of the unit AND the indicator must be all the way to the top of the green. If you’ve an older unit then it must have been serviced within the last 12 months and have a current State Fire Marshal tag attached AND the indicator must be all the way to the top of the green. This may seem unnecessary, but we assure you that it is a big deal to the Fire Marshal and the events can be negatively affected if participants do not bring their extinguishers meeting these regulations.

APPLICATION PHOTOS/EVENT VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHY Event applicants/participants agree to allow the images included with their application or video/photographs taken at event/s to be used for publicity and advertising.

ARTIST SPACE CANCELLATIONS After space fees are deposited and up to exactly 4 weeks prior to the event start date, a PFAF credit slip minus a $50.00 handling fee per each individual cancelled space is given. The PFAF credit may be used towards any future space fee. Space fee forfeited if the cancellation comes 4 weeks + 1 day prior to the event start date. For “No Show” negligence, space fees are forfeited, and subject to removal from future events and our mailing list.

CANCELLATION OF FAIR OR FESTIVAL If weather, major disaster, pandemic, or other circumstances beyond the control of the Host of the Event, the City in which the event is held or Pacific Fine Arts Festivals cause the cancellation of the fair or festival, participation fees will not be returned. The Host of the Event, the City or Pacific Fine Arts Festivals cannot be held liable by exhibitors for the failure of the event to take place.

REFERRAL PROGRAM We’re always interested in bringing new, quality products to our events. Share our information with your quality artisan friends and you both will receive a $50.00 credit upon participation in the same year! Download the Referral Certificate from our website, pacificfinearts.com, or contact us to request one. Submit the certificate with your individual applications and after you both participate in any event in the same year, we will send each a $50.00 credit slip good towards any future space fee. Word-of-mouth referrals are golden, and we appreciate your sharing your enthusiasm for our events!

Event Eligibility Rules

Important: Applicants considered will be those showcasing their individual perspective in unique, unusual and/or unexpected ways, and with good creative design in their art or craft. Artwork or crafts solely assembled with purchased components are not a good fit for our event. Application is open to creators of quality handcrafted works made in the USA by the artisan selling their works. Do not apply if your products are buy and sell, imported or from kits, work not created and produced by the applicant(s), toys as weapons, body art. Certain depictions of weapons, nudity or printed words are carefully considered. We appreciate artists’ freedom of expression; as these are events that families may attend, we are held responsible to each hosting entity and community to present what they consider to be family friendly. No booth sharing will be considered outside of a married/significant-other partnership, otherwise only one artist or a collaborative partnership will be assigned to one space. It is possible, though, for two artists (each must apply separately) to request side-by-side spaces. With pre-arranged permission, a representative may sell at events.

Booth Info

Spaces are on concrete and asphalt. Up to 150 spaces.

Space sizes and fees  3% fee added to space fee credit card charges
OUTDOOR
10dx10w space: $400.00, no commission
10dx20w space: $800.00, no commission
*INDOOR
(limited availability) 5dx12w space: $200.00, no commission
(limited availability) 5dx24w space: $400.00, no commission
10dx10w space: $400.00, no commission
10dx20w space: $800.00, no commission
* Electricity included for indoor spaces: One outlet for one artist-provided power strip.
NOTE: FIRE SAFETY Fabric used in your display (curtains, drapes, backdrops, table coverings and banners) must be flame-proofed or fire-resistant. Detailed information will be provided in status notification acceptance letters.

Set-up/Tear-down
Mandatory set-up Friday, May 17. Arrive between 9:00am – 5:00pm
Park onsite and cart to space.
Oversized vehicles may have other instructions. TBA.
Tear-down time available on Monday morning.

Security
Overnight security provided Friday night through Monday morning

Overnight Parking
Available for self-contained vehicles Thursday night through Monday morning

Special Requests
Please indicate any special request on your application. Space requests are taken into consideration but cannot be guaranteed.

Licenses, Permits, & Taxes

CA Seller’s Permit  To participate in the event each artist must have a CA Seller’s Permit number. One is not needed to apply to the event but one must be obtained at least 6 weeks prior to the event in order to participate. CLICK HERE for more information.

Participation Agreement

This agreement is entered into by and between Pacific Fine Arts Festivals (Producer), the Host of the Event (Client), the City in which the event is held (City) and the exhibitor, artist or craftsperson filling out, signing, and returning the application (Artist).

The Artist hereby indemnifies and holds the Producer, its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers, the Client, its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers, the City, its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers harmless from any and all claims, including costs and attorney’s fees resulting there from, arising out of said Artist’s participation in any and all events which have been organized by or through Producer, Client, or City. For the purposes of this agreement, the term “participation” shall include, but not be limited to, the delivery and safety/security of equipment, merchandise, structures and arts or crafts to their designated location, the set up and display of any such structure and art or crafts, and the dismantling and removal of all such items from the area provided by or through the Producer or its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers, the Client or its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers or the City or its agents, employees, sub-contractors and volunteers.

The Artist hereby expressly assumes any risk of harm or theft to the Artist, works of art or craft, guests or guests’ property arising out of their participation and the participation of other artists or agents in any given fair or festival organized by Producer, Client, or City including any risk resulting from the location of the space designated for them by the Producer. The Artist agrees to hold harmless the Producer, Client, City from any and all liability for damages to persons and damages or theft of property from any source. If weather, other acts of Nature, pandemic, or other reasons beyond the control of the City, Client or Pacific Fine Arts Festivals causes the event’s cancellation, Artist application and/or space fees will not be returned and neither the City, Client nor Pacific Fine Arts Festivals will be held liable to Artists for failure of the event to take place.

This agreement shall be effective immediately upon execution and shall continue in effect for every fair or festival that the Artist participates in that is organized by Producer during the current year.

THE WORK DESCRIBED IN THIS APPLICATION FOR SELLING AT THE EVENT/S IS HANDCRAFTED IN THE USA BY PERSON/S LISTED UNDER ARTIST NAME ON APPLICATION PAGE, WHO WILL BE SELLING THE WORK AT EACH EVENT, AND WHOSE NAME IS REFLECTED ON THE APPLICATION’S SIGNATURE LINE.

I AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE POLICIES, RELEASE & HOLD HARMLESS AND THE RULES GOVERNING EACH EVENT OUTLINED IN EACH EVENT’S INSTRUCTION LETTER SET FORTH BY PACIFIC FINE ARTS FESTIVALS.

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