By TR Robertson
Thousands of people wandered the streets of Downtown Historic Vista on Sunday enjoying the over 450 vendors, a new carnival ride area, numerous food vendor selections, a variety of organizations distributing literature and wonderful performances on the four different stages set up around the downtown area, all comprising the 2025 Vista Strawberry Festival. The sponsors for the festival are the Vista Chamber of Commerce, the City of Vista and the Vista Unified School District. The stage sponsors were the Frazier Farm Garden Stage, the North County Transit District Stage, the North County Ford Contest Stage, and the Santa Fe Dental Community Stage. Children’s Paradise Preschool and Infant Centers sponsored the Carnival area and La Jolla Vein & Vascular sponsored the annual Strawberry Run. Other sponsors for the Strawberry Festival included Supervisor Jim Desmond, EDCO, Alchemy Print Co., Asgard Energy, Dr. Bonner’s All-One!, The Film Hub, and Lifetime Home Remodeling. The Strawberry Run had one of the largest sign-up ever.
At the North County Ford Contest Stage fun events were run all day long, all with a Strawberry theme. There were Costume Contests, Strawberry Pie and Sundae eating contests, and the Film Festival Award presentations were held. One stage that drew large crowds all day long was the Santa Fe Dental Community Stage, featuring youth performances from North County organizations. Featured on this stage were groups from North County Children’s Choir, Pacific Motion Dance Center, O’Connor Kennedy Academy of Irish Dance, Ca Karate Academy, Grapeview Elementary School, Project Performer, Danceology, Kainga Music Steel Drum Band and a teen rock band called Trick.
The Strawberry Festival has grown every year both in attendance and with the number of vendors who take part. This single day event is one of the largest single day festivals in both California and in the Southwestern part of the United States. Attached are some of the photos taken from performances on the Santa FE Dental Community Stage.
