23rd Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival spices up Oxnard on July 30, 2016

Are you ready for some spicy fun and entertainment? The 23^rd Annual Oxnard Salsa Festival starts on Saturday, July 30 through Sunday, July 31, 2016. Presented by the OxnardDowntowners, the festival is an annual celebration of everything salsa – the music, the food, and the dance. The festivities include Southern California’s most electrifying salsa and Latin bands, non-stop salsa dancing, marketplace shopping, the fiery Salsa Tasting Tent, international foods, Kids Korner, a recipe contest, and salsa dance performances.

Entertainment Line-up:

Friday, July 29

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Cecilia Noel & ‘The Wild Clams’ (paid admission - $15 adults, $10 children 6-14)

Saturday, July 30 (Concert Venue Open Seating $5 at the door, Children 10 and under are free)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Lily Hernandez Y Su Orquesta

1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Community Dance Showcase

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Chino Espinoza y Los Duenos Del Son

4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Ricard oLemvo & Makina Loca

Sunday, July 31(Concert Venue Open Seating $5 at the door, Children 10 and under are free)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Conjunto Afro Son

1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Dancing with our Community Stars Dance Contest and Charity Fundraiser

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Son Mayor

4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Orquesta Tabaco y Ron

The Great Oxnard Salsa Challenge Recipe Contest takes place Sunday, July 31, 2016. Amateur salsa chefs are invited to compete and win! The contest is limited to 50 salsas and pre-registration is required. The entry fee is $25 per salsa and includes one souvenir t-shirt per entry. Entry forms are due by Friday, July 8, 2016 and are available online. Winning salsas will be selected in several categories including Best Red, Best Green, Best Fruit, Best Mild, Best Medium, and Best Hot. The Judge’s Choice Winner (best of show) will be awarded with a $100 cash prize from the Oxnard Salsa Festival. First place category winners will receive a Festival “goodie bag”.

Dancing with our Community Stars Dance Contest and Charity Fundraiser competitors will be: Bonnie Atmore, dancing for FOOD Share with instructor, Jesse ‘Chuy’ Rodriguez; Pedro Chavez, dancing for Big Brothers Big Sisters with Diana Porter; Seana-Marie Sesma, dancing for Santa Paula Art Museum with instructor, Lovie Hernandez; Veronica Robles-Solis, dancing for Oxnard Council of PTA’s with instructor, Jesus Garcia; Tammie Helmuth, dancing for Ventura County Animal Services  http://www.vcas.us/ with instructor Jess “Chuy” Rodriguez; and Mary Jo Fuentes-Leste, dancing for Access TLC Hospice Foundation  with instructor, Ottis Gillespie. The dancers will be competing for the ‘Judge’s Choice Award’ for the best routine, while also vying for the ‘People’s Choice Award’, which is presented to the star who raises the most money for his or her charity.  The fundraising voting campaign is underway and donations can be made online. 

Kids Korner with Tortilla Art is Oxnard’s own Art & Music Factory allowing kids to use their creativity in the arts & crafts booth, using real tortillas, courtesy of Mission Foods. Led by Gloria Hidrogo, a graduate of Bellas Artes in Mexico, kids can paint on tortillas or create tortilla flower necklaces. A variety of inflatables like a bounce house, giant maze, slide, and climbing wall will also be available to keep the kids busy.

Salsa Tasting Tent Experience is a way to experience different salsas from 15 local restaurants, Mexican markets, and gourmet salsa vendors including BG’s Café, Bocas Hot Sauce, Brothers Gourmet Jam & Jellies, El Oaxaco, Ghost Scream Hot Sauce, La Dolce Vita Ristorante, La Fonda Del Rey, Mama Vega Products, Margarita Villa, and Tresierra Supermarkets. Whether you like fresh & fruity, hot & smoky, sweet & spicy, or extremely hot, you can have a taste of each. Tent admission is $5 and includes freshly made Mission Food tortilla chips and ten tasting tickets. If you need to cool off your taste buds, the Salsa Cantina is right next door with ice-cold beer, wine, and margaritas for sale.

Festival Marketplace is where you will find a wide assortment of international foods and shopping with 150 food, craft, gourmet sauce, and retail vendors to choose from. Two food courts will showcase authentic Mexican tacos, fish tacos, fresh shrimp cocktails, tortas, empanadas, spiral ribbon fries, nachos, roasted corn, kettle corn, and other festival favorites.

Mark your calendar and hope to see you there!

For more information:

Oxnard Salsa Festival

Plaza Park

Fifth and B Streets

Oxnard, CA, United States

Dates/Hours: July 30-31, 2016 from 11am to 7pm

Admission: FREE for the event, Salsa Tasting Tent - $5, Reserved Stage Seating - prices vary

Parking: Free parking in downtown area