LOS ANGELES – Southern California’s regional passenger rail system, Metrolink, will once again modify service to accommodate attendees of the annual California Strawberry Festival, returning to the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 16-17. Throughout the weekend, Metrolink’s Ventura County Line trains will bypass the Ventura-East Station and will instead stop at the fairgrounds-adjacent Ventura-Downtown/Beach Station, allowing for convenient festival access.
“Metrolink is proud to connect riders to one of Ventura County’s most beloved traditions,” Metrolink Board Second Vice-Chair and Camarillo City Councilmember Tony Trembley said. “This weekend’s modified service makes it easy for families and visitors to focus on enjoying the festival by giving them the freedom to skip the event traffic and leave the stress of parking at the venue behind.”
Metrolink trains are scheduled to arrive at the Ventura-Downtown/Beach Station each day at 12:19 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. and depart at 12:53 p.m. and 4:14 p.m. Festivalgoers can take advantage of Metrolink’s $10 SoCal Day Pass promotion, which provides unlimited rides on the day of purchase. On weekends, up to three children 17 and under also ride free with a paying adult.
In addition to Metrolink, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains operate between Los Angeles and Ventura and serve the fairgrounds. Metrolink ticketholders can take advantage of the agencies’ robust codeshare program, which provides more flexibility for customers. Throughout the weekend, a special Pacific Surfliner promotion will also allow up to three children, ages 12 and younger, to ride free with each paying adult.
Officially celebrating its 40th anniversary, the California Strawberry Festival annually celebrates Ventura County’s leading crop. The event boasts more than 50 onsite food and drink vendors cooking up strawberry-inspired creations, including strawberry takes on nachos, beignets, funnel cakes, kabobs, popcorn, smoothies and beverages. Beyond food, live entertainment for all ages, including music, puppet and magic shows, carnival rides and artist displays, provide a weekend’s worth of activities.
Gates open each day at 10 a.m. More information about Metrolink’s service for this event is available at metrolinktrains.com/strawberry-festival.
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Metrolink regional passenger rail service offers reliable, safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable transportation throughout an interconnected six-county network. Metrolink has 545.6 total service line miles and 67 stations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and San Diego counties, connecting people, communities, and businesses and serving as an essential link in the region’s mobility landscape. Metrolink also operates the Arrow service, a nine-mile extension of the San Bernardino County Line linking the cities of San Bernardino and Redlands.