51st annual Topanga Banjo, Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival

Listen, dance or jam

With a history reaching clear back to 1961, what is now known as the Topanga Banjo, Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival has grown to be one of the premier bluegrass events in the U.S. - and the 51st edition comes to Paramount Ranch this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be food, folk art booths and fabulous music all around. You can listen, get up and dance or even jam with other musicians. So get out there and start pickin'.

Events

Contest Stage
More than 100 instrumental and singing contestants plus:
• Dustbowl Cavaliers
• Haberdashery ensemble
• Frank Fairfield
• Scott Gates & the Salty Suites

Dance Barn
Band playoffs, clogging, contra & square dancing with live music:
• Triple Chicken Foot
• Old Sledge

Eucalyptus Grove
Whole family fun with:
• Folk songs with Fur & Steve
• Kids crafts with Alaina Smith
• Dan, the Fiddle Man
• Southwest Fiddlers
• Old-time fiddle workshop
• Old-time banjo workshop
• Celtic slow session
• Hawaiian songs -
ukuleles and guitars

Pavilion Stage
Beginner playoffs plus:
• Old Sledge - roots and history of string band music
• Mike Mahaney & Friends - cowboy songs and poetry
• Fur Dixon & Steve Werner - songs of the open road

Railroad Stage
Singing playoffs, intermediate fiddle playoffs plus:
• Evie Ladin -
old-time banjo and songs
• Evan Marshall -
Mr. Solo Mandolin
• Susie Glaze - mountain music
• Ross Altman
Note: The SCV's own Trish Lester and her band mates Joan Enguita and Linda Geleris (Women on the Move Trio) will perform in the singing competition, probably onstage between 11 a.m. and noon.

Jamming
There will be jamming throughout the park all day long. Be sure to bring your instruments and join in on the fun.

28th annual California Strawberry Festival

One sweet weekend

The 28th annual California Strawberry Festival comes to Oxnard next Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with delicious food, arts and crafts booths, Strawberryland for Kids, gooey contests and headline entertainment on two stages. Munch on strawberries that are chocolate-dipped, powdered, on shortcake and even atop pizza. There will be continuous live musical entertainment from rock ‘n' roll to country, big band and top 40s, Latin, musical comedy and more. Kids will enjoy rides, puppet shows, clowns, mimes and magicians. Why not pop up the coast and get a taste?

Strawberry Festival Music

Saturday, May 21

Dr. Kato Stage
11 a.m. - Channel Island Clippers
(a capella; local favorites)
12:30 p.m. - Chico (Latin pop)
2 p.m. - L.A. All Stars of Funk (funk)
4:30 p.m. - Blowin' Smoke (12-piece R&B review)

Festival Stage
10:30 a.m. - Unkle Monkey (Jimmy Buffett-style pop)
12:20 p.m. - Jeanne Tatum (smooth R&B)
1:50 p.m. - Dakota (hits of the '60s, '70s and '80s)
3:20 p.m. - Bella Donna (tribute to Stevie Nicks)
4:50 p.m. - Platinum Groove (the ultimate party band)

Sunday, May 22

Dr. Kato Stage
11 a.m. - Skadaddyz (ska)
12 p.m. - Cannibal &The Head Hunters (Latin R&B)
2 p.m. - Moonwalker, The Michael Jackson
Experience, tribute
4 p.m. - The Swing Kings (big band swing)

Festival Stage
10:30 a.m. - Famous Strangers (classic pop)
12:20 p.m. - Hammer Smith (wizards of the blues)
1:50 p.m. - Urban Dread (reggae and island sounds)
3:20 p.m. - Bob Cowsill (classic hits from The Cowsills)
4:50 p.m. - Fantastic Diamond (Neil Diamond tribute)