The Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival will serve up the red fruit in a variety of ways, including as deep-fried delicacies, horchata, salsa, cheesecake, shortcake and more, for three days. 

The festival celebrating Santa Barbara County’s top crop opened Friday and runs through Sunday with strawberries and cream, and trendy Dubai chocolate strawberry cups also available. 

The gates will be open from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg St. 

The popular strawberry tasting event also will return, letting visitors learn that not all strawberries are created equal. 

Festival-goers also can purchase berries to take home since the event includes two booths located near the gate selling various-sized containers.

The event includes a carnival, a cooking demonstration, a chalk art display and a classic car show. Musical entertainers and dancers will take to stage at various times, with the schedule available here.

Chef Scott Landry’s Cooking with Kids shows recruit youths from the audience to help with his demonstrations.

Admission is $17 for adults and $15 for senior citizens age 62 or older plus youths ages 6 to 11. A season pass for all three days of the event is $37. Children age 5 or younger will be admitted for free.

On-site parking is $10 with cash or card accepted. 

On Friday night, the 33rd annual Strawberry Industry Recognition Dinner occurred at the Fairpark.

Karen Ross, who leads the California Department of Food and Agriculture, delivered the keynote speech.

For more information, go to the event website at santamariafairpark.com.