The 25th annual Oxnard strawberry festival kicks off today with an expected record crop and the sweetest strawberries in years. Started in 1984 as a farmers-market-like gathering at Channel Islands Harbor, the festival honoring Ventura County’s most fruitful crop has turned into one of the top outdoor festivals in the nation.

Covering 75 acres at Strawberry Meadows in College Park, the festival run by the nonprofit California Strawberry Festival is expected to draw about 70,000 berry lovers.

Last year, more than 67,000 strawberryphiles flocked to the Oxnard festival and injected $7.5million into the local economy, according to festival officials reports the Daily News.

In 25 years, the event has donated more than $3million to dozens of local charities.

Among this year’s festival features will be live musical entertainment, free carnival rides, over 300 arts and crafts, and 50 food booths touting everything from strawberry pizza and make-your-own strawberry shortcake to berry drinks.

Among highlights also will be a strawberry tart toss, a strawberry pie-eating contest and a strawberry stomp.

The festival will be held 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today and Sunday at Strawberry Meadows in College Park, 3250 Rose Ave., Oxnard. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children ages 5 through 12. For more information call 888-288-9242 or go to www.strawberry-fest.org