(NEWS) LOS ANGELES, California, Unites States, 2026-May-13 — /Travel PR News/ — Southern California rail operators are continuing to position train travel as an alternative to major event traffic, and this weekend Metrolink will once again adjust service routes to accommodate visitors attending the annual California Strawberry Festival.
Based on details shared in Metrolink’s official announcement, its Ventura County Line trains will temporarily bypass Ventura-East Station on May 16 and 17, replacing it with direct service to the Ventura-Downtown/Beach Station located adjacent to the Ventura County Fairgrounds, where the festival is being held.
The modified service is intended to simplify access for festivalgoers while reducing reliance on car travel during one of Ventura County’s busiest annual events. Organizers and transport officials continue to encourage rail travel as a way to avoid congestion and parking limitations around the waterfront venue.
Metrolink trains serving the event are scheduled to arrive at Ventura-Downtown/Beach Station at 12:19 p.m. and 7:05 p.m., with departures at 12:53 p.m. and 4:14 p.m. Riders can also use Metrolink’s USD 10 SoCal Day Pass, which allows unlimited travel throughout the day, while weekend family promotions enable up to three children aged 17 and under to ride free with a paying adult.
Additional rail access will also be available through Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, which operates between Los Angeles and Ventura and serves the same station area near the fairgrounds. Through the existing codeshare agreement between Metrolink and Amtrak, passengers can access greater scheduling flexibility across both rail networks during the festival weekend.
Now marking its 40th anniversary, the California Strawberry Festival remains one of Ventura County’s largest annual food and community events, centered around the region’s long-standing agricultural connection to strawberry production. Ventura County is among California’s major strawberry-growing areas, and the festival has evolved into a broader tourism and entertainment attraction over the past four decades.
This year’s edition will feature more than 50 food and beverage vendors offering strawberry-themed menu items ranging from funnel cakes and smoothies to strawberry nachos, kabobs, popcorn, and desserts. Alongside the culinary focus, the event will also include live music, carnival rides, puppet shows, magic performances, and local artist displays designed to attract both regional visitors and family travelers.
The use of rail transportation for major events has become increasingly common across Southern California as local agencies attempt to reduce road congestion while encouraging more sustainable regional mobility options. Event-specific train services are also being used to position rail travel as part of the overall leisure experience rather than simply a transportation alternative.
For Ventura, where beach tourism, agriculture, and regional events frequently overlap during the summer season, direct rail access to the waterfront fairgrounds remains a key advantage for large-scale public gatherings.
Festival gates open daily at 10 a.m., with transportation operators expecting increased passenger activity throughout the weekend.
