The Ultimate Guide to the Oxnard Salsa Festival (2023)

Please Check OxnardSalsaFestival.com for the latest updates.

*Salsa Festival canceled for 2023. Please check back in 2024

It's summer and the Oxnard Salsa Festival is heating up. Here's your must-read guide to this year's Oxnard Salsa Festival.

Oxnard Salsa Festival

The Salsa Festival takes place at the historic Plaza Park, in the heart of downtown Oxnard at Fifth and "C" Streets. The Festival returns this year with your favorites, including the Salsa Tasting Tent, a Kid Zone for families and live music and entertainment.

Where to Park

Parking is free, but we highly recommend arriving early to find a space. Catch the free shuttle to the Festival at The Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center. The shuttle runs from 10:30 - 7:30 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Parking is available at the Downtown Parking Garage on 4th and B streets. There are more than 20 public parking lots throughout Downtown Oxnard that are free, and the 2-hour parking limits on-street parking are not enforced on Festival weekend as a courtesy to festival attendees.

Another option is to take the local Gold Coast transit bus, which stops in Oxnard, Ventura or Ojai, to the Oxnard Transit Center.

If you're living outside of Ventura County, take the Amtrak train into town. The station is located three blocks from the Festival.

Learn more about getting to the Festival.

Tickets

The Oxnard Salsa Festival is a free event. You can purchase a $5 ticket for concert venue open seating (within the white picket fence). Kids 10 and under are free.

You'll get a wristband that's good for all-day open seating! You can still bring your chair or blanket (no lawn umbrellas, please) or sit in one of the hundreds of chairs to enjoy the bands.

General Information about Concert Venue Open Seating

• Beer and Margaritas are available for purchase.
• Open seating means you and your party have access to sit at the concert venue on the lawn or in the chairs provided.
• Seats are not assigned or saved.
• The dance floor is located within the concert venue.
• No lawn umbrellas.
• No coolers or pets will be permitted.
• No outside alcohol may be brought into the Festival.
  
  More details about tickets and tables.

Salsa Tasting Tent

The Oxnard Salsa Festival is a celebration of all things salsa – food, music and dance - and a place where salsa (the sauce!) reigns supreme. Under the big-top Salsa Tasting Tent, you'll find dozens of flavors of salsa to sample and buy. From fresh and fruity, sweet and smoky, to mild and scorching hot. It's the region's biggest salsa bar!

Admission to the Salsa Tent is $5 per person and includes a bag of fresh Mission tortilla chips and ten tasting tickets.

Food at the Event

From flavorful carne asada tacos, gourmet tamales and empanadas to roasted corn and strawberry desserts – there are dozens of menu items to choose from in the two Festival food courts! Enjoy ice-cold Pepsi drinks, fresh-squeezed lemonade and smoothies. There will be Bud on tap along with frosty frozen margaritas.

Entertainment

Six bands will perform at the Oxnard Salsa Festival in 2023. Check out the main stage schedule here.

Kid Zone

Kids can enjoy games, rides and bounce houses at the Oxnard Salsa Festival's Kid Zone. There are also free arts and crafts activities for kids of all ages.

Salsa Festival Gives Back

The Oxnard Salsa Festival has raised more than $750,000 over the past ten years for various local charities through the "Dancing with Our Community Stars" event. The stars train and show off their skills in a dance competition on Sunday's main stage.

You can vote by donating $1 to the star representing their favorite charity. One-hundred percent of the proceeds raised goes directly to each charity.

Need Planning?

• ​​Find accommodation options here.
• Find out more about planning your visit here.
• Discover cool things to see and do in Oxnard here.
• Want to come back for another event? Check out the line-up of Oxnard events here.
• Want to take a trip to the beach? Here's a guide to Oxnard's best beaches.