WATSONVILLE, CA–(Marketwire) – Latin legends Sapo and El Chicano will rock the crowds at the Monterey Bay Berry Festival (www.berryfestival.org) on the weekend of August 1-2 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. The festival opens at 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day with the Berry Carnival closing at 11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 p.m. on Sunday.

(The Pete Escovedo Orchestra. Photo Credit: Jerry Clark – The Urban Music Scene.com)

It will be a non-stop, jam-packed weekend of entertainment. Among the bands performing will be Sapo (www.myspace.com/saporichardbean), featuring Richard Bean; El Chicano (www.elchicanomusic.com); The Pete Escovedo Orchestra (www.peteescovedo.com) (pictured above); Malo (www.malomusic.com), featuring Jorge Santana; Lava (www.lavamusicrocks.com); the Tommy Castro Band (www.tommycastro.com); The Backyard Blues (www.backyardblues.com); La Ventana (www.myspace.com/laventanabandcom) and Los Morros Del Norte (www.morrosdelnorte.com).

Millions of delicious, nutritious, mouth-watering strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries will be ripe for the celebration. Tasty dessert treats and entertainment are just part of the fun over the weekend. There will be arts and crafts booths, a wide range of Festival food selections, and gooey contests for young and old happening each day. New attractions include the Gold Coast Arabian Classic and Amateur Horse Show, a Muscle Car Show and a wellness faire to learn about the nutritional values of eating berries.

Live Entertainment

SATURDAY: 10:30 a.m. band to be announced; Noon Lava; 1:45 p.m. The Backyard Blues; 3:30 p.m. Tommy Castro Band; 5:30 p.m. Sapo; 7:30 p.m. El Chicano.

SUNDAY: 10:30 a.m. band to be announced; 12:15 p.m. La Ventana; 2 p.m. The Pete Escovedo Orchestra; 4 p.m. Malo; 6 p.m. band to be announced; 7 p.m.band to be announced; 8 p.m. Los Morros Del Norte.

General admission is $6 and $3 for children 3-10 years old. Half price advance carnival tickets will be available at the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. For more advanced ticket information, call the Chamber at (831) 724-3900 or visit www.berryfestival.org. A portion of the proceeds benefit local non profits.

While strawberries, Santa Cruz County’s #1 agriculture crop, have been the center of attention at other festivals, this will be the first time raspberries, blackberries and blueberries will be in the spotlight too. These crops account for $287,239,000 million in Santa Cruz County, according to the 2008 Santa Cruz County Crop report.

Monterey Bay Berry Festival