The Watsonville Strawberry Festival art contest for 2025 is now open. Local artists are encouraged to submit their own original artwork for a chance to win a cash prize and have their work displayed and sold at this year’s festival, scheduled for Aug. 2-3 in downtown Watsonville.
The festival serves as an annual celebration of Watsonville and the town’s strawberry farming industry, offering a fun time for families while platforming local nonprofits. It has evolved from the 1994 Watsonville Strawberry Dessert Festival, which was founded to help downtown Watsonville recover from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Submissions to the art contest will be evaluated on creativity, composition, technical skill, marketability, and inclusion of elements which represent the local region. Additional criteria can be found in the contest guidelines.
Entries are accepted until 5 p.m. on April 11, and the final selection will be announced via email by May 2. The winning artist will receive $1,000, and their design will be featured on festival posters, T-shirts, marketing materials and more. For further information on the festival or contest, click here.
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