The California Avocado Festival opened in Carpinteria City with a ceremony that balanced an avocado on the nose of the seal fountain and showcased live music, contests and family activities, organizers and participants said.

Festival producer Mike Lazaro introduced the opening and described the event’s lineup. “I’m Mike Lazaro, festival producer,” he said, and later said the weekend featured more than 70 bands on four stages.

Why it matters: the festival is a longstanding community event that draws local residents and visitors, supports performing musicians and vendors, and this year included public remarks defending live music after some residents complained about noise.

Organizers staged a brief ceremonial act at the fountain to mark the start of the festival. An honorary chair, John Welty, was recognized in the front row during the opening remarks. The program included live-music sets across multiple stages, a guacamole championship that named a new winner from Toro Canyon, and a strong-arm contest that tested how long contestants could hold 5 pounds of avocadoes at arm’s length.

Attendees and participants used the platform to defend the role of live music in Carpinteria. Michael Epps said festival-goers were “saving live music in Carpinteria,” and said the scene was under pressure from a local couple who had complained about noise. Epps told the crowd that Carpinteria’s culture was built on live music, art and a beach lifestyle.

Other highlights cited by speakers included a free Ferris wheel, sponsored by the Palms, offered for children 5 and under; community bands and performers; and contests such as the guacamole championship. Two attendees identified themselves as John Paul and Terry and described the festival atmosphere, saying the community was embracing the event.

Organizers and speakers gave several descriptive details during remarks: one speaker said the festival had “over 70 bands on 4 stages,” the strong-arm contest involved holding 5 pounds of avocadoes, and the Ferris wheel offered free rides for younger children — all characterizations given by presenters and attendees during the opening ceremony.

No formal government actions or votes were reported at the opening ceremony. The remarks and contests were descriptive of festival programming and community sentiment rather than policy decisions.

Looking ahead, organizers did not provide a formal schedule or dates during the opening remarks included in the transcript; vendors and performers were described as present and performing throughout the event.