The annual Vista Strawberry Festival returns Sunday celebrating Vista’s claim to fame as the “Unofficial Strawberry Capitol of the World” during the 1960s and 1970s, when strawberries were shipped daily during peak season from Vista across the country and around the world.

The festival takes place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Vista with hundreds of vendors, entertainment, contests, food, a beer garden with live music and a 5K run, along with contests, a children’s play zone and a film festival.

The two-day Kids Zone, including giant slides, a zip line, water rollers, a bungee jump, zorb balls and big bubble bumpers, is from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Vista Magnet Middle School field. Tickets start at $15 for one attraction to $120 for three All-Attractions All Day Passes ($40 each).

The Strawberry Run 5K takes off at 7:30 a.m. Sunday from the Vista Magnet Middle School track, 110 S. Citrus Ave., the quarter-mile Kids Run at 8:45 a.m. and 1-mile Kids Run at 8:55 a.m. The Runners’ Costume Contest is at 9:30 a.m. at Tri-City Medical Center Main Stage.

Competitions range from a strawberry costume contest to pie eating and beer stein-holding. There will also be a Strawberry Film Festival with showings at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Here’s a lineup of some of the contests:

Vista Strawberry Costume Contest: Participants show up at 3 p.m. at the Tri-City Medical Center Main Stage. Three age groups will compete: age 2 and under; 3-5 years old and over 6 years old. Winners get prize-filled baskets. Free entry; sponsored by Building Kidz of Vista.

Strawberry Pie Eating Contest: The contest is at noon at the Tri-City Medical Center Main Stage and is divided into age groups, and the object is to eat one slice as fast as possible. Free; no preregistration is required, just show up. At 3:30 p.m. there will be the annual Whole Pie Eating Contest. Free; contestants’ names will be picked from a drawing for the contest.

Beer Stein-Holding Contest: Ten contestants will hold a 32-once mug with a straight arm as long a time as they can. Winners get souvenir pilsners. No cost to enter; sponsored by EDCO Waste & Recycling. This contest runs from 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Frozen T-Shirt Contest: Competitors try to unravel a wadded up frozen T-shirt. The first person to put on the shirt wins. All participants get to keep their (previously) frozen shirt. Winner gets an “I Strawberry Vista” T-shirt. The competition is at 11:30 a.m. at the Beer Garden Stage. No preregistration required; just show up and sign up.

“Little Ms. Strawberry Shortcake” Contest: The contest has three age categories — 0 to 2-year-old girls; 3- to 5-year-old girls and 6- to 10-year-old girls — and begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Tri-City Medical Center Main Stage (in the Belching Beaver parking lot). Cost to participate is $10. Register on-site. There are prizes for all participants and prize baskets for the top three winners.

Admission to the festival is free; there is cost for some activities, such as the Kids Fun Zone. Free shuttle service starts at 6:30 a.m. and runs to 7 p.m. at the North County Courthouse, 325 S. Melrose Drive; Return shuttles will pick up from in front of Starbucks, 30 Main St. in Vista Village. Also, there is parking at the Vista Civic Center, Vista Library and Vista Transit Center.

For more information, visit www.vistastrawberryfest.com.