JUST HOW DEEP... is a traditional banana split dish? It's got to be roomy enough to hold three generous scoops of ice cream, and a mountain of whipped cream, and a load of chopped nuts, and all of the hot fudge you crave (and let's not forget the essential cherry topper). How deep is the Port of Hueneme? Suffice it to say, it is rather deeper than your typical banana split dish, seeing as how it is "... the only deep water port between LA and San Francisco." We're not sure how many banana split dishes, or, for that matter, bananas, could be stacked, end-to-end, to measure the port's impressive depth, but figuring that number out isn't at the top of many lists. What is, though? The 6th annual Port of Hueneme Banana Festival, a September-ending celebration that both highlights the potassium-rich fruit bowl favorite and the busy port's role as "...one of the country's largest banana gateways." The 2017 date is...
SATURDAY, SEPT. 30, and the free festival offers attendees a lot to peel back. Vendors will be out selling a variety of banana-sweet and non-banana bites, though you'll want to keep an eye out for the banana beignets as well as, you guessed it, banana splits. There'll be other unusual or one-of-a-kind banana dishes to try, so save room for the sweetness, even if you dig into some empanada action or barbecue for lunch. There'll be live music, and margaritas, and activities for kids, but make time to hop on a free tour of the port (they're on land and on the water). You'll learn about the capacious amount of cargo that passes through the Port of Hueneme each year, and other interesting facts. One note? Make sure you have identification if you want to take a tour. For all of the banana-good, port-fascinating details, visit the festival's main HQ.
