'Decades of asparagus fun': San Joaquin Asparagus Festival celebrates 38 years this weekend
Deep fried to ice cream, asparagus inspired foods are back in Stockton this weekend.
The San Joaquin Asparagus Festival will be celebrating 38 years with a three day event from Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 14. The festival opens at noon on Friday at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds at 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton. It will run through 8 p.m. Sunday.
"You're talking decades of asparagus fun, and now it's going to come down to one of the biggest years that we're expecting to have," said Alan Sanchez, San Joaquin Asparagus Festival spokesperson.
Something for everyone
The Asparagus Festival started in the mid 1980s and is currently put on by the Noceti Group. Stockton has become synonymous with asparagus because of the festival, Sanchez said.
"A lot of different towns have their own themes...the Almond Festival in Ripon, the Strawberry Festival in Galt," he said. "This is what we're known for."
Asparagus is special to the San Joaquin Valley for special reasons.
"The unique thing about this is that asparagus is very difficult and expensive to farm here in this area," Sanchez said. "The Noceti family has teamed up with Klein Family Farms, which is here in San Joaquin County, to grow specifically for the festival."
This year, the festival will extend its hours and will be adding "almost about 80 to 90 more vendors," Sanchez said.
"We're looking at over 225 vendors already, and that includes a lot of asparagus themed items or asparagus inspired items, when it comes to food. You're talking about asparagus drinks, margaritas... deep fried bacon wrapped," Sanchez said. "There's going be a lot of asparagus item foods."
There will also be options for those who don't like asparagus, Sanchez added.
"We just want to give everybody a chance to enjoy the festival for themselves," he said.
If you are looking for the deep fried asparagus, asparagus ice cream or asparagus pasta, Asparagus Alley is your go to. If you are looking for other asparagus foods such as the deep fried bacon wrapped or foods that are asparagus-less, the Asparagus Plaza will be your food heaven.
Live cooking demonstrations will also be on site with local chefs cooking asparagus dishes.
What to expect at this year's festival
The San Joaquin Asparagus Festival will have live music and entertainment at the Main Stage.
Live entertainment lineup:
3 p.m. Friday, April 12: Mystic Vinyl
5:30 p.m. Friday, April 12: That Little Band
8 p.m. Friday, April 12: Gary Souza Band
12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13: Opening ceremonies East Union High School JROTC Lancer Battalion Color Guard and Stockton Police Department Chaplain
1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 13: San Joaquin Asparagus Festival Pageant
5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13: TMR The Madness Remains
8 p.m. Saturday, April 13: Faithfully Live
12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14: Opening ceremonies Girl Scout Heart of the Central Valley Color Guard and Stockton Police Department Chaplain
1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14: Asparagus Princess Showcase
2:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14: Sparkle Sisters
3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14: The David Perez Band
6 p.m. Sunday, April 14: Western Bound
Carnival rides, a petting zoo, train and monster truck rides will also be available for festival goers. Sanchez said this year there will also be camel rides.
Individual tickets or $35 unlimited carnival ride wristbands will be needed for the Midway of Fun carnival rides.
Miss Asparagus Festival Queen pageant
Three new Miss Asparagus Festival Queens will be crowned this weekend.
The competition isn't based off beauty. It's about the person who best represents the asparagus festival, Sanchez said.
"It's for everybody of all ages," he said. "The youngest one, I believe is four months...(and) someone who's in their 80s. It's fun for everybody."
The crown categories are:
Teen Miss Asparagus Festival (12-15 years old)
Miss Asparagus Festival (16-21 unmarried and without children)
Ms. Asparagus Festival (18+ years old, regardless of status of martial and maternal)
There is also a princess program for girls under 11 years old.
A 'family fun, safe event'
Aside from fun, security and the safety of those attending is a major focus of the festival.
"Even though we have not had any major incidents in the past years, we are stepping up security just to make sure everyone feels (safe)," Sanchez said.
The festival does have a clear bag policy and pets are not allowed, with the only exception of service animals. Documentation for the service animal may be requested, the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival website states.
Tickets start at $15 for adults, $10 for children 6 years and up, $10 seniors and military. Children 5 years old and under get in free. Fees are not included. Purchase tickets online at sanjoaquinasparagusfestival.net/.
Parking is cash only: $10 for cars and $5 for motorcycles.
"It's a wonderful family fun and safe event," Sanchez said.
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin Asparagus Festival
