The San Joaquin Asparagus Festival is back at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds this weekend, Friday, April 14 through Sunday, April 16 with fun family entertainment and of course, asparagus. The springtime festival draws several thousand people from all over the region and with fortified security, event organizers are expecting a weekend of family fun filled with live music, Asparagus Alley, craft beer and wine pavilion, Kids Zone, and monster truck rides.
The festival has been staged in different areas in Stockton through the years and for the past few years has landed at the county fairgrounds. The first one was held in 1985 at Oak Grove Regional Park. It has been hosted at the fairgrounds for five years.
Alan Sanchez, spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Asparagus Festival noted that they have retained a Quality Security Services and the Stockton Police Department will be working the festival to ensure the safety of guests. Last year there were no incidents reported.
Sanchez added, “The asparagus festival is a popular annual event that celebrates the harvest of asparagus and offers a variety of family-friendly activities, such as food and craft vendors, live music, and carnival games. However, in recent years, concerns about safety and security have risen, and organizers have decided to step up their efforts to ensure that the festival remains a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees. This includes implementing new security measures, such as increased police presence and bag checks, as well as working closely with local authorities to identify and mitigate potential risks. By taking these proactive steps, the organizers of the asparagus festival are demonstrating their commitment to creating a fun and safe environment for everyone to enjoy.”
Asparagus Alley is a festival hot spot with guests lining up in years past to savor their favorite asparagus item like the deep-fried asparagus, bacon wrapped asparagus, and asparagus ice cream. Chef Julie Linesburgh created the secret recipe for the delicious deep-fried asparagus that is a guest favorite.
Sanchez shared that Kline Farms in South San Joaquin County will be providing over a ton of asparagus for the festival.
There will be several food and craft vendors on hand as well as cooking demonstrations with local chefs.
The carnival will have amusement rides and games and there will be a petting zoo and pony rides.
Miss San Joaquin Asparagus Festival Scholarship pageant will be held on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.sanjoaquinasparagusfestival.net.
