Stockon Asparagus Festival Attendance Exceeds Last Year; Second Largest
10 May 2012 | No Comments | posted by Gus | in General, History
The Latest Press Release!
Passing the 100,000 mark once again, the 27th annual Stockton Asparagus Festival attendance exceeded last year’s and took the position as its second-highest attendance total in history.
This year’s April 27-29 event attracted 104,158 visitors—second only to 2004, when 108,000 people attended the first year in the festival’s downtown waterfront venue.
“This shows we are a sturdy, healthy festival still thriving after 27 years!”, Executive Director Kate Post said. “It shows great teamwork from the board of directors, staff, committee chairs, a host of volunteers, and co-sponsor City of Stockton crews,” continued Wayne Hose, this year’s Board President.
Still to come are the final revenue tally and the annual allocation of proceeds to San Joaquin County charities. Last year, the festival distributed $351,457 to more than 100 nonprofit organizations. More than $5.5 million has been given to participating charities since the Asparagus Festival started in 1986.
Festival-goers enjoyed great weather, great food, great entertainment, and enough other events and sights to fill a day. The 2013 event is scheduled for April 26-28. Although planning for next year has already begun, it begins in earnest in August. Booth applications for 2013 go online mid-September.
Photos courtesy of Recordnet.
Why One Man Keeps Doing It – Year After Year
1 May 2012 | No Comments | posted by Gus | in Entertainment, Uncategorized
We just received a really touching letter over the weekend and thought we would share it’s contagious positivity. This story is one of the reasons that our Festival has continued after 27 years to the city of Stockton, and why we always strive to give our festival goer’s the best experience possible. For one, and for all! We’re so proud to be apart of the community! Thank you for sharing your story, Greg D.
His letter to us.
“I went into this year’s festival thinking it might be time after 9 years operating the DeCarli Stage to call it my last. It seems sometimes that the rewards fade with repetition and the work is what my body reminds me of for days afterwards. Since my co-chair Ann and I do the same job each year, we also forget that our easy habits were born of hard lessons. It does seem as if anyone could book an immensely popular group that attracts a large enthusiastic crowd. This year, on the first day, during our first act, I was reminded of what we are privileged to be a part of:
It has become our habit to start our Friday line–up with a developmentally disabled group of performing artists named “The Advocates”. Although the performers are disabled, the group has a well polished and varied show of music and song. They also bring an audience. When 11:00 A.M Friday approached, the chairs began to fill as families arrived with their own special loved ones. The wheelchair ramps proved their worth. 300 seats filled and room was made for wheel chairs around the dance floor. The music began and 30 or so of the audience came to the dance floor, some in the slightly rumpled, mismatched garb familiar to parents of teens everywhere; one young man was as well groomed and elegantly dressed (in a suit!) as any G.Q. model. Those restricted to wheelchairs by weak and twisted limbs rocked back and forth and sang along as best they could. The entire scene was illuminated by smiles …. It was their turn to party at their Asparagus Festival.
Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful event. I’ll be back next year.
Greg D. – Electrical Contrator“
View the Sun through the Eyes of a Telescope – Sunday
18 Apr 2012 | No Comments | posted by Gus | in Activities
Who doesn’t like looking through a telescope and how often do you get the chance? Let us answer this for you. . . hardly ever! The Stockton Astronomical Society invites you to look at the Sun! Telescopes equipped with two types of special solar filters will be available for public viewing of the closest star to the Earth, the Sun. One type of filter will let you see some of the surface features and flares. One type of filter will allow you to see sun spots. This is enjoyable for 5 year olds to 55 year olds (aka. anyone and everyone)! Read more..
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