27 Years and Going Strong – Part 1
16 Nov 2011 | 8 Comments | posted by Gus | in History
The Stockton Asparagus Festival has passed its quarter century mark and is now in its 27th year. When still just the seed of an idea, the founders of the festival, led by Joe Travale and Gordon Medlin, wondered those many years ago who would turn out to celebrate the annual harvest of the popular vegetable and San Joaquin County’s most prestigious agricultural product. Twenty thousand attendees later, the organizers has their question answered and never looked back as they moved full steam ahead with asparagus “spear-it.”
The festival has grown into a hearty crop of devoted volunteers, sponsors, and a whopping 100,000 people attending each year. It may not be one of the largest festivals in the country, but it certainly is one of the best and most successful. In 2000, Sunset Magazine bestowed its “Best of the West” Award on the Asparagus Festival giving us the moniker “Best of the West Food Fest” which we proudly tout each year.
We are also the largest charitable festival in California, giving thousands of dollars to over 100 non-profit organizations who provide the army of volunteers that make this festival possible. To date we have given $5.5 million over our 27-year history.
Located at the bucolic country setting amongst the towering oak trees at Oak Grove Regional Park north of Stockton for its first 18 years, the festival thrived and grew until urban sprawl started to encroach on its boundaries, and increasing park restrictions started to hamper continued growth. In 2003, the city of Stockton wooed the Stockton Asparagus Festival and convinced organizers to move the event to the beautiful downtown waterfront, encompassing 31 acres and several city blocks.
The move gave the festival a whole new look and feel, and proved to be the best thing that could happen to the event to bring it to a whole new level. The move drew record crowds, experiencing the largest gate revenue ever. Its downtown venue has resulted in continued record attendance and revenues, which have benefitted participating non-profits substantially. . . .(Continued in Part 2)
Festival fun for kids of all ages!
16 Feb 2010 | 2 Comments | posted by MrAsp | in Kids
Make sure you put some time aside for the kids to visit the “Asparazone” at this year’s Stockton Asparagus Festival. There will be some perennial favorites, as well as some new and exciting activities and shows.
New this year: Velocity Circus. These aerial artists and contortionists will amaze everyone with their acrobatic and performance skills.
Sea Lion Encounter: Come see Dr. Hurley’s world famous Sea Lions. Witness up close and personal the behaviors of these wonderful animals.
Skyy Dog Arena: Get a great view of Rockin’ Ray and his amazing group of entertaining canines. These dogs are famous for their incredible disc catching ability, aerobatics and even jumping rope!
Tyson The Skateboarding Bulldog: He’s a skater who just happens to be a dog! Having performed all over the world, and been in numerous television performance, this is one talented dog. Don’t miss him.
Asparazone: In addition to the exciting entertainment, Asparazone features rides and lots of activities just for kids.
Foster Farms Imposters (Saturday only): The famous Foster Farms Imposters® have returned for a World Tour. They are willing to do anything to be plump, like natural fresh Foster Farms chickens. But nobody is fooled. Come see the Imposters newest shenanigans this year at the Stockton Asparagus Festival on Saturday, April 24
For information on all the activities at this year’s festival, just visit:
http://asparagusfest.com/
The festival helps the Food Bank!
11 Feb 2010 | 6 Comments | posted by MrAsp | in General
Just by attending the Stockton Asparagus Festival means you are helping hundreds of local charities. But, if you’d like to help out a little more, bring a canned good, or other non-perishable items to the festival. You’ll see one of the colorfully painted Emergency Food Bank trucks parked just outside the festival.
The Emergency Food Bank, founded in 1968, is the largest direct provider of packaged emergency food in San Joaquin County. Over one thousand people a day are served healthy food from Emergency Food Bank services. Almost four million pounds of food is distributed each year from our main location and over 13 pantries in Stockton and San Joaquin County. That equates to almost 200 fully loaded 54’ semi-trailer loads, feeding over one hundred thousand men, women, and children nutritious food each year, without charge.
If you can’t bring a canned good to the festival, you can still make a donation, and find out more about The Emergency Food bank, by visiting:
http://stocktonfoodbank.org/
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