New asparagus festival to debut at fairgrounds

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The Stockton Asparagus Festival was created in 1986 to promote locally grown asparagus.

The festival offered local merchants and food vendors a place to sell goods, with a chunk of money going toward local charities.

The annual event drew crowds of more than 80,000 people in its run.

The original home of the festival was at the Oak Grove Regional Park in North Stockton. The festival relocated to the Weber Point area in 2003.

In 2014 the festival was cancelled due to Stockton’s bankruptcy, but thanks to private promoter, the Noceti Group, the party lives on.

The Noceti Group is responsible for resurrecting and expanding the Stockton 99 Speedway and announced involvement in keeping the festival last year.

This year, the event will be held at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, April 17-19, 2015.

“The reason for the move to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds [is] it had all the amenities that the Asparagus Festival was looking for including parking, on-site kitchen and plenty of places to sit and eat,” said Heather Parejko, advisor committee for the festival.

There will be plenty of activities at this year’s festival including a family friendly carnival, craft fair, asparagus parade and a health wellness fair.

Local radio station KWIN will have a pass the microphone event for those wanting a chance to work at their station. Other entertainment will include a hypnotist, local singers, bands and tribute bands.Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for college students, Seniors and military personnel (with valid I.D). Children under 5 are free.