The Asparagus Festival today is nowhere near what it was back in my day. No, I’m not going to go on a long rant about walking uphill both ways barefoot in the snow.
I remember standing in line with my parents on unseasonably hot days in late April early May just to be able to have a taste of that amazing deep fried asparagus.
There was one year when they had a live performance by the band Smash Mouth. Smash Mouth! Like the guys who did the opening song to “Shrek,” a movie that defines a generation of meme-loving zoomers.
I’m not saying the Asparagus Festival is terrible, but compared to other festivals like the Lodi Grape Festival or the Gilroy Garlic Festival, the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival is significantly lacking. One thing that can be said about these other events is that they’ve been in the same location consistently, and in the case of the Lodi Grape Festival has been owned by the same people for the majority of its existence.
It has changed venues so many times. My parents remember the 2002 Asparagus Festival at Oak Grove Park in Stockton. I remember when the Asparagus Festival was at the waterfront, and now it’s back to being at the County Fairgrounds.
Then there’s the pricing. Parking is $10. A single day admission for adults (18-64) is $20, child (6-17), senior 65+, military with ID is $15, and children 5 and under get in free. Unlimited ride wristbands are $30 each, or an individual ride is $1. As it stands, if a family of four wants to go to the Asparagus Festival, they face a charge of more than $100. For admission and rides alone — that doesn’t include food.
There was a time when the festival was cute and wholesome. When asparagus ice cream was simply strawberry ice cream with bits of asparagus in it.
Let’s hope during these past two years of hiatus, the owners of the Asparagus Festival have had time to think about what they want the Asparagus Festival to become. Do they want something Stocktonians and the people of San Joaquin County are proud of? Or do they want some kitschy tourist trap that’s mostly used for self profit?