There will be a festival to celebrate asparagus again this year in Stockton, but it will have a new name and a new location. The San Joaquin Asparagus Festival begins late this week at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.
Festival organizers called it quits last year saying the costs of operating in Downtown consumed the profits that traditionally have gone to charities.
But the Noceti Group is continuing the festival tradition. It has put together 300 booths, a midway with carnival rides, and 20,000 pounds of asparagus.
Carol Noceti says the fairground location will give the festival a new start with 200 acres of parking, lower overhead, and cheaper admission.
"It's not unrealistic for us to expect that we could possibly have anywhere from 65 to 100,000 people showing up there," Noceti says.
She says all the favorites will be on the menu including deep fried asparagus and asparagus ice cream, and there will be at least one new addition.
"The bacon-wrapped asparagus which I think is going to be a hit with the people," says Noceti.
Noceti says 1,000 volunteers will work the festival and proceeds will benefit 100 non-profits.
The festival starts Friday afternoon and runs through this weekend.
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