San Joaquin Asparagus Festival Kicks Off Friday

The San Joaquin Asparagus Festival is ready to serve up more than a dozen dishes ranging from deep fried to asparagus ice cream.

The festival opens Friday for a three day run at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. It's expected to draw 80,000 people.

For over 30 years the festival has sliced, diced, and fried countless tons of asparagus.

Last year, 80,000 visitors gulped down 20,000 pounds of asparagus that was wrapped in bacon, in burritos and sandwiches, mixed with pasta, asparagus corn dogs, ice cream, and washed down with asparagus margaritas.

Carol Noceti along with her husband Tony heads the festival and says more than a thousand volunteers donate their time to their charities to keep this festival going at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton.

“This festival is to give back to the community, so far, over the last two years we’ve give out over $300,000 back to the non-profits.”

She says the main attraction is the asparagus grown locally here in the Delta, and everyone has their favorite dish.

“The deep-fried asparagus absolutely, and the asparagus ice cream.”

According to Noceti, the asparagus comes from local growers.

“So, when we order it locally, it gives us most fresh possible asparagus available," says Noceti. "It’s better that way, the asparagus is fresher and we have an amazing response at how fresh the asparagus was coming right out of the Delta here.”

Noceti also says besides asparagus corn dogs, asparagus pasta, asparagus burritos and sandwiches, and even bacon-wrapped asparagus, there will be entertainment stages, carnival rides, and a kids zone.