The Most Flavorful Festivals in Stockton

Oakdale Chocolate Festival

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (21)

"In my opinion it was not as big or good as it could have been. In years past Oakdale always did it so big! I am very glad to see Chocolate there this year. We are slowly coming back from all the Covid stuff! I can't wait for next year, it's only up from here."

Alameda County Fair

★★★★☆ 3.6 (669)

"We had a work team event at the Alameda County Fairgrounds for Horse Racing. It was a Friday event, so the place was not as busy as it probably is on event dates and weekends. The property was HUGE, I got lost for awhile trying to find my way in. There are massive buildings everywhere, huge parking lots, a golf course and an RV park on 267 acres in Pleasanton, CA. Once I found the parking lot, there was a trek to make it to the Race Track. Be prepared to do a lot of walking around this facility. The company booked the Sky Lounge which included a really nice buffet lunch, my company also provided us with $50 in game money and an open bar. Unsure how much the tickets were, but the food was good and we had a great time. I don't gamble, but have tried before and picked it up pretty quickly. I lost and won, overall walked away with some of the money I was given. The fun was in competing with my coworkers and seeing who bet on which horse and how they placed their bets. It was a good time and would like to come back for one of the bigger festivals, fairs or events."

Downtown Modesto

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"How often am I in Modesto?! Practically never. Before recently, it had probably been well over a decade since I stopped by. Somehow I've found myself out here twice within the past year: once after wine tasting in Ripon, and another time coming back from Fresno. Daaaamn has this place changed! I remember coming down here to visit old friends many years ago. The only thing really poppin' at the time was the bowling alley and the Sonic Drive Thru. Fast forward to now and they've really built up the downtown area. I mean... it's no Oakland or San Francisco by any means. But for a town that's located deep in the valley, it does alright for itself. I really like the design of the downtown area. Trees line many of the streets and there are all sorts of flowers planted throughout. I ran across some really neat wall art that reminded me of the artwork that you'd see in downtown Eureka. There's a big movie theater on the main block that's surrounded by tons of cute shops and restaurants. It felt pretty safe to walk the streets at night and everything is so well lit. This isn't a town that I plan to spend a whole bunch of time in, but it's nice to know that there's a hip downtown area to stop through during my travels to and from the central valley."

Taste of the Valley Art & Food Festival

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"This used to be called the Tracy Dry Bean Festival. I guess the new name is catchier. Never attended the old event as I missed it last year and before that I wasn't in these parts. But it was a good time. Nice small town festival with local vendors and lots of yummy local foods. There were two stages playing music at opposite ends. One in the Great Plate parking lot and the other right up at the corner of Central and 10th. As you can imagine central was closed for that entire stretch of road. The Lockeford Sausage was delicious and the El Toro Tacos from the taco truck did not disappoint. I got to sample wines from windmill ridge and Ramon rios wineries. There were also a couple of beer/microbrew spots as well. There was an activity tent for the kids, a produce area so you can sample and buy fresh local fruits and veggies, and even a chili cook off. Good times for the whole family."

Pittsburg Sea Food Festival

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (24)

"Inflation strikes again! The admission ticket is $20 (There are VIP admission tickets for $100...are people really buying these?) If you didn't buy tickets in advance...you will kick yourself because it's $30 at the entrance. I went today (my first time) with a coworker and we had fun. She pointed out in prior years, they had many more vendors to buy from. I ate (split the cost/food with a coworker to keep our cost down): BBQ oysters, calamari/catfish/french fries, BBQ ribs/greens, pinot grigio (only Dale Vino sold alcohol...their Villa Sandi(?) pinot was so good! And, I'm not even a fan of white wine!). There wasn't anything that I ate that tasted bad. So, that was a bonus! It's crazy difficult to find a vendor that sold bottled water. On a hot day like today in Pittsburg, why didn't anyone think of selling water? Missed opportunity for sure. I will say one of the vendors by the entrance sold water bottles. Everyone else sold lemonade, slushies, etc. What is that going to do to keep me hydrated?"

Danville Summerfest

★★★★☆ 4 (4)

"Quick take: Nice street festivalConveniently located in close proximity to the Farmer's Market. I went out there early in the morning. It was one of those really hot days. I killed some time at the Farmer's Market since this festival did not start until 10am.A lot of vendors selling handmade crafts. A few food stands, a petting zoo, and a bounce house."

Patterson Apricot Fiesta

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (7)

"I love our Central California small town festivals!! Which is why we took the short journey to the small town of Patterson, California, the apricot capital of the world! This was the first time I attended this 3-day annual event and I wonder what took me so long. Free entrance to this event stocked full of vendors and food trucks! Lots of apricot themed drinks, desserts and fresh apricots themselves. Parking was easily had, and to tell you the truth we lucked out on a parking spot close to the event. It was pretty packed being Sunday the last day of this Fiesta. As we entered, on this warm Sunday afternoon, we were greeted with some upbeat, entertaining live music. I quickly wanted something apricot and something cold. I found it! A delicious apricot freeze, not too sweet but with natural apricot taste with real pulverized apricot amidst blended ice slush. We shared and killed that while checking the vendors out and all the food trucks conveniently located together under lots of shade. We next had some apricot ice cream !!!! Again, cold and delicious with bits of that golden orange apricot in each lick/bite. As for food they had many options. From Portuguese food, Filipino barbecue, hamburgers/hot dogs/ typical fair food AND Lockeford Sausage. I had a Smoked Dakota Lockeford Sausage in a bun with sauerkraut and it didn't disappoint. They never do. Picked up a fresh lemonade to go with it, enjoyed more live musica then rounded off our stay with APRICOT PIES!!!! I got an apricot cobbler and a regular one. They each had great buttery crust with bits and halved apricots through out and served only to deepen my love for this wonderful fruit. I think I want to plant my own apricot tree now. Lol! Well, if you've never been to this annual event in early June you've gotta check it out. I'll be back for sure next year for more apricot delights and delicious food."

Pumpkin Fair

★★★☆☆ 3 (1)

"Having moved here in 2014, I'm guessing that I've had three chances to visit Pumpkin Fair. I hadn't visited because this area is known for almonds, not pumpkins. Today, seemed an okay day to take a look.During this election year, several of the booths along Yosemite Ave. were political. There were plenty of businesses represented, as well.Near Library Park there were the only pumpkins I saw. There were also a number of carnival rides and an area for beer drinking, next to a bandstand.In between there and Main Street, there were a number of food vendors, along with other service businesses and more crafts and other merchandise vendors."

Greek Food Festival

★★★★★ 4.9 (16) • $$

"I don't miss much about Modesto, but the Greek Food Festival is one thing I do miss. Just like the name says, food is the focal point, but all things Greek are involved - dancing, art, vendors, and even tours of the Greek Orthodox Church on site. Just don't forget to buy baklava to go. It is some of the best you'll ever have. Trust me."

California Garlic Festival

★★★★☆ 3.7 (43)

"My husband and I signed our 5 year old daughter up for the Princess Program pageant. She is naturally very shy and at first thought she wasn't going to do well on stage. I was worried I would have to be on stage with her. But the older pageant girls and fellow princesses were so very helpful and made our daughter feel welcome and confident while walking on stage. I saw at least 4 or 5 different young ladies guiding her throughout the whole program. I thought that was awesome! The pageant coordinator Shim and the rest of the staff were so friendly and welcoming! Our daughter had such a great time and says she can't wait to be in it next year. After the princess program we enjoyed a cooking demonstration from Dave Royce. Then got us some garlic maple brown sugar ice cream, which was amazing by the way! It would've been nice to have more garlic options since my family and I love anything garlic, but mainly we just wanted the ice cream lol. All in all it was an amazing and SAFE event. No worries of anyone shooting it down like they did in Gilroy ‍. This was a fun event for our little family to enjoy and we will DEFINITELY be back next year!"

Harvest Festival Original Arts & Crafts Show

★★☆☆☆ 2.2 (21)

"[Part 2 of 2]There was a pretty big stage outside, and the benches around it could seat about 80 (they were only about half-full when we were around).We briefly saw the Fargo Brothers Band perform (they play rockabilly). They're quite talented (they've been playing together for 25 years), but the lead singer isn't a very good speaker.Bad Catz also performed, but we didn't get to see them.The Festival is small overall, and there aren't many food booths (the prices are what you'll find during the Alameda County Fair- ex: $2 for a Small Drink; $8 for Chicken Tacos; $4 for Nachos).The security guards were quiet and nice, but the woman at the entrance we used was a bit forgetful and anal (she was like an old and strict librarian). We had to get stamped, and we returned just half an hour later, and she still had us show her our stamps (at this point, nobody was coming and going).If you're interested, the Festival is coming to San Mateo (11-13), Sacramento (18-20), and San Jose (25-27) in November.There was a lot to see, and we all had fun.Check out the Harvest Festival if you can."

Stanislaus County Fair

★★★★☆ 3.5 (24)

"If you closed your eyes while standing in the Alameda County Fairgrounds then were transported to the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. You wouldn't be able to tell you had left.I had no idea what a great facility they have here. Its lush and green. Nothing like what I expected to come out of Turlock. I really don't think Turlock knows what a great thing they have here.My company threw a small convention/trade show in one of their large buildings. There was a full kitchen to be able to serve at least 250 to 400 people. Room for booths to be set up for the trade show. A stage to give presentations and plenty of table space for people to sit and eat their food.Also, there was a special treat for me because at the same time we were having our event there was also a "Blues Grass Festival" happening on the other side of the grounds.I loooove blue grass. I went over and checked them out because I'm nosy. They were camping out for the weekend. People had tents, RV's, and trucks with campers. Plenty of room to lay a blanket out and pick a banjo. I got to listen in on a great jam session. The music was so wonderful to hear.These Fairgrounds have so many little hidden gems. I tried taking pictures of everything so I could share. I don't know what other events they have here but it may be worth coming to check out.Just gorgeous and special. You are very lucky Turlock to have such a wonderful place to call your own."

149th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Fun for the whole family.. Activities include; Pipers, drummers, dancers, athletic events. sheep dog trials, lots of shopping, car show, birds of prey demonstrations, camping, whiskey sampling events, Living history reenactors, and great Celtic rock groups. Highly recommend buying your grandstand seats as soon as you arrive. They sell out fast! Food lines can be long, so plan ahead."

Livingston's 4th of July Festival

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"For the past twelve years of my life I've been going to see the 4th of July fireworks show in Livingston. The festival still impresses me to this day.The festival started out as a community fireworks show way back in the days of the of Y2K. As a youngling, I "ooh!"-ed, "awe!"-d, and "whoa!"-ed at such a spectacle. I was happy with just the fireworks show.BUTLivingston has gone above and beyond these recent years. They've added food vendors, live music and a carnival area filled with lights and rides. This festival does not disappoint!!! Especially with free admission!!!Nowadays I don't just feel happy with the fireworks show; I feel lucky This festival is a real attraction that anyone who is near the neighborhood should definitely check out and check in."

Moreland Pumpkin Patch

★★★★★ 4.5 (39)

"Pretty neat pumpkin patch and especially great for the kids. You're basically coming hear for the haunted path, but still other things to do. There were some weird "staff" that started asking me questions when I went off the beaten path, but still a nice little spot. Lots of pumpkins and the ghosts from the 1800's still haunt the grounds. If you like Halloween and getting the kids spooked out of their minds, then give this place a visit."

Crawdad Festival

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"The Crawdad Festival is home to the $25 cajun crawfish boil! This event takes place during Father's Day weekend, so it is a great place for families to attend! Great selection of foods, starting with seafood, all the way to sweets.. there is something for everyone. As you make your way through the festival, you'll be surrounded by amazing live music from local bands! Alongside all the food, there are also small business vendors that sell handcrafted goodies.This festival would have earned 5-stars if the prepaid parking lot was located closer to the event. It wasn't necessarily TOO far away, however it was just extremely hot causing many people to attempt to hitch rides from event shuttles or to just endure the heat and make the walk. The walk consists of going through a residential area where there is little to no foliage. The parking itself just seemed a little disorganized.. many cars ended up being blocked in by other cars and had to wait who knows how long in order to leave. We got lucky we found a spot near the exit. Plan ahead and get there early!"

Isleton Cajun Festival

★★☆☆☆ 1.6 (52)

"My family n I were glad to have this event back at the delta/ In the town of Islenton Ca. Prop's to the organizers & the board members at the Chamber of Commerce... it being the first, since five years, there are things that could be improved. The only problem I personally had was the extremely long wait in the line for crawdads two hours, we waited in the hot sun other than that the atmosphere people were friendly the bands were jumping I think security was plentiful and friendly a little more shade would be appreciate it for next year. Also, maybe a second area cooking crawfish please...... I know it's hard to please everyone that can't be but all in all we had a good time so thank you Islenton for bringing back the crawdad festival.."

Stockton Lantern Festival Magic Forest

★★★★★ 4.6 (11)

"What an absolute surprise and delight! I had been getting some "targeted ads" in my social media feed about the Stockton Lantern Festival and was, at first, a bit skeptical. After reading reviews, I decided to purchase tickets for the week after Christmas and check it out, as it's not too far of a drive over from East Contra Costa county. After Christmas, it wasn't super crowded on a Saturday night, but still a good turnout. Parking onsite is $15 which I felt was fair due to its safety and proximity to the event. If you're on the fence, just go. It's downright magical. The theme is an enchanted forest with all sorts of elaborate and large lanterns featuring mystical beasts, plants, trees and interactive light displays. It was a lot of fun, even as adults with no kids. I didn't partake in any food or drink but saw there are options. They also do an hourly Chinese acrobat show, which I missed. I was just too in awe of the wonderful lanterns.This event was very well done. Beautiful and unique displays which made say "wow, wow, wow" out loud several times.With the background music, it truly transports you to a magical place. Loved every second of my evening here. Highly recommend. It runs through January 14, 2024 so if you're in need of something to cheer you up, post holiday, this is a fun option!"

San Ramon Art & Wind Festival

★★★★☆ 4 (21)

"For what it is, San Ramon's Art & Wind Festival is a fun little local event. Taking place on the Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend each year, this is a modest but community minded festival. It features arts & crafts, food, wine and kite displays and activities. The community park is a great venue for this event with tree lined pathways for some shade on hot days. It also has a big open hillside that was perfect for the kite flying displays.The layout was very easy to navigate and what I really appreciated was that they kept everything in sections (art, food, local business booths and the children's ride area.) That allows you to focus your time and energy where it most interests you.I didn't partake in any food or wine but did sit upon the grassy hill to watch the stunt kite show.The event is free and has a pleasant community vibe. Parking is at a fee if you want to park at one of the community center or middle school lots. I ended up parking across the street near the library-that lot is free but you'll have to circle a few times to snag a spot-everyone has the same idea.Overall, not a large festival but still nicely done and a great way to spend some time on a holiday weekend."

Baconfest 2016

★★☆☆☆ 2.2 (15)

"This review is for Baconfest on Saturday Father's Day 2016. I bought tickets back in January when the event was first announced. I didn't realize the $25 ticket price didn't include anything other than admission. I was expecting a glass with the event name on it, a beer, some bacon, etc. I have coordinated large events and when you buy in bulk, you can get the price per item super low ($1.50 for a pint glass). I would recommend making that part of the price if they attempt this festival again. It took us about an hour to park at 10:30 am and we had quite a hike to the front gate. Nothing was clearly labeled and we stood in the wrong line for a long awhile. Someone showed up and started grabbing our printed tickets in her hand and yelled at us to "go have fun!" She didn't even look at our tickets or scan them. We spotted an information booth handing out brochures for the event. I saw a sign that said we needed tickets for "Bacon Alley", and then I saw the line for tickets, wow. It had to be 100 deep. Someone walking by said there was another line inside that was shorter, so we headed there. Well, the line in BaconAlley was even longer. I knew that couldn't be right, so I consulted the map and spotted a 3rd ticket booth near the main stage. We walked, again, to that booth which was much shorter. However after buying $40 of tickets, the first food vendor I went to didn't take tickets, only cash. *sigh*We headed back to Bacon Alley. The line for bacon was insane. We couldn't even find the end. So, we decided to go for a beer. They had 12 craft brews on tap and although the line was long, it moved pretty quickly. We sipped on our beers & checked out the car show. Thank goodness there was a breeze. The long lines and lack of shade were tiring. I got in line for the bacon mac & cheese and bourbon bacon shooter. They were pretty good but not great.I wanted to see Guy, so we again trekked back to the main stage. It was tough to hear what was going on but Guy was trying to keep it fun. A guy next to me said he had waited over an hour and a half for the bacon bouquet. No thanks. We were ready to leave but we were stuck with over $20 in tickets. We walked around and chose the maple bacon cupcake, cookie and 2 more beers. A chef was doing a homemade sausage demo, and there was a tiny bit of shaded seating for that. We got really lucky and found two seats. I enjoyed the presentation. We noticed a wine room on the way out and wanted to buy a bottle to go but were turned away, as they were only taking tickets. I was not getting back in that line - to get into another line. We were tired of masses of people, tickets, and lines, so we left at 2:00. From what I understand, I'm glad we left early. We had to drive around a field but we were able to get onto the freeway pretty easily after that. So, my thoughts are,The good: The demo/education stage. Add more of them. The maple bacon cupcake. The craft beer tent. Guy's enthusiasm. The car show. The kid areas looked great but we don't have any little ones, so we didn't go into them.The bad: The bacon bouquet tent - in a poor spot and under staffed. The lines. The unclear and confusing tickets/no ticket policies. The $25 ticket price."

Harvest Moon Festival

★★★★☆ 4 (2)

"What a culturally rich experiences this was! I had never been to the city of Locke and came here with my dance group to perform at the Harvest Moon Festival. This town is simply charming and the people are extremely friendly as well. The City of Locke is the only surviving rural Chinatown in the nation, and it was built by the Chinese for the Chinese. This festival was held at the Jean Harvie Community Center, which is right next to the levee. I was amazed at the cultural diversity evident at this festival. The dance, music, and Taiko drum performances were wonderful to watch. The costumes was amazing as they were made with beautifully textured and colorful fabrics. Additionally, when I asked one of the dancers aout her costume she told me they were hand made and often times would take weeks to stitch and embroider. Several of the performers involved in this festival traveled from the bay area as well as Stockton to attend this event. The performances displayed flawless movement and synchronization to beautifully orchestrated cultural music. The Chinese food at this festival was scrumptious. I enjoyed a plate of dim sum, vegetable chow mien, and a delicious cup of freshly brewed oolong tea. Overall I really enjoyed this festival and would love to go back to this delightful town again in the future. After all, its only 23 miles south of sacramento."

Zoo Lights

★★★★☆ 3.5 (21)

"For $8 this was real treat even for a hater of the holidays like myself. If you come, know that most of the zoo is closed off and the only animals that you'll see are the small reptiles and amphibians in one heated building and the ants, spiders, stick bugs, etc in a different heated house. They had some face painting available, gift shop is open, and the main concession area sells hot chocolate with marshmallows and a mini churro in it. Trees and buildings are lit up throughout along with some very cool animal lights but the star is the light show set to holiday music and movie clips (even a voice cameo from Bill Murray) that plays every seven minutes and is really well done. It only lasts about 6 minutes but it's fun, and something we caught 3 times while we were there. Parking is free, though it does fill up if you arrive before 7. Give yourself an hour and a half to two hours if you want to ride the train and meet santa and you'll have seen/done it all."

Pear Fair

★★★★☆ 3.6 (35)

"This year 2023 the Pear fair was going strong despite the 20 dollar charge for parking. It's a sticker shock for many but they don't charge for admission to enter. Small price to pay for a fun small town fair. If you're in a wheelchair or disabled it's very difficult for the handicapped to get to the fair bc of the very lumpy grassy parking area. That's an understatement too. We sympathize.It was a hot 95 degree day the last Sunday in Courtland. That's not bad bc it could be 100 plus degrees easily. We came to enjoy the live music as we heard Rachelle Steele play. Also lively and energetic Hip Service band got many up dancing and grooving. There were crafters tents & many items for sale by the Courtland high school auditorium which was nice to keep cool from the heat. We tried our best to stay in there & in the shady areas of the event. If you watch the bands play plan on sitting on the prickly haystacks! Ouchie! Seriously! We lucked out with the extra folding chairs used by the fair employees! Sorry but no pics as my wife did enjoy their well designed bright green & blue psychedelic pear fair tshirts! We enjoyed the delicious birria tacos! Unfortunately my wife waited until 430 PM to purchase some pear ice cream. This fair technically ends at 6 PM. So Mel's ice cream tent was long gone by then! Her bad! Lol By then we decided to hit the road home. So close to Elk Grove. Many times we are traveling away so we don't always attend every year. But it's small town fun. We observed the small cute homes across the street having their own party going! Woohoo! Lucky them & so conveniently close! Gotta love that!"

Hughson Fruit and Nut Festival

★★★★★ 4.5 (6)

"This is one of the better local Street fair type events. There is always a wide variety of items, food, and services available here. Music, a kids area, and petting zoo are some of the attractions. This event always draws a good friendly crowd. I try to attend this event every year."

Fremont Festival of the Arts

★★★★☆ 3.8 (145)

"I look forward to this festival every year! It's truly a family event. There's something for everyone. Wine, beer, and margaritas for the old(er) folks, and rides, face painting, and balloon animals for the young'uns! I love the variety of booths at this fair. Amazing local/family business frequent the festival every year, selling candles to candy apples, paintings to purses, and hats to hand-crafted watches. It's really fun to see some of the same vendors year after year. This festival is also packed with FOOD. Corn dogs, curly fries, kettle corn, gyros, elote, kebabs, lemonade, piña coladas, you name it! This year, there were also a toooon of free samples. My family walked out of the festival with free bags of chips, cookies, grilled cheese, and beer! This year, there was also a really neat butterfly garden! This was definitely my highlight. Great deal of $9 for three people to go in for an unlimited amount of time!"

Girls Night Out! Witches and Broomsticks

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"This annual celebration has Downtown Plaza blocked off for Ladies only who have purchased tickets for the event, it's a sell out every year and has a large turnout.Every year the ticket price goes up with this year being $25 which got you entry, 2 tickets for drinks, a small selection of food (this year was Cheese & Crackers, Wraps, Fried Chicken of varying kinds and mini Cupcakes) and a goodie bag which contained a couple of candies, mini bottle of Water, a coupon for 25% off of a purchase at My Best Friends Closet and a free hair cut from Great Clips. Hmm, doubt I will ever use that last one.The event was fun with lot's of Ladies dressing for the occasion. A DJ and free Photobooth was available with lot's of local vendors for us to Shop selling Handbags, Masquerade Masks, Jewelry, Clothing and even Anna's Irresistibles with her delicious Almond Roca goodies. (http://www.yelp.com/biz/annas-irresistibles-tracy?hrid=QxCENHAGuXCjEI7OqZzTrw#src:self)Although this was a Ladies only event I did see a few Men sneak in towards the end which I expected. Have a group of Women and the Men will eventually follow! I had a good time with a couple of Girlfriends and would definitely do it again, my advice is get your ticket early!"

Lodi Grape Festival & Harvest Fair

★★★★☆ 3.5 (14)

"OK. We were able to get in by donating 2 cans each before 2pm, so admission was $4 versus $18 for both of us. ($9 each) I'm glad because I do not feel this festival would have been worth the full admission. Lots of typical faire food....but not a trace of anything grape related other than wine. We walked around for about an hour or hour and a half and then left. I feel the security is a bit over the top for this festival as well, like some of the ones you see at State Fair. Food is also pretty pricey. $7 hot dogs. Might save myself the trip next year, but it wasn't bad for the price we paid."

TinyFest

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"If you appreciate tiny living, or even live in a tiny space like I do, you'll definitely enjoy TinyFest. It's such a fun event to explore and learn about the creativity and skill put into building and designing tiny homes! This festival happens annually, rotating through different cities around the country. This past weekend, the Alameda County Fairgrounds was a fitting venue, with its ample event space and parking.Visitors could tour different types of tiny homes including shipping container homes, vans, RVs, buses, former ambulance trucks, sustainable buildings, and even simple shelters for homelessness. And the lines weren't too bad, some of the bigger tiny homes had long lines earlier in the day, but they would go fast and die down quickly. It was cool to see up close how space was used/created and how furniture and fixtures were set up in these tiny dwellings, from fireplaces to lounge areas to second level lofts, and even bathrooms with clever and appealing toilet-shower combos. The architecture and materials were impressive for many of these tiny homes, some fancier than others. There were also plenty of vendors selling related items, such as miniature kitchen appliances or security systems. By the way, most of the tiny homes were for sale (even customizable) or available to rent.Food and drinks were available for purchase, just a few tents, one selling beer/alcohol, one selling lemonade and snow cones, and one selling pizza and tacos (Nahua). The lines for food were fairly long in the afternoon, about a 30-minute wait, but the food was satisfying as we ate in the dedicated seating area (tables with umbrellas) and listened to the provided music while enjoying conversation. Even though they were out of the combo and veggie pizzas, the pepperoni pizza was cooked in a wood fired oven right before our eyes and served hot and delicious. The steak taco was pretty standard, nothing outstanding, but still good.Entertainment included live music (guitar, ukelele, vocalists), which was enjoyable and relaxing, some of the musicians living in tiny homes/vans themselves. And the stages had set schedules for lectures, Q&A, and panel discussions related to the legal matters for tiny living, where to park when traveling, and construction of tiny homes.The crowd was filled with people interested in purchasing or building tiny homes, DIYers, and just curious individuals and families looking to explore the concept of tiny living, options for more affordable housing, and unique projects to consider. I had a lot of fun people watching and imagining different possibilities based on the creations of others. And it was cool meeting "tiny dwellers" who enjoy the unconventional simpler life just like me :)"

San Joaquin Asparagus Festival

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (120)

"What's better than deep fried asparagus? Asparagus ice cream, of course! Luckily, I was able to try both during my first visit to the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival. I've been meaning to go to this festival for the last few years l, so it was nice to finally experience it. I was definitely expecting a lot more from the festival, but overall I can say that I had a pretty good time.This festival is perfect for children! There are lots of games and carnival rides to keep them busy while still having fun! I was really surprised at how cool it was this time around weather wise. If you know Stockton, you know that it can get to scorching hot temperatures! There was a cool breeze and it was actually kind of chilly. But hey... I ain't complainin' about it! There were lots of vendors selling all types of products ranging from mattresses, to cookware, to clothing and souvenirs. I even bought a couple of items for myself. It was a big turnout with tons of people but I was still able to maneuver around easily. Parking is $6 and the lot filled up quickly! I parked super far in a grassy area because there was no more dirt parking. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes because you may have to trek through grass and dirt!My favorite part of going to the festival besides trying out the food was for the performances. I was able to see Souls of the Rising Sun, an Afro Cuban group that belted out some amazing traditional African beats and dances. The leading lady really danced her behind off and I enjoyed every second of it! I also really enjoyed Morgan Wallen on the main stage. His original hit "Chainsmokin" along with the amazing covers that he sang really got he crowd going. My personal favorites were his Don Henley and Andre 3000 covers. I couldn't stop singing along on those ones. And now for the most important... the food! There were plenty of food options to go around! Asparagus burritos, asparagus pasta, bacon wrapped asparagus... you name is with "asparagus" and they probably had it there. In addition to the asparagus, they also had many popular carnival food items as well. There were pretty decent options for alcohol including beer, wine, shots, and margaritas. I came for the most popular items of course... the asparagus ice cream and that deep fried asparagus! I must admit that I came at the most absolute worst time! Be smart and come early or come near the end when the rush of people are gone. Otherwise, you'll be spending most of your time in those long lines!The deep fried asparagus was surprisingly a disappointment for me. The portion size was great, but the quality of the asparagus was just subpar. The asparagus itself was too firm and the fried skin lacked crispiness. The Parmesan was just kind of thrown right in the center so I couldn't really taste it throughout. I know this isn't a gourmet meal, but I was really expecting it to be better than it was. Through reading some of the previous reviews, it seems like the quality of the asparagus has gone down over the past few years. At least I'm not the only one that noticed. The ice cream was fair. It was my first time trying asparagus ice cream and the flavor was a bit different for my taste. Overall, I had a pretty enjoyable time but I think this would be a festival that I would frequent every couple of years instead of every year. Hopefully the quality of the deep fried asparagus will be better when I come back next time."

Annual Almond Blossom Festival

★★★☆☆ 3 (2)

"This is a fun, family-friendly, pet-friendly (pets must be on leashes) event. Conveniently located not too far off of the 99 Freeway in Ripon. Well organized. Plenty parking. Lots of volunteers to direct traffic. Rows of booths with interesting things/services. Lots of food trucks that offer a large variety of delicious options for a hungry tummy. A nice area with picnic tables available. Large area with carnival rides. Fun!"

Ardenwood Farms Harvest Festival

★★★★☆ 3.9 (10)

"I attended the 30th Annual Harvest Festival (HF) at Ardenwood Farms with my 5-year-old on the opening Saturday. This HF is put on annually by East Bay Regional Parks District, but this was my first time attending. This is a really popular event with the locals, as the line to get into here never seemed to let up. Unlike other HF I've attended this one actually had a lot of Farm-related activities and had a more country feel to it. Unfortunately, we didn't get to do everything because the "Boss" wanted to ride the train incessantly... I heard from another parent that the list of activities change from year-to-year, but here's a list of the this years:2015 ticket pricing: Adults $10, Seniors (62+) $8, Children (4-17) $6 and Kids (under 4) Free. They do sell the tickets online (https://apm.activecommunities.com/ebparks/Activity_Search) two months before the HF; I highly recommend buying your tickets ahead of time next year, so you can avoid the ridiculously long lines to get in. -Perry Farms Organic Pumpkin Patch (http://www.yelp.com/biz/j-e-perry-farms-fremont) located right outside Ardenwood. They're open earlier (9 a.m.) than the HF (10 a.m.), so if you come early --like I did-- you have something to fill the void.-Cider Pressing-Grain Milling demonstration where you can buy large sacks of the freshly milled Organic Cornmeal or Organic Corn Flour for $5/ea. I bought a sack of the Cornmeal, and can't wait to make some Polenta and Cornbread with it!-Patterson House Tours-Magic Shows-Ardenwood's usual menagerie of farm animals is there for viewing and the kid's enjoyment.-A Train that was shuttling between the Arden and Deer Park Stations. This was my son's favorite part (of course).-Various Arts and Crafts: Cornhusk Doll making, Cooking demos and Ice Cream making.-What's a HF without some harvesting? They have a ±5-acre field of Organic Indian Corn and Organic Popcorn planted and they ask us to help out doing the dirty work of harvesting and shucking the corn. Your reward for all that hard work is you get to keep three out of every four ears you harvest--not a bad deal!Unlike the Martial Cottle HF, I didn't feel like this one had as much stuff for the younger kids to do, but my son did enjoy riding the train back-and-forth several times and he really digs harvesting veggies from the garden. So, for those two activities alone they deserve a big thumbs up. We'll definitely be back next year. Now to go make some Polenta..."

Lantern Light Festival

★★☆☆☆ 2.1 (26)

"Wow, this festival was fun! The tickets only cost $23. Parking costs $10. There are a lot of huge beautiful light displays all around the area as well as a few different acrobat shows. There are three or four different times for the shows outside.The young acrobats were amazing! There are a few food & craft vendors at this event. We didn't buy any of the food there, but what they had looked good. I saw some chicken on a grill, Thai food, hot dogs, popcorn, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, shrimp, and more there. I hope that we'll be able to go there again next year."

Stockton Home Show

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Giving it 5 even though it's smallish, I'm hoping this locaion on the U O P campus will give it new life to grow into a premier home and garden show. The Janssen-Lagorio Pavilion (University of the Pacific) is an excellent spot, well cooled,and parking adjacent. I could see this show growing to fill this spot and Spanos center next door in a very few years. Support it, grow it, and enjoy it."

Ube Fest

★★☆☆☆ 2 (1)

"Located inside the Stockton Civic Auditorium l, admission is $20 for an adult. Street parking or lots nearby. Super crowded in such a small space so definitely not a fan. Limited savory food options with super long lines. Recommend eating before going. Mainly only here to see One Vo1ce."

Golden State Pinball Festival

★★★★★ 4.6 (20)

"Getting The Arm & Finger Exercises In!SITREPWhat a great time! Our friend Bambi shaghai'd Fabi, China and myself to her passion these last five (5) years for a terrific time at the Golden State Pinball Festival 2019.https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=8SIdYgkeExpvUS1WP9JbGw&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0wBest to come early, though, since there is only one small entrance to go in and out from, and they aren't exactly fast in getting the crowd in.https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=N_NfjbM1QPqPZbLQh5rnHA&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0wTHE SETUPSo many wonderful pinball machines!SUCH AS THE CLASSICS!* Check out the MAJORETTES from 1964!https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=TzX48NE9xrwL2RfFamQfTw&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w* Or the oldest one I saw there, LANCERS from 1961!https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=TzX48NE9xrwL2RfFamQfTw&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w* My friend Dieter, a sky diver had a passion for this old classic, "SKY KINGS"! [He plays it with his skydiving helmet on so the rest of us can enjoy it for *shits & giggles*!https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=k6Ihkc17EBqwIK1Q8dU7Qw&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0wSCI-FI LOVE!What would a festival be without....*Star Wars!https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=b3rCmPZaCvf130KNqJqC1Q&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w OR,*Waterworld! (*gag*, I know, right?)https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=fHkIyxN5mRSJXd9gsD-n7w&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0wFUN!Fabi & China were goin at it!https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=Wm4sENk1LKozIyPR9no5qg&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0wBambi was racking up the scores like nobody's business!https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=6P5UQA3A6zCOQ4SKmdHXtw&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0wAnd then more modern creations such as The Game of Thrones! That's right! There's a NEW pinball game honoring Game of Thrones, and representing ALL the Major Houses... EXCEPT House Targaryen .... interesting... https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/golden-state-pinball-festival-lodi?select=g41PkMqbVs8inFcM2uVC0Q&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0wNot surprisingly, I find found this to be the most complex of the games I played and was pleasantly surprised how many different options for gaming were available depending on which house was chosen. But again, House Targaryen was NOT there as if some omen...[Let's see what that could possibly mean for tonight's final episode of the series!]THE LOWDOWNAbsolutely worth it to bring your family, friends and grandpa & grandma!"