The Castroville artichoke festival will be celebrating its 50th
anniversary Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. both days.
Though the event takes place along Hwy. 156 on the other side of
Hwy. 101, the festival does have a connection to San Juan Bautista,
said Jennifer Roybal, of Seal Rock, Inc., who has been booking the
entertainment for the event. Other locals involved include Ken
Rose, of LTD Limo Network; Al Castaneda, of Dona Esther’s; and
Keith Medlin, of Highway One Productions, a sound company. Other
participants include school and nonprofit groups that have food
booths or offer other help to the festival.
The Castroville artichoke festival will be celebrating its 50th anniversary Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. both days.
Though the event takes place along Hwy. 156 on the other side of Hwy. 101, the festival does have a connection to San Juan Bautista, said Jennifer Roybal, of Seal Rock, Inc., who has been booking the entertainment for the event. Other locals involved include Ken Rose, of LTD Limo Network; Al Castaneda, of Dona Esther’s; and Keith Medlin, of Highway One Productions, a sound company. Other participants include school and nonprofit groups that have food booths or offer other help to the festival.
The event has become the biggest fundraiser for the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in San Juan Bautista, Roybal said.
This year’s event features a musical line-up on Saturday that includes The Johnny Clay Band (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., country/rock); Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow (1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., R&B) and the Average White Band (4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., R&B/rock). Sunday’s music will start off with Washed Up (11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., R&B/Latin); Second Wind (1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Latin rock) and Los Lobos (3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Latin rock.)
Other activities include AGRO-Art, a competition in which people can enter with a sculpture created out of fruits and vegetables. Judging begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, with winners announced at 3 p.m., with more than $5,000 in prizes to be awarded. The artwork will remain on display Sunday.
The North County Firefighters will also host a pancake breakfast at the Castroville station both days from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for kids under 12.
On Sunday the Artichoke Festival Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. with marching bands, floats and classic cars.
The event will feature more than 70 arts and crafts booths, field tours, and plenty of food from fried artichokes, artichoke burritos, barbecue, and more.
For more information, visit ww.artichoke-festival.org or call 633-2465.
