San Joaquin Asparagus Festival 2025 guide to food, tickets, performers

The 39th annual San Joaquin Asparagus Festival returns to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds April 11-13.
Festival highlights include deep-fried asparagus, live music, a carnival, and a petting zoo.
A clear bag policy is in effect for security and convenience.

Deep-fried asparagus and asparagus ice cream will once again be returning to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds this weekend for its 39th year.

The three-day San Joaquin Asparagus Festival begins on Friday, April 11, and goes through Sunday, April 13, at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds at 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton.

“The Asparagus Festival was created in 1985 by a small group of Stockton residents led by Gordon Medlin and Joe Travale, with the backing of Bank of Stockton President Robert Eberhardt,” Alan Sanchez, a San Joaquin County Asparagus Festival spokesperson, told The Stockton Record via email. “A year later, the first festival was held at Oak Grove Regional Park along Eight Mile Road. In 2003, it moved downtown along the waterfront and enjoyed massive success for several years.”

The festival has taken place at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds for the past 5 years, Sanchez said. With one year absent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From asparagus food to carnival games and live music, there will be plenty of fun this weekend for everyone.

When is the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival?

Festival hours are as follows:

10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, April 11
10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 12
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, April 13

San Joaquin Asparagus Festival food

If you are going to the Asparagus Festival for the food, then you are in for a treat.

Find yourself at the Asparagus Plaza just outside of Asparagus Alley with plenty of asparagus food and dessert options. Find anything from asparagus lumpia, a chicken asparagus burrito, to an asparagus churro.

“During the previous events, Asparagus Alley served over 12 tons of California-grown Asparagus between the deep-fried ice cream and Asparagus ice cream,” an Asparagus Festival news release states. “Since 2015, the Noceti Group has given back over $750,000 to non-profit groups that volunteered and to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.”

Other foods that may also be available are asparagus nachos, asparagus pasta, and bacon-wrapped asparagus.

“Asparagus dishes may change without notice,” the news release states.

San Joaquin Asparagus Festival fun

The fun booths will also return from the Cooking Demo Stage in Asparagus Plaza, the Midway of Fun Carnival, and the 7th annual Joaquin County Asparagus Festival Scholarship Pageant, Monster Truck Rides, and a Petting Zoo and Free Train Rides Daily.

“This veggie is grown only here in the county for this festival. We are supporting not only the vendors at the event but also the local farms. It means more to the area than most festivals,” Sanchez said. “This festival is keeping locally grown asparagus alive. We have more bands, food, and fun than ever before.”

Sanchez said new foods this year will include asparagus apple juice, and loaded chicken bits with asparagus.

This year’s lineup includes four bands on Friday, six groups and individuals on Saturday, and two entertainment shows on Sunday.

San Joaquin Asparagus Festival entertainment lineup

Friday, April 11

11 a.m. Mystic Vinyl
1 p.m. Steelglass
3 p.m. Park Street Bridge
5 p.m. Haywired

Saturday, April 12

10:30 a.m. Discovery Martial Arts
11 a.m. Hmong Dance Group (Lao Family Community Empowerment)
11:30 a.m. Violinist and Guests
1 p.m. My Soul To Keep
3 p.m. The Blue Tones
5 p.m. The King’s Men Tribute Band

Sunday, April 13

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. San Joaquin Asparagus Festival Scholarship Pageant, Prince and Princess Program
2 p.m. David Perez Band

“The primary purpose is to host an event where families can feel safe and have fun and help local vendors get into the public eye,” Sanchez said. “Plus, support the locally grown asparagus.”

Clear Bag Policy: What to know

The San Joaquin Asparagus Festival has a clear bag policy.

“We’re back and ready to have some safe family fun! In order to speed things up upon entry, improve security and limit touch points, we’ve implemented a new clear bag policy. Please review the guidelines below,” the festivals website states. “Together we can make San Joaquin Asparagus Festival a fun and safe environment for everyone!”

Clear plastic bags, vinyl, or PVC to not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″
Clear plastic freezer bag, one-gallon
Small clutch bags (the size of a hand) can be taken into the venue with a clear plastic bag

There is a bag exception for diaper bags and medical-related bags, but they will have “proper inspection,” the festival’s website states.

“Visitors are encouraged not to bring any bags, but the policy has been created to balance your needs with improved public safety and convenience,” the festival website states.

San Joaquin Asparagus Festival tickets

Single-day tickets for the Asparagus festival vary by age. Tickets can be purchased online at the San Joaquin County Asparagus Festival website.

There is an additional small fee for purchases with debit or credit cards, the website states.

Children 5 years old and under are free
$10, children 6 to 17 years old, seniors 65 and over, and military with ID ($10.35 with debit or credit card)
$15 for adults ages 18 to 64 years old ($15.53 with debit or credit card)

There is an additional parking charge. Parking is cash-only, the San Joaquin County Asparagus Festival website states. Parking for cars is $10 while $5 for motorcycles.

To learn more about the San Joaquin County Asparagus Festival, visit sanjoaquinasparagusfestival.net.

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at

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