If you think you know asparagus, think again. Because the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival in Stockton will open your mind to the endless ways that the so-called “Queen of Vegetables” can be prepared—in foods from ice cream to burritos.
For forty years and counting, the three-day event in April has celebrated all things asparagus, the historic signature crop of the California Delta. Farmers first raised asparagus commercially here in the late 1800s and Stockton went on to earn the title of “Asparagus Capital of the World.”
These days, the festival pays tribute to this local tradition with three days of old-fashioned fun at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.
The Biggest Asparagus Festival in the West
When the event began in 1986 as the Stockton Asparagus Festival, the Delta region grew 40 percent of the country’s asparagus crop. With more than 300 varieties, asparagus is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but it thrives in the Delta’s rich peat soil, where the plant grows as much as 7 inches a day when the weather heats up.
Because each stalk is hand-harvested, asparagus is a labor-intensive crop, and the rapid growth rate means that plants are sometimes cut daily during the peak season from late March into June.
At the festival, you get to enjoy the fruits of all that labor. Stroll Asparagus Alley for the festival’s enduring classics: deep-fried asparagus and asparagus ice cream (which has been likened in flavor to a nutty-tasting green tea ice cream).
At Asparagus Plaza, food vendors show off the beloved vegetable’s versatility as an ingredient, including in such delicacies as asparagus corn dogs, asparagus churros, and yes, asparagus margaritas. You can also get tips from the experts for preparing asparagus at home during the cooking demonstrations that take place throughout the festival.
While asparagus is understandably the festival’s star attraction, it’s hardly the only highlight. Even if you’re not the world’s biggest asparagus fan, there’s plenty of other action: live music from disco to country, carnival rides, monster truck rides, and the Miss San Joaquin Asparagus Festival Scholarship Pageant.
Where to Stay in San Joaquin
To stay nearby, check out the extensive hotel listings on Visit Stockton's website. The University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, for instance, puts you in the heart of the Downtown Stockton Marina district. Enjoy walks along the waterfront promenade, kayaking, and a largeselection of restaurants.
What to Do During the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival
Hotels in downtown Stockton are just steps from concerts and sporting events at Adventist Health Arena as well as Banner Island Ballpark, the home field for the Stockton Ports, the local minor league baseball team. The Ports have long honored asparagus, and past team logos prominently featured the vegetable. On Foodie Fridays, the ballpark even serves hot dogs topped with asparagus.
If you want to stock up on stalks, look for Delta-grown asparagus at farm stands in and around Stockton. Good bets include Moon Dust Farms, Weberstown Farmers’ Market, Golden Villa Farmers’ Market, and, despite its name, Strawberry King.