The 29th Annual Asparagus Festival starts Friday and runs through the weekend. The popular event in Downtown Stockton hopes to rebound from last year's attendance.
Twenty-five thousand pounds of asparagus will be served up deep fried, in pasta, in burritos and even in ice cream at the festival's Asparagus Alley.
The waterfront street fair has become the most popular attraction in San Joaquin County. But last year, attendance dropped by 25,000. Wes Rhea who runs Asparagus Alley says he expects the crowds will return to average numbers this year.
"Well over the last 10 years downtown, we've averaged about 100,000 from 95 to 108 our record year, so we expect the folks will come back to downtown Stockton, the weather is looking decent and I think we'll be around 100,000," says Rhea.
Five thousand volunteers will raise money for local charities. Over the festival's history, it has raised more than $6 million in donations. Entertainment will include the bands Soul Asylum, Berlin, and War.
And then there's the asparagus eating contest -- the record stands at 9 pounds 5 ounces in 10 minutes.
Check out this CapRadio video from 2011:
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