True to its agricultural roots, Sacramento’s annual Farm-to-Fork Festival continues to grow in its sixth year, adding a second day in 2018. Hoping to top last year’s draw of more than 60,000 attendees, visitors will reap the benefits of the free and ever-growing Capitol Mall event.
Friday night’s free pre-party gives attendees a new opportunity to indulge in local farm-to-fork flavors with some of the Sacramento region’s best wines, craft beer, bites, and bands. This first night of fun and live music offers a taste of what’s to come as the region’s largest fresh food party continues Saturday with more than a mile of vendors that will fully transform Capitol Mall into an urban farmscape. Interactive exhibits, a petting zoo, and a kids’ zone ensure fun for all ages alongside more live music and cooking demonstrations on multiple stages. And, of course, an abundance of the region’s freshest food, wine, and beer will be the main draw.
What: Sixth Annual Farm-to-Fork Festival
When: Friday (Sept. 28) 4pm-9pm & Saturday (Sept. 29) 11am-6pm
Where: Capitol Mall between Third and Eighth streets
A Few “Not to be Missed” Recommendations:
Friday Night Pre-Party: Start your weekend with this new Friday night experience that’s just as much about the music as it is the farm-fresh food and drink. Local funk outfit Ideateam and folk headliners The Wood Brothers are guaranteed to pair well with wine varietals selected by the Clarksburg Wine Growers & Vintners Association and pours from our region’s craft beer scene. Don’t miss the bites on this night available courtesy of SaveMart, Raley’s, and your favorite food trucks!
The Festival Music Lineup: The Saturday soundtrack to the festival begins with Sacramento singer Jessica Malone at 11:30am, followed by the bands Sunny War and Magic Giant throughout the day. Finally, headliners Dawes hit the stage at 4:45pm – a rockin’ send-off to a fantastic farm-to-fork day.
Interactive Cooking Fun: Four stages during the Farm-to-Fork Festival will feature a variety of cooking demonstrations, competitions, and discussions:
- The UC Davis Health Stage will offer a diverse selection of panels and events throughout the day, including a demonstration of a traditional dish from Ensenada, Mexico, courtesy of the Consulate General of México in Sacramento at noon.
- Experience the fun of pasta making at 1pm on the Nugget Market Stage with the grocer’s corporate executive chef, Stazi Dulman.
- Those looking to experience the sold-out wonders of the annual Tower Bridge Dinner can get a taste of the special event at the Acura Stage as Chef Patricio Wise prepares sturgeon, beginning at 5:15pm.
Kids Zone: Good ol’-fashioned family fun abounds at the Farm-to-Fork Festival, too! Everyone’s inner kid can enjoy themselves at the petting zoo and during a high-energy, interactive show from Mad Science, a sheep-shearing demonstration from the California Wool Growers Association, and enjoyable veggie-based recipes from the Food Literacy Center.
Getting There: If you are going by car, there is plenty of street parking and/or parking lots and garages within a few blocks of Capitol Mall surrounding the festival footprint including downtown, Old Sacramento Waterfront, and even West Sacramento. Click here for information on City of Sacramento parking. Just be prepared for slow traffic coming off I-5 and J Street.
If you’re biking, the American River Parkway is convenient from the north or from the east. A free bike valet will be on the south side of Fifth Street Friday night and between Eighth and Ninth streets on Saturday.
On Saturday, Sacramento Regional Transit will be offering free rides to the Festival on both bus and light rail with the presentation of a free ride flyer, which can be found here.
Make it a Night at DOCO!
After a day filled with farm-to-fork fun, head over to Downtown Commons to explore a variety of newly opened restaurants and shops, including a new pop-up shop by DISPLAY: California.
Visit Sacramento is proud to team up with DISPLAY: California to create an unforgettable retail experience for Sacramento visitors.
Under the campaign, “Local Starts Here,” DISPLAY at DOCO will be the ultimate one-stop shop for tourists who want an authentic Sacramento experience, and for Sacramentans who are looking for the perfect Sacramento gift for family or friends, or even for themselves.
The retail will focus on locally made items from the greater Sacramento region, and the experience will provide visitors with direct access to information that they need to enhance their stay in Sacramento.
The visitors corner hosted by Visit Sacramento will be unlike any visitors center you’ve seen in any other city. Want to know what events are not to be missed? Want to know where to go for dinner and drinks? Want to know about experiences that only Sacramento offers? There will be a giant mural of Sacramento that will highlight happenings handpicked by locals.
DISPLAY at DOCO is a retail experience curated by Unseen Heroes.
Sunday Funday: Spend an Afternoon with Renowned Chef Jeremiah Tower
For the full farm-to-fork experience, be sure to grab tickets here for the Meet & Greet with Chef Jeremiah Tower on Sunday, Sept. 30, featuring delicious bites from Hawks Restaurant, Golden 1 Center, Sterling Caviar, and the Kimpton Sawyer served with local wines and beers.
Also, read up on Sacramento365’s September Featured Artists, Ideateam – Sacramento’s local band performing at the new Friday Night at the Farm-to-Fork Festival: http://bit.ly/2OwS5s1
Blog contributed by Emiliano Martin, Content Specialist at Sacramento365