The Ultimate Guide for the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival

One of the most anticipated events of the year takes place in Stockton, California on April 24-26, 2026. The 40th San Joaquin Asparagus Festival is a three-day food fest offering visitors an opportunity to experience asparagus-focused fun under the sun at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. The festival provides sensational music from local bands, exhilarating fair rides, talented artisans, and of course, ASPARAGUS! So many amazing dishes using asparagus as their main ingredient will be available for you to savor at this Stockton tradition.

This food fest kicks off Friday, April 24 at 10am, and you don't want to miss it. So, read on and follow these pro-tips to enhance your experience...

Buy your admission tickets in advance

There are FOUR ways to score tickets for this exciting event:

PRE-SALE SAVINGS: Purchasing your physical tickets in advance is the least expensive way to attend the festival. Save $3 on Adult Admission, $2 on Kids/Senior Admission, and $10 (WOW!!) on All-Day Ride Wristbands by purchasing your tickets in-person at local Save Mart and Lucky’s Markets as the festival approaches.
ONLINE: It is now possible to skip the ticket line at the gate and buy your tickets to the festival online! Please note that there are no discounts for online purchases.
ON-SITE: Pricing at the gate during the festival is $15 (credit/debit: $15.53) for adults (ages 18-64), $10 (credit/debit: $10.35) for children (6-17), seniors 65 and over, and military with an ID. FREE for children 5 years of age and under.
BONUS: You can receive FOUR (4) tickets when you order an asparagus menu item from participating restaurants! Click here for all the info!

Note: There is no additional cost for events inside the festival. This includes cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, and petting zoo.

Hours and admission

Friday, April 24, 2026: 10am-7pm (extended carnival hours to 10pm)
Saturday, April 25, 2026: 10am-7pm (extended carnival hours to 10pm)
Sunday, April 26, 2026: 10am-6pm (extended carnival hours to 9pm)

Arrive Early

As the day progresses, more people will head out to the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival to enjoy all the fun. Plan to arrive early so you can make the best of your experience and spend less time in the car. Carpooling is another great way for friends and families to save time and money when attending the festival.

Designated festival parking can be accessed around the fairgrounds with an entrance at Airport Way, Charter Way, and B Street. Parking costs $10 for vehicles and $5 for motorcycles, cash only.

Prepare for a variety of flavor

No San Joaquin Asparagus Festival visit is complete without tasting the famous deep-fried asparagus and asparagus ice cream. These tried and true flavors have been part of the festival since the beginning 40 years ago. Trust us, you will be amazed.

NOTE: These specialty asparagus items, along with beer, wine, water, and soft drinks, can only be purchased with tickets so buy your tickets first. Tickets are sold at multiple locations throughout the festival. Note: Other vendors selling asparagus and specialty items will not accept tickets.

In addition to asparagus dishes, there are many not-to-miss food vendors at the festival. A few favorites over the years include Lockeford Sausage, Flavor Town BBQ, Delroy's Deli, Space Age Food Concessions & more! Be sure to bring a healthy appetite!

Get a seat for the show(s)

Every year the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival brings exciting and welcoming entertainment for festival-goers to enjoy - FREE with the price of admission. This year’s festival lineup includes some sensational acts like:

That Little Band (classic rock, country, and r&b)
The Bee Gees Tribute
Valley Fire (country)
Highway Vagabonds: A Tribute to Miranda Lambert
Banda Zeta
Banda Pachuco

Bring your friends, some low-seat lawn chairs, and stake out your seat early. Click here for all the FAQs on what is permitted in the festival.

Also, this festival is known for a wide variety of activities for the family to enjoy. There's Asparagus Alley—the spot where you'll find deep fried asparagus & asparagus ice cream with plenty of seating—as well as a cooking demo stage in Asparagus Plaza, the "Midway of Fun" carnival area, the annual San Joaquin Asparagus Festival Scholarship Pageant, monster truck rides, a free petting zoo, and plenty more.

Shop til’ you drop

If you love shopping, you will have a ball at the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival! This festival features an array of booths filled with one-of-a-kind items. You’ll enjoy browsing outside as you walk the grounds, but be sure to also check out the vendors who display their wares inside multiple festival buildings. With handmade paintings and drawings, fine jewelry, unique clothing, outdoor household decorations, and large-ticket items, there’s something for everyone!

A few unique vendors from past years include Zeyma Collection (Tie Dye Clothing), Rosabella Arts & Crafts (Necklaces and bracelets with your name on a grain of rice), and Yosemite Sign Co. (Carved Wooden Signs).

You don’t have to stop at shopping! Festival-goers can also find henna tattoos, face painting, and psychic readings while at the festival.

Tell your friends (and ours)

Don’t keep your experience to yourself. Share the fun with your friends and ours by tagging your posts on social media with #VisitStockton and #SJAF2026.

For more important information about the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival, go to our events page for it.

Book a room and enjoy the whole weekend! Stockton is home to numerous fantastic hotels located in key parts of the city, making it easy to enjoy the Asparagus Festival, maybe take part in a shopping spree, and enjoy the overall vibe here. Check them out here and book your stay!