STOCKTON, Calif. — The gates opened Friday morning at Stockton's Weber Point Events Center and the smells were immaculate. More than 45 food vendors converged on the downtown, waterfront venue for the return of the annual Stockton Flavor Fest.
The annual festival is just one of several events in San Joaquin County this weekend but could be the most impactful one, promising to bring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy.
According to nonprofit Visit Stockton, 2023's Flavor Fest brought more than $1.2 million to the Port City and coordinators are hoping to bring more money into town this year.
"We're probably going to get anywhere between 15,000-20,000 people," said Visit Stockton CEO Wes Rhea. "The budget for the festival alone is in the middle six figures. It's definitely an expensive event just to put on and then you think about all the vendors and things that are selling their wares."
In addition to a range of cuisines, the three-day cultural and food event features live music and arts and crafts vendors. Rhea says the focus is on supporting local.
"We want to bring great events to downtown Stockton, but we have to get people to show up and support these events. If they don't, they won't come back," said Rhea. "Please come out and support us here at Stockton Flavor Fest."
Hours:
- 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday
- 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday
- 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
Tickets:
- $17 for a three-day adult pass
- $12 for adults
- $5 for children ages 6-17
- Free for children under the age of 5
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