STOCKTON, Calif. — The Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple on Carpenter Road in Stockton was already busy before noon Friday as Dany Kol and her family picked out their favorite dishes.
"There's so many food vendors. So many," said Kol. "There are Cambodian ones, but there's also different backgrounds too. But definitely come for the Cambodian food."
The food and craft vendors are only one part of the 5-day event for Kol and her family, celebrating Cambodian New Year.
"I usually just come and just watch what my mom does but this year I'm actually trying to be more hands-on," said Kol. "So every year we're just watching what our parents are doing, shadowing and just practicing so we can pass it along to our kids."
Less than four miles away at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, the gates opened at noon and people were lined up to celebrate one of San Joaquin County's most iconic crops at its annual festival.
"This is such a wonderful vegetable," said Asparagus Festival chef Julie Linesburgh. "It's so limited, it's only right now. There's only a certain kind of asparagus that grows out of our beautiful San Joaquin Valley dirt."
That wonderful vegetable is headed straight to the fryers — or to ice cream cones — at the fairgrounds, cooked and served by a group of volunteers led by Linesburgh.
"This is an event that brings us together," said Linesburgh who has been involved with the festival for nearly 30 years. "I get to see people from groups I get to work with only this time of the year."
For vendor Nicole Throwert, this time of the year gives her an excuse to leave the Bay Area and head to the Port City.
"People come from everywhere for the Asparagus Festival," said Throwert. "I mean it's the Asparagus Festival and it's once a year."
The University of the Pacific is also hosting the inaugural Pacific Cup Men's Water Polo Tournament. The tournament features teams from six California colleges.
It will be busy all weekend, but Sunday is the big day when the Asparagus Festival and Cambodian New Year Festival will collide with the Sikh Parade and Festival — an event that is expected to bring more than 20,000 people to the streets of Stockton.
"There's 24 hours in a day so everybody gets to go wherever they want," said Stockton resident Ry Sao. "Spend a couple hours here, a couple hours there."
Sao is hoping people will continue supporting his small business at the Cambodian New Year Festival, just like last year when nearly 60,000 people came out in just one day. But with that many visitors, he doesn't mind sharing the crowds and neither does Linesburgh.
"Weather is cooperating and you know Stockton has so many beautiful events in so many parts of the city. Just come and enjoy," said Linesburgh.
Event details:
- April 12 - April 16
- 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- 3732 Carpenter Road, Stockton
- Free admission
- Free parking
- April 12 - April 14
- 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton
- $15 for adults, $10 for children (ages 6-17), Free for children 5 and under
- $10 for parking, $5 for motorcycles
- April 12
- 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton
- $30 general admission
- April 14
- 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- 1930 Sikh Temple Street, Stockton
- Free admission
- Free parking
- Parade road closures begin at 11 a.m.
Watch more from ABC10: San Joaquin Asparagus Festival to offer camel rides this year
