Castroville Artichoke Festival facts for kids
The Artichoke Festival was a fun food festival that happened every year in Monterey, California. It started in 1959 and ran until 2025. The festival was also known as the Castroville Artichoke Festival. Castroville is a town in Monterey County, California. It is often called the "Artichoke Center of the World" because so many artichokes grow there. The festival started in Castroville in 1960. It became very popular and grew too big for the town. So, it moved to a larger convention center nearby. The 2009 festival was a special celebration, marking its 50th year.
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History of the Artichoke Festival
Artichokes Arrive in California
Artichokes first came to California with Italian immigrants. This happened in the late 1800s. In the 1920s, artichokes arrived in Castroville. A person named Andrew Molera planted the first acre of artichokes on his farm. In 1922, Angelo del Chiaro and his cousin leased land from Molera. They expanded the artichoke farms to 150 acres. By 1926, about 12,000 acres in California grew artichokes. Most of these farms were located in Castroville.
How the Festival Began
The Artichoke Festival grew from an older event. This event was called the May Days Parade. It also included a band competition. Later, a pancake breakfast and a barbecue were added. In 1959, a band leader and three local business owners created a group. They called it the Castroville Artichoke Advisory Board. This board came up with the name "Castroville Artichoke Festival."
The festival was a two-day event held every May. It first took place in Castroville. Since 2014, it moved to the Monterey County Fair and Event Center. In 2009, the festival celebrated its 50th anniversary. By 2011, about 20,000 people attended the festival.
Famous people were part of the festival's history. Marilyn Monroe was named the first Honorary Artichoke Queen in 1948. Sally DeSante Hebert became the first Festival Artichoke Queen in 1961. The first Artichoke King was Andrew O'Desky in 1974. Singer William Hung was crowned Artichoke King on May 21, 2006.
Festival Fun and Activities
Local artichoke companies helped sponsor the festival. There were many exciting things to do. The festival had a parade with music and floats. There was an "agro art" competition. People made amazing artwork using fruits and vegetables. Visitors could also find farmers markets. They could take tours of artichoke fields. Many souvenirs were available to buy.
For adults, there was a garden for wine, beer, and spirits. Chefs gave cooking demonstrations. There was a 5k beach run for active people. A canasta (basket) race was also a fun event. People could also enter a quilt challenge. A Marilyn Monroe look-alike contest was popular too.
Of course, artichokes were the main food! You could find them fried, sauteed, or grilled. They were also served marinated or pickled. Fresh artichokes were available. You could even try artichoke soup or artichoke cupcakes!
The Festival's End
The festival was canceled in 2020. This happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 61st anniversary was moved to 2021. Sadly, the Artichoke Festival permanently ended in 2025. It stopped due to financial problems.
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