Stockton Banana Festival

Description

Banana Fest International Comes to San Joaquin County

Banana Fest International, a three-day, family-friendly festival celebrating the many countries and cultures who use the banana, will make its Stockton debut August 18-20 at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Banana Fest International is produced by National Academic Youth Corps, a non-profit youth services agency providing arts education, wellness/nutritional education, work readiness and entrepreneurial preparation to children, teens, and young adults from distressed communities, and Stockton’s Breadfruit Tree Restaurant.

Banana Festival International is a multicultural extravaganza, featuring delicious foods from the Caribbean, Central America, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Africa and Pacific Rim cultures, as well as traditional festival foods, live entertainment including ethnic dancers; R&B, jazz, country and rock performers; fashion show; interactive hula hoop and hip hop stations; healthy cooking demos and culinary art for kids and families; crowd participation Zumba; community line dance and salsa lessons; arts and culture displays, crafts bazaar and vendor fair. Kid-friendly activities will include arts and crafts, face-painting, storytelling, banana split-eating contest, bounce houses and inflatables, kiddie rides and more. The festival also will feature a Health and Wellness pavilion with free blood pressure, eye exam stations, and heart disease/breast cancer information, and an exhibit on the historical context and health benefits of the banana. Hundreds of free bananas will be given away to festival-goers.

Art Education is a huge part of the festival, with more than 10 free tables of art activities for children and families, including mural-making, collage-making, ceramic clay, sand art, art stamping, and much more. The festival will provide opportunities to more than 200 local artists in visual art, performing art, music and dance to showcase their talents and provide artistic experiences to the community.

The festival also will provide volunteer opportunities for youth from Stockton area high schools, as well as internships and job opportunities.

Festival organizers say they are excited about bringing Banana Festival International to Stockton. “The Banana Festival has been a wonderful way to bring the community together in a celebration of all our diverse cultures and heritages,” said Festival Director Shonna McDaniels. “Over the past eight years, as the Sacramento festival has grown, it has generated funding for our community programs and non-profit organizations as well as provided an inspirational message about diversity and inclusion. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring those benefits to Stockton and San Joaquin County.”

For a list of entertainers and featured highlights visit the Banana festival webpage at www.sacbananafestival.com and facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Banana-Fest-International-947311752066454/?hc_ref=SEARCH