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STOCKTON FLAVOR FEST, a celebration of the area’s food and culture, filled the Weber Point Events Center on the downtown riverfront this past weekend with the aroma of international cuisine and plenty of hungry people eager to try some.
Hundreds of national flags hung at the center’s entrance, while flavorful scents filled the air courtesy of the many delicacies found in the city.
The three-day event was presented by Visit Stockton, a nonprofit organization that promotes and markets the city for meetings, events, and travel.
Amy Alpers, director of marketing and communications, said the festival was started last year to celebrate local food, music and cultures, and drew 14,000 people in two days.
“When I was living out of state, I went to a lot of festivals … and one of the things I know is super unique about Stockton is that we have a very, very diverse community,” Alpers said. “We wanted to do some sort of big food festival first, and then I love music festivals, and so we kind of put the pieces together.”
“With it being a hard time with money, I figured this was the best place to come for the kids.”
Sofia Rodriguez, Stockton resident
The festival featured 50 food vendors and 30 art merchants. Throughout the event center were children — playing giant games, blowing bubbles, working puzzles. On the main stage, a pop and rock trio called The Junebugs headlined seven acts.
There were kitchen demonstrations teaching how to make homemade pasta, art workshops such as canvas bag coloring, a craft beer and wine tent and countless foods to sample.
Smokes rises from sausages on a grill at the Lockeford Meat and Sausage booth during Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on May 20, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Loralie Carter shows off her giant pitcher of an Agua Fresca from Yoyo Treats during Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on May 20, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Makayla Rodriguez, 7, (left) and Ifunanya Kale, 3, play with giant bubbles during Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on May 20, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
An art installation depicting the hands of a crowd enjoying a rock concert was among the many attractions at the Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Dante Marsh & The Vibe Setters perform a sound check before their stage performance during Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on May 20, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Russian dance group Gypsy Spice Trio performs during Flavor Fest at the entrance of Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on May 20, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Chef Shane Tracewell, of The Kitchen @ Stonebrier, cracks an egg as he demonstrates how to make egg pasta during Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on May 20, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Keianne Tugave eats a Cow Zookie from Daisys Desserts during Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
A fresh batch of chicken skewers sizzle on the grill at Casa Pinoy’s booth during Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on May 20, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
MJ Bermudez prepares an Ube Dream Shake at the Casa Pinoy booth during Flavor Fest at Weber Point Events Center in Stockton on May 20, 2023. Bermudez said the beverage was their best-selling drink at the festival. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
Teresa Ibarra and Kris Narvios, who were first-timers to the event, said they came simply because they love food.
In two hours, they had also already colored a bag, tasted mango sticky rice from a vegan food spot and tried musubi, a combination of meat, rice, and seaweed.
A feast for tight budgets
Admission to the event ranged from $10 for adults and seniors to $5 for teens 13-17, with no charge for children 12 and under. Alpers said the low entrance fees were important to make the event accessible.
“Literally your family could come in for $20,” she said. And come, they did.
Sofia Rodriguez, a Stockton resident, said she brought her children because they were allowed in for free.
“With it being a hard time with money, I figured this was the best place to come for the kids,” she said.
Changes to the festival this year included the sale of alcohol, which brought Tia Linda’s Margaritas to the event, and a discounted three-day admission pass — for folks who wanted to sample all the flavors or couldn’t get enough of a good thing.
The festival concluded Sunday with a “drag brunch” on the Back Porch, overlooking the Stockton waterfront.
Victoria Franco is a reporter based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. She is a Report for America corps member.
