Avocado Festival puts Fallbrook in spotlight

Close to 100,000 people are expected to visit downtown Fallbrook Sunday, April 15, for the annual Avocado Festival, an event that showcases the "Friendly Village" and its people.

Lila MacDonald, CEO of the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, said more than 150 volunteers from the community help out with the Avocado Festival, some hitting the downtown streets in the wee hours of the morning so the event that features more than 450 vendors can begin promptly 9 a.m.

The Avocado Festival is one of many festivals held in North County – there's the Strawberry Festival in Vista, the Carlsbad Village Street Faire and Oceanside Harbor Days to name a few – and it more than holds it own.

"You get to see a glimpse of small town America," MacDonald said when asked what separates the Avocado Festival from other festivals. "I think that's what people usually come away with – the quaintness of downtown and the friendliness of the shop owners. It's still small town America."

Add in the appeal of avocados – it seems like everyone is eating avocado toast these days – and the fun of a festival and MacDonald said it's a natural winner.

"(They're) people who either love avocados or love festivals or both," MacDonald said of Avocado Festival attendees.

MacDonald added the Avocado Festival offers people the opportunity to find unique items.

"You can do the Artisan Walk on Alvarado Street and see some really cool local art, a lot of handmade stuff that you can purchase at reasonable prices," MacDonald said. "Those are the reasons I attend festivals – to get some cool stuff and to try some yummy food."

There is always plenty of "yummy" food at the Avocado Festival, ranging from the star of the show, guacamole from Holy Guaca-Moly, to avocado smoothies and gelato to avocado tacos. Non-avocado food items, such as consult-your-cardiologist-before-trying, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, are also in abundance.

Vendors hawking avocado-related merchandise are always in great supply. Some of the products that will be available this year include avocado cooking oil, avocado hydrating facial moisturizer, avocado body butter, avocado clocks and hats, avocado coffee cups, avocado balms and scrubs, avocado tank tops and shirts and handmade glass avocado jewelry.

Live musical entertainment will be offered at both ends of the festival – on the Main Stage located in the Beer and Margarita Garden at Main Avenue and College Street near Scrappy's Tire and on the Univision Stage at Ivy Street and Main Avenue near Panaderia Taqueria.

Appearing on the main stage during the festival will be Malachi Henry and the Lights, Shane Hall and Dulaney & Co. The music begins 10 a.m.

Cazadores Tequila is the main stage sponsor, and its products will be featured in a variety of margaritas offered in the Beer and Margarita Garden. Prohibition Brewing Company will be supplying the beer.

Personalities from radio stations Amore 102.9-FM and 106.5-FM Que Buena will introduce the talent on the Univision Stage, where Hispanic music will be featured.

"They haven't brought in a stage in five years, so I think that's kind of exciting," MacDonald said of Univision. "That will provide some music at the north end of the festival."

The Community Stage, formerly located at Main Avenue and Elder Street, has been relocated to the Vince Ross Village Square at Main Avenue and Alvarado Street and will host the following events.

At the Guacamole Contest, participants must register in advance by visiting the chamber of commerce website for an application. Judging begins 10:30 a.m., and winners are announced 11:25 a.m.

At the Little Miss and Mister Avocado Contest for girls and boys ages 6 through 10, registration requires $5 entry fee between 9:30 and 10 a.m. Judging begins 10:35 a.m., and the winners will be announced 11:10 a.m.

For the Best Dressed Avocado Contest, participants will decorate their avocados at home and bring them to the community stage by 10:30 a.m. Judging, which is based on originality, creativity and use of materials, begins 11 a.m., and winners will be announced 11:15 a.m.

The Avocado 500 Race is open to all elementary school age children; check-in time is 11 a.m., and racing begins 11:40 a.m. It is free to enter, and prizes will be awarded to the winners in the modified and stock car divisions.

The following performers will entertain on the Community Stage: Classical Academy Flag Team, 9:30 to 10:15 a.m .; Charlene's Dance N Cheer, 1 to 2 p.m .; Los Pacheco Brothers, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. and Ledgestones, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The Artisan Walk on Alvarado Street will feature handmade items from local artisans,

including works by Wire Moon Jewelry, Potted Arts and Rustic Winds. Local artist Taylor Gallegos will be doing a live mural, and Cameron Canales will be drawing caricatures.

Art and avocado lovers are also invited to visit Brandon Gallery, 105 N. Main Ave., where the entries and winners of the "Art of the Avocado" contest will be on display.

The Avocado Festival also includes a Farmer's Market, which will be held on Elder Street and feature fresh fruits and vegetables as well as honey and other items.

The chamber of commerce is providing – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – free shuttles from large parking areas to the downtown festival area. The parking areas that will be served by the shuttle are Fallbrook High School on Stage Coach Lane; Northgate Market, 1346 S. Mission Road; William H. Frazier Elementary School on Gum Tree Lane and the corner of Fallbrook Street and Heald Lane.

For more information about the Avocado Festival, call the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce at (760) 728-5845 or visit http://www.fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org.

Tom Ferrall can be reached by email at [email protected].