Visit Sacramento’s FREE Farm-to-Fork Festival is right around the corner, following a month full of fun and exciting events like Legends of Wine and the Tower Bridge Dinner. The 11th annual festival will be held on Capitol Mall on Friday, Sept. 20, and Saturday, Sept. 21, combining fresh food, local beers and wines, cooking demonstrations, interactive exhibits, a concert series, and more. On Friday, the event runs from 4-9 p.m., and on Saturday, it runs longer, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Farm-to-Fork Festival highlights the area’s farmers, ranchers, chefs, and everyone else who makes the capital’s food scene America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. In addition to the food, live music is a major draw, with headliners Andra Day and Hayes Carll & The Band of Heathens being just two of the host bands that will perform on the main stage throughout the festival.
Music:
This year’s festival includes a full lineup of live music that keeps the crowds entertained all day long. Hayes Carll & The Band of Heathens are headlining the event on Friday night, and Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, Andra Day, will headline Saturday. Other festival performances include sets by Stacey Ryan, The Hip Abduction, and Chance Emerson, as well as local artists like Arden Park Roots, Boot Juice, Nat Lefkoff, Inner Nature, E D D Y, Zephyr, and DJ Stace Lace.
Scroll down for the full performance schedule and visit farmtofork.com to read each artist’s bio.
Demo Stages, Activations & Entertainment:
You are not going to want to miss the excitement happening on the SMUD and UC Davis Health Demo Stages. This year’s demo stage presentations include a pho competition, a shuck off, Golden 1 Credit Union’s Healthy Kids Food Challenge, a drag queen chef relay, a restaurant relay challenge, various food demos, and more. Oh, and did we mention the ever-popular silent disco activation is back again this year? Get your dancing shoes ready to dance to your heart’s content.
For-Purchase Drinks:
Enjoy wines and craft-cocktails from Bogle Family Vineyards, Frey Ranch, Midtown Spirits Vodka, Dorotea Gin, Teremana Tequila, and California Wine Guy as you stroll through the festival. Be sure to swing by the Sky River Casino Bar located at the corner of Fourth Street and Capitol Mall for a variety of cocktails, wines, and beers.
Vendors:
When it comes to the food vendors, it’s no surprise that as America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, the best of the Sacramento region is showcased. And with Visit Sacramento’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, a series of vendor grants are offered in partnership with Bank of America for first-time vendors who identify as a minority/person of color and/or LGBTQ and demonstrate a financial need.
A list of participating vendors will be announced as the festival gets closer on farmtofork.com.
Visit the event website for up-to-the-minute information on vendors, demonstrations, activities and more.
Enhance Your Farm-to-Fork Festival Experience with the Grand Tasting
For those foodies looking to enhance their festival experience, be sure to snag tickets to the Grand Tasting event on Friday from 6-9 p.m. This event highlights Sacramento’s rich culinary scene with tastings from 20 amazing chefs, libations, and live entertainment by local band Dunsbar Road. Your ticket to the event includes two drink tickets and unlimited tastings.
Please note that The Grand Tasting is a separate, ticketed 21+ even taking place inside of the festival grounds. Tickets are $125 and are available for purchase at farmtofork.com.
The Grand Tasting is proudly sponsored by Comcast Business.
Farm-to-Fork Festival Music Stage Schedule:
Friday Night:
- E D D Y: 4 – 4:30 p.m.
- Boot Juice: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m
- E D D Y: 5:30 – 6 p.m.
- The Hip Abduction: 6 – 7 p.m.
- E D D Y: 7 – 7:30 p.m.
- Hayes Carll & The Band of Heathens: 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Saturday Night:
- DJ Stace Lace: 11:30 a.m. – Noon
- Inner Nature: Noon – 12:45 p.m.
- DJ Stace Lace: 12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
- Nat Lefkoff: 1 – 1:45 p.m.
- DJ Stace Lace: 1:45 – 2 p.m.
- Restaurant Relay Challenge: 2-3 p.m.
- Arden Park Roots: 3 – 4 p.m.
- Zephyr: 4 – 4:30 p.m.
- Chance Emerson: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
- Zephyr: 5:30 – 6 p.m.
- Stacey Ryan: 6-7 p.m.
- Zephyr: 7 – 7:30 p.m.
- Andra Day: 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Farm-to-Fork Festival Event Details:
Location: Capitol Mall, downtown Sacramento
Friday Hours: 4 - 9 p.m.
Saturday hours: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Admission: Free
Beer, wine, cocktails, and bottled water: cashless - bring your credit/debit cards
Entrances: Fourth and N streets, Fifth and L streets, Seventh Street and Capitol Mall
Getting to the festival: SacRT is a great option to get to and from the Festival, and free bike valet provided by SABA will be available Friday and Saturday at Crocker Park. There is ample parking around the festival, and the SacPark system lets you reserve spots in advance. For those from neighboring cities looking to come to the Farm-to-Fork Festival, Amtrak San Joaquin runs multiple times daily between Sacramento and as far as Bakersfield. Capitol Corridor also runs multiple times daily between Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area
What are you waiting for? Come on down to Capitol Mall and celebrate the Sacramento region’s incredible food and agriculture at this year’s Farm-to-Fork Festival.
This year’s Farm-to-Fork Festival is proudly sponsored by Sutter Health.
All images courtesy of: Francisco Chavira.
