21st Annual Avo Fest this Sunday

Prepare to celebrate Fallbrook’s glorious, green fruit, the luscious avocado, this Sunday at the 21st Annual Avocado Festival in the heart of downtown.

Presented by the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, under the direction of Festival Chairman George Archibald, the popular event is expected to draw a crowd of 70,000 or more.

The 350 booths that will line Main Avenue will include 55 offering food, including Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai and other ethnic specialties. There will be plenty of Fallbrook’s famous guacamole, hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, shaved ice and cold soft drinks.

Two refreshment areas will feature bands providing live music. Don’t miss the sounds of the Blue Zone and the Avocado Moon Band.

Easily found on Alvarado Street, the Agriculture Center – featuring the Farmer’s Market and nursery booths – will be stocked with beautifully fresh flowers, plants, avocados, cherimoyas, citrus, strawberries, macadamia nuts, herbs and more.

Culinary contests will be offered for best guacamole, salsa, Fallbrook fruit dish and avocado-based recipes. Additionally, Yujiro Masuda, the Japanese chef who appeared at last year’s festival to demonstrate his sushi techniques, will be back for a second visit. Don’t miss this man with a lot of talent!

There will be entertainment and exhibitions provided by students of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District.

A mini car show will be held by the Fallbrook Vintage Car Club. It will take place at Peter’s Auto Center at the corner of Main and Fig.

Winning entries of the Art of the Avocado contest will be on display at The Lace Apron restaurant in the 100 north block of Main.

Interesting offsite venues will be offered in tandem with the festival. Visit Fallbrook’s Gem & Mineral Museum at 123 West Alvarado Street between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to see fascinating examples of the rich history of gems and fossils in the area.

The Gem & Mineral Society will offer minerals and jewelry for sale that day, as well as gold panning, geode cracking and other children’s activities. Don’t miss a tour of the museum! They also have a great raffle opportunity going on.

Fallbrook Airpark will hold a free Open House and Vintage Aircraft Display at 2141 South Mission Road from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Take an opportunity to see vintage aircraft and a Model A car show.

Visitors will get to tour the Sheriff Department’s emergency base and helicopter operation center. Experience a realistic flight simulator, water drops from a firefighting helicopter, a US Air Force flyover, an emergency medical display by Mercy Air and model aircraft air shows by the Palomar RC flyers. The Federal Aviation Administration will also be on hand to answer questions. Hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks will be served by the Friends of Fallbrook Airpark.

Fallbrook’s interesting history will be available for viewing at the Historical Society Museum, 230 Rockycrest, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum features a turn-of-the-century farmhouse that was owned by the first Civil War soldier to win the Congressional Medal of Honor; displays of antique Ford cars, a Model T and a Model A; a tool collection; and a visual history of US Highway 395.

Also displayed are the names and locations of the first Fallbrook residents – Luiseño Indians, Spanish soldiers and settlers, Mexican ranchers and American homesteaders – and exhibits on early businesses, including two Fallbrook railroads, miniature replicas of 12 Fallbrook buildings primarily from the late 1800s and a history of Fallbrook’s groves and fruit production, from olives and apricots to lemons and avocados.

Avocado Festival time schedule

9 a.m. 21st Annual Avocado Festival begins

9 a.m. Kids’ area opens at Main and Ivy

9 a.m. Sheriff’s Station opens at 388 East Alvarado

9 a.m. CHP, Radio Club, Lost & Found opens at Wells Fargo parking lot

9 a.m. Agriculture Center opens on Alvarado

9 a.m. Gem & Mineral Society Museum opens at 123 West Alvarado

9 a.m. Avo Emporium (selling festival items) opens at Main and Alvarado

9 a.m. Culinary contests begin at Controltec, 330 South Main

9 a.m. Elementary school displays for viewing at Fbk Directory parking lot

10 a.m. South refreshment area opens at Scrappy’s, 346 South Main

10 a.m. North refreshment area opens at Hawthorne and Main

10 a.m. Community Stage opens at Main and Ivy (Bonita/El Toro Market lot)

10 a.m. Historical Society Museum opens at 260 Rockycrest Road

10 a.m. Shuttle service between high school and festival venues begins

11 a.m. Avocado Moon Band performs at north refreshment area

11 a.m. Blue Zone performs at south refreshment area

11 a.m. Vintage Aircraft Display at Fallbrook Airpark

11 a.m. Avo 500 races for elementary school children at Main and Ivy

11 a.m. Culinary demos begin at Controltec, 330 South Main

11 a.m. Best Decorated/Dressed Avocado Contest begins at Main and Ivy

4:30 p.m. Refreshment areas close

5 p.m. Festival ends

5:30 p.m. Last shuttle departure (Main and Fallbrook Street intersection)

Shuttle service

A free shuttle will be available on the day of the festival. Those utilizing this service are advised to park at Fallbrook High School.

Stops on the shuttle route include the intersection of Fallbrook Street and Main Avenue – the south end of the festival area – as well as the Fallbrook Airpark and the Historical Society Museum. Passengers can visit these venues in any order, whether coming to the festival or returning to the off-site parking area at the high school.

After 3 p.m., the shuttle will travel only between the high school and the festival site. Its final departure from the festival area will be at 5:30 p.m.

As there is ample parking at each off-site venue, visitors also have the option of driving directly to any location.

Entertainment for children

• The Avo 500 – Kids race customized “cars” made from avocados. There will be two classes: one featuring racers made prior to the festival and one featuring racers made on-the-spot.

• Coloring contest

• Best Decorated/Dressed Avocado Contest

• Dance performances

(See more about the kids’ activities in our entertainment section!)