The first ever San Benito Olive Festival has come and gone. Did you have a chance to stop by?
It was quite a beautiful and magical day. Hundreds and hundreds of folks came from all over. Not only from throughout San Benito County, but also from the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo county, Sacramento, and other parts of the state. I heard that a few festival patrons were from New Zealand and Puerto Rico. Whoo-hooo!
The Paicines Ranch was the perfect setting for the first San Benito Olive Festival. The old hippie in me just wanted to take off my shoes and run barefoot through the lawn and dance with the little joyful kids as they bounced and jumped and ran with the great sounds of Mr. O's Jazz Band, The Retrospect Band, David Huboi and The Architecturals, and Workhouse Poets.
Everywhere you looked, people were having fun sampling locally produced olive oils and wines, chocolates, fruit preserves, and other artisanal products by Brigantino Olio de Oliva, La Piedad Tortilla Factory, Jayse Wines, Marich Confectionary, Pietra Santa Winery, Calera Wine, San Benito Tea Company, Sharobed Grove, Casa de Fruta Winery, B&R Farms, Guerra Vineyards and Groves, Oils of Paicines, and many more.
Folks were also check out lovely, creative products from such merchants as M&M Plant Sales, Gioia Italian Art and Products, San Benito Bene, McAbee Feed, and Off the Chain Bikes.
And, the food, oooooh. I noticed quite a few people chomping happily into tri-tip sandwiches by Vanguard Catering and the Philly cheese steak sandwiches by Philly Cheesesteak from Stockton. Myself, I ate a caprese panini sandwich from Grillin' and Chillin, while the Husband had a caprese salad made by Running Rooster. Ah, but the most delightful aroma came from Soul Sweets which offered fruit cobblers. The Husband continues to drool over the memory of consuming a blueberry cobbler with a big scoop of ice cream.
Yes, indeed! To the tune of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, one, two, three: It was a beautiful day for a festival. A beautiful day for a festival. Hope you all had funnnn.
What did you like the most at the San Benito Olive Festival?
For more photos, check out these Facebook Albums. You don't need to be on Facebook or have a Facebook account to access them.
- 2013 San Benito Olive Festival
- 2013 San Benito Olive Festival (at San Benito Olive Festival's FB wall)
- Behind the Scenes
We were thinking of getting an Olive tree, think I could join in as well
ReplyDeleteHi, Bill, I'm lobbying the Husband and the Mama to put in an olive tree, too. It has such a different look and feel.
Delete