Madera Pomegranate Festival heads to a new location

The sixth edition of the Madera Pomegranate Festival will take place at its usual first Saturday of November, however, after five years at the Madera Municipal Airport, the festival will move down the road.

The event, organized by the Madera Tourism Alliance, a committee of the Madera Chamber of Commerce, will now be spread out on the grounds of the Madera District Fairgrounds on Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking and entry is free.

“Our goal from the first year was to grow large enough to go to the fairgrounds,” said Madera Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Debi Bray. “We initially wanted to start at the fairgrounds, but we didn’t want to get swallowed by the grounds. Then, we moved out to the airport. We wanted to get the numbers to be able to use the fairgrounds.”

Last year saw the best attendance the Pom Fest has had in its five years. With more than 7,500 at the airport, the facility was overwhelmed with patrons.

“We had more than 7,500 people attend last year and that helps support the move to the fairgrounds,” Bray said. “At the airport, we were extremely limited to power. Now we have a lot more electricity that we can have for the vendors. Also, if weather was to hinder the event, we have the capacity to move it inside, when we need to.”

Bray is quick to point out, though, in the five previous Pomegranate Festivals, only one was rained on.

The festival includes a day of pomegranate food and nuts, live entertainment, cooking demonstration from local chefs, educational briefings on pomegranates and arts and crafts.

“On behalf of the Madera chamber, I would like to invite everyone to come out and join us for this fun-filled event,” Bray said in a statement. “It’s a great outing for the entire family. The tourism alliance committee and chamber staff are working yard to bring another great event to our community this year.”

Festival highlights include pomegranate and nut inspired food and nuts; learning about the flavors of pomegranates and local nuts, such as almonds, pistachios and walnuts through live cooking demonstrations; a kids zone that includes art lessons, activities and games, interactive displays featuring law enforcement and the children’s stage with entertainment all day long, emceed by The Madera Tribune’s Tyler Takeda.

Also included in this year’s festival will be the return of a classic car show and live music entertainment.

“We’ll have vendors selling the fruit itself, plus pomegranate and nut related products,” Bray said. To learn more about the festival, visit www.PomegranateFestival.com or www.Facebook.com/PomegranateFestival, or call the Madera Chamber of Commerce at 673-3563.