Merced County Nut Festival returns on Saturday, celebrating local agriculture industry
The third annual Merced County Nut Festival returns to the Merced Fairgrounds on Saturday.
The festival, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature food, music and games as attendees celebrate the local agricultural industry. Admission is free.
The festival was introduced in 2019 to celebrate Merced County’s almond, walnut and pistachio industry, its growers, equipment manufacturers and operators, hullers, distributors and those who work in the orchards.
Nuts have always been among Merced County’s leading products, with orchards found in just about every corner of the county.
“We’re surrounded by orchards,” said festival president/organizer Necola Adams. “Why not have a nut festival? Livingston has their Sweet Potato Festival. Los Banos has their Tomato Festival. We grow almonds, walnuts and pistachios in every part of the county. Ag is big in our community and we should celebrate it.”
The festival returned last year after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Adams, 4,000 people attended the Merced County Nut Festival in 2022.
The goal for the festival is to continue to grow each year.
Last year there were 52 vendors at the festival. This year Adams expects anywhere from 80 to 90.
“We hope to be as big as the Gilroy Garlic Festival,” Adams said. “We want people to come from all over to our festival.”
The food options this year include corn dogs, pizza, kettle corn, cotton candy, soul food, Asian food and other options.
Five local growers will be on hand selling almonds, pistachios and walnuts.
Entertainment will include live music from four bands, dancing and games for children. There will be arts and craft vendors, face painting and a Dinosaur Kingdom featuring walking dinosaurs.
Added this year is a bakeoff with a kid division and adult division. The cost to enter the contest is $5, with a grand prize of $100. Entries for the bakeoff must be submitted by 10:30 a.m. and must include almonds, pistachios or walnuts.
This year’s festival will also include a wine and beer pavilion.
Adams said she heard from many people who were happy about the return of the festival last year.
“This is something that brings Merced together,” she said. “It’s an event you can bring your family to; there’s not many places you can go for free admission. You can come have a good time without spending a dime.”
This story was originally published October 18, 2023 at 3:49 PM.
