Fresno County agriculture — Photo: Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Whole Vine Festival Returns to Fresno State October 24 to Celebrate Valley Grape Industry
The Whole Vine Festival will return to Fresno State on Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., celebrating the San Joaquin Valley’s grape industry in its fourth year. The event is free to attend with free parking and a free Kid Zone.
According to Whole Vine Festival Founder and Director Vickie Goudreau, the festival celebrates the San Joaquin Valley’s unique distinction as the only region in the United States that commercially produces table grapes, raisin grapes, and wine grapes together. The event features growers, wineries, raisin producers, researchers, educators, and agricultural technology exhibits.
Hosted at Fresno State, the festival includes activities for children such as planting demonstrations, pollinator education, gardening projects, and seed-growing activities with materials from the Master Gardeners program. Students from Hoover High School’s Career Technical Education Horticulture Program will create grape-themed floral displays for the event.
Goudreau stated the festival aims to help Valley residents, particularly those without agricultural backgrounds, understand agriculture’s importance to the region. She emphasized showcasing how technology has advanced modern farming.
The festival relies on community sponsorships from businesses, wineries, agricultural companies, and organizations. Information on sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor registration is available at https://thewholevine.com/.
The Breakdown
- The festival takes place October 24, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fresno State
- Admission, parking, and the Kid Zone are all free
- The San Joaquin Valley is the only U.S. region producing table grapes, raisin grapes, and wine grapes commercially
- Activities include hands-on agricultural education for children and agricultural technology demonstrations
- Local students participate through floral displays and social media promotion
- Community sponsors support the free event
What This Means for You
This free family event offers Valley residents an opportunity to learn about the region’s signature agricultural industry while children can participate in hands-on activities that teach where food comes from. For those new to the Valley or unfamiliar with agriculture, the festival provides educational exhibits explaining the technology and work behind local food production.
