Your complete guide to Sacramento’s Farm-to-Fork Festival: Music, chefs and events
Sacramento’s annual Farm-to-Fork Festival is back, along with its street fair studded with star chefs and musical performers.
Started in 2013, the festival celebrates the region’s agriculture, food, wine and beer with a variety of events — some free, and others at a premium cost.
The Farm to Fork Festival kicked off Thursday with the Legends of Wine event at Capitol Mall where guests explore regional wineries and local restaurants. It’s followed by the sold-out Tower Bridge Dinner on Sunday, a locally-sourced dining experience held on the Sacramento River bridge prepared by the region’s top chefs.
A street festival caps off the month-long celebration on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23. The free festival hosts a lineup of performers, local chefs and food demonstrations.
Where and when is the street festival?
The street festival will be along Capitol Mall. It runs from 4-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 22 and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23.
The music
A handful of artists and DJs will be performing each day of the street festival.
Some of the big names include alternative and electro-pop band Cannons, soul artist Danielle Ponder and Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals. Ben Harper is a three-time Grammy-winning pop and soul singer.
Grammy-winner and chart-toppers to perform at Sacramento’s Farm-to-Fork Festival in 2023
The food
A wide range of local restaurants will be whipping up food for purchase at the Farm-to-Fork Festival, including Buckhorn BBQ & Grill, Nash & Proper, Tacos 916 and more.
There will also be cooking demonstrations and specialty events, perhaps none more noteworthy than The Grand Tasting: 10 Years of Farm to Fork.
From 6-9 p.m. on Sept. 22, guests can taste bites from 20 chefs — including those at The 7th Street Standard, Binchoyaki and Camden Spit & Larder — while enjoying wine and live entertainment. Tickets for this 21-and-over event start at $125 per person.
Bay Area-based celebrity chef and Food Network star Tyler Florence is also hosting an event called FARM x FIRE x FORK with Tyler Florence from 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 23. There will be a barbecue menu featuring 45-day, dry-aged tomahawk ribeye and smoked F-1 Westholme wagyu beef ribs, plus local craft beer. This is a 21-and-over event as well, and tickets start at $150.
How to get there
You can use the Sacramento Regional Transit or get to the downtown Amtrak station to get to Capitol Mall.
If you’re driving, there’s street parking and parking garages nearby. The City of Sacramento’s SacPark system allows you to reserve a space in city garages. Bike riders can use the free bike valet on Saturday, Sept. 23 at the festival.
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