Thousands will head downtown for FresYes Fest this weekend. How to best enjoy the party

It’s been 10 years since the event that would become FresYes Fest first happened in downtown Fresno.

Back then, it was called the Tioga-Sequoia and Ozmosis Anniversary Open Brew-House and it was a small event, relatively speaking. There were five bands playing and two food trucks (including Dusty Buns for those who remember), with brewery tours running every 20 minutes.

But it set the template for a signature event not only for Tioga-Sequoia, but for the Fulton Street Corridor and the Brewery District more generally.

It’s an event that could see as many as 20,000 people strolling around.

This year’s FresYes Fest happens 1-11 p.m. Saturday along a stretch of Fulton Street from Tulare to Mono. It will feature more than a dozen bands and 40-plus food vendors, alongside existing businesses on the street, including those inside the recently opened Sun Stereo Warehouse.

“Its’ really just a good opportunity to get out and get downtown,” says Mike Osegueda, FresYes organizer and founder of Fresno Street Eats.

“I’d suggest just go and check out everything.”

Get Hella Lit, drink a michelada, or not

While FresYes Fest has ostensibly always been about beer and music, it has diversified its offerings to the point where two people could have vastly different experiences, depending on when they arrive and where they choose to put their attention.

So, figure out the experience you want to have.

Those looking to enjoying a street-fair sunshine vibe with the family and the dog should arrive early. Yes, the forecast is clear of rain.

Conversely, the party vibe starts once the sun goes down, Osegueda says.

One could come just for the food experience and hang out on the so-called Grizzly Food Truck Trail. A full list of food trucks and vendors is available online.

You could also treat this as a music festival and bounce back and forth between the main stage (at Fulton and Inyo) and the NewRock 104.1-curated Homegrown stage. Music starts at 1:30 with alternative set times running through 11 p.m. See below for the scheduled lineup for both stages.

Fans of vintage clothing can shop at the Thrifters Paradise, a collection of vendors set up outside of Marathon Mall.

Fresno Social Sports will be hosting a series of games throughout the day and the mobile rage room, Rage Cage, will have stuff for people to break, if they’re looking to channel some Limp Bizkit energy.

Those who aren’t into beer also have choices.

One, they can bring their beer to the so-called Miche-ville and, for an upcharge, have it turned into a Michelada. Six Michelada makers will be on hand, each with a different recipe of juice, sauce, spices and peppers.

For a true cocktail, Chuckchansi Park is hosting Hella Lit.

Sponsored by the Artist Tree cannabis dispensary, this party-inside-the party will have a full bar on site and will serve as the debut spot for Fresno canned cocktail brand Ursa. As a bonus, Teezzy Radio will be hosting live DJs all day, including PartyAnimal, Bawbeats, DJ Burns, FYR, Yo Isaac, Brohht and Kasino.

Plan for parking

For those driving into downtown for the festival, organizers are pointing people to one of three nearby parking garages.

The so-called Spiral Garage at Van Ness and Inyo Streets is the closest and will likely fill up quickly. Additional parking garages are situated near the festival’s north entrance: at Tulare and Van Ness and Tulare and Fulton.

You might be able to find street parking in the blocks around Fulton Street, but be on the lookout for meters. FresYes is considered a special event and meters will be enforced.

Of course, if you’re planning to drink, you probably shouldn’t drive, Osegueda says.

“Take an Uber, take a Lyft, get a ride.”

Ride-share drop-off will be at Tulare and Fulton and at Inyo and Broadway.

Buying beer tickets

There will be two main bars operating inside the Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden, along with several canned beer stations situated throughout the festival grounds.

They will be accepting only beer tickets.

Each ticket is good for one beer and available at booths set up near the festival’s various entrances. Organizers suggest buying beer tickets from the beer garden in advance of the event.

It will save you from standing in an additional line Saturday.

“It’s one less line you have to get into. It’s a little less money,” Osegueda says.

“It really does help.”

Drink tickets are $7 in advance or $8 during the event. Unused beer tickets are redeemable at Tioga-Sequoia until March 31.

Scheduled lineup of bands

Main stage

• Angellvroo: 1:45 p.m.

• Sun Umbra: 3 p.m.

• Dakota Crossing 4:15 p.m.

• Carlos Montano Band: 6 p.m.

• Fatty Cakes and the Puff Pastries: 7:30 p.m.

• Blink 180 True: 8:30 p.m.

• The Box: 10 p.m.

New Rock 104.1 Homegrown Stage

• The Downwinders: 1:30 p.m.

• The Remedy: 2:30 p.m.

• Unlikely: 3:35 p.m.

• 1335: 5:15 p.m.

• Puppet: 6:30 p.m.

• Macondo: 7:45 p.m.