August 17, 2004 > Zucchini Festival

Clear your calendar for the weekend of August 21st & 22nd when the annual Hayward Zucchini Festival swings into action. There will be something for the whole family at the 22nd annual festival including a classic car show, live music, and over 150 Arts & Crafts booths.

Zucchini takes center stage at this enormous festival where booths will feature the summer squash in many forms including famous Fried Zucchini, Grilled Stuffed Zucchini, fluffy Zucchini Fritters, and Mimi Montano's Chocolate Zucchini Cake. Also taking place will be the great Zucchini Cook-Off and cooking demonstrations.

A major highlight of the festival is Kids Town which will be bigger than ever this year with fun games, cool prizes, face painting, rides and the popular Big Slide. The musical Main Stage will feature performers Bobby Escovedo, Maxx Cabello, Jr., Just Truckin, Kevin Beadles Band, Dons Neighbors, Robert Leroy Jones, Rene Escovedo, Lee Tompkins Main St., and Awesome Sound. KTVU's Dennis Richmond will be the Main Stage Announcer on Sunday, the 22nd.

The Hayward Zucchini Festival was founded in 1983 to create a family-oriented event in the area as well as to serve local non-profit organizations. Twenty-two years and $2.2 million later, the festival is popular as ever and continues to raise money for 20 non-profit organizations around the area.

The price of admission is $5 for adults, $2 for Seniors, Juniors and the Handicapped, and kids under 5 get in for free.

The Zucchini Festival is held at Hayward's Kennedy Park located on Hesperian Boulevard off of "A" Street. Free parking is available.

For more information call (510) 264-9466