Sunny days ahead for Mountain Mandarin Festival
The drippy weather we’ve been experiencing should be just a memory as the Mountain Mandarin Festival returns this weekend with its sunny fruit to the Grounds in Roseville.
The festival runs Friday to Sunday, Nov. 21-23, with entertainment, 200 vendors, a Kids Zone and every type of mandarin-inspired food. And, of course, there will be plenty of the citrus fruit at the heart of the event, sold by 15 local growers.
Last year’s opening day was caught in an atmospheric river that dampened the site and everyone attending. But this year, sunshine is forecast all weekend, with highs in Roseville about 60 degrees, just a little below the average for the month. (You might want to take a jacket.)
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $14 general, $10 seniors, $8 juniors (age 11-17) and free for kids 10 and under. Friday has a special price of $8. Season passes good for all three days are $29 general, $22 seniors and $17 juniors. Parking purchased in advance is $12; $15 day-of. Online purchases will include fees. Buy tickets here; parking is available here.
The Mandarin Festival Main Stage will be busy each day, with music and events such as the Best Mandarin Contest (noon Friday), and the Miss Mandarin Pageant (9:30 a.m. Saturday).
The Community Stage will feature Jordan the Science Wizard, and the Orchard Stage will have Steve’s Fun Balloons and other entertainment for the kids. The Cooking Stage fires up at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Sunday, with recipes such as Mandarin Shrimp Tostadas and Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad.
A highlight of the festival is the Recipe Contest, held on Sunday, Nov. 23. Entry forms must be submitted by Saturday at noon. All dishes must be delivered to the Cooking Stage in the Garden Room at the Grounds between 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Sunday. Participants may submit one entry for each category. No late entries will be accepted. Information on categories and the entry forms can be found here.
The Grounds is at 700 Event Center Drive in Roseville. For more information, go to https://mandarinfestival.com/
