Press Release
Date: July 20, 2004
For immediate release
Subject: Fairfield Downtown Association
Tomato Festival Entertainment Schedule Announced
Contacts: Emily Low E-mail:
Sue Violette
E-mail:
Phone: 707-422-0103 voice / 707-422-1256 fax
Christine Simelius- North Texas Street Business Association
Phone: 707-421-9085 voice / 707-421-9087 fax
The Fairfield Downtown Association Promotions Committee has announced the entertainment schedule for the Thirteenth Annual Tomato Festival on Saturday, August 14th.
Texas Street at Great Jones St Stage-
10:30a to 12:00p: Protocol (Jazz)
Noon to 12:30: Danc-Sing Stars Studio (local dance studio students)
12:30 to 2p: Papa Joe & the Bouncers (Rock & Roll)
2 to 2:30p: Cooking Contest Awards will be presented
2:30 to 4p: Pamela Rose (Soul/ Jazz)
4 to 4:30: West Coast Barbeque Championship Awards will be presented
4:30 to 6p: Silver Spur (Country / Rock)
6:30 to 8:30: Julio Bravo (Salsa) WITH Del Campo Dance Troupe 6-6:30 and 7:30 – 8p
Texas Street at Jefferson Street Stage-
11a to 12:30p: Stark Rhythm Maniacs (Rock / Jazz)
12:30 to 1pm: Brantley’s ATA Black Belt Academy (martial arts demonstration)
1 to 2:30: Fred McCarty and Friends (Country / Rock)
2:30 to 3: Danc-Sing Stars Studio (local dance studio students)
3- 4:30: Inner Soul (Soft Rock)
The West Coast Barbeque Championship joins the Festival this year. Jeff Jones of Jeff’s Classic Barbeque will bring up to twenty-five barbeque teams to the Solano Bank parking lot and Taylor Street between Texas Street and Empire Street.
Teams will compete in four categories: chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder (butt) and Brisket. One entry fee of $175 includes all four categories. Registration forms are available on Jeff’s website- www.jeffbbq.com.
The teams will arrive on Friday, August 13th and set up to cook all night. The judging will take place on Saturday, August 14th, with the winners announced at the Tomato Festival.
The competition is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), and is a qualifier for the Royal. Winners could qualify for the draw to the Jack Daniels Championship.
The North Texas Street Business Association will share the date for its traditional summer celebration- the annual Chili Cook-off, Car Show and Walk-a-thon at Armijo High School- Texas Street at Washington Street. Local chili aficionados will compete for prizes for their chili while families enjoy craft booths, commercial booths, classic cars and kids’ activities. North Texas Street business owner Jack Martin and personnel from Travis AFB will barbeque Tri Tip, hamburgers and hotdogs. Smoked pork will also be available. Event parking will be available at Armijo High School with a requested $5 donation to the North Texas Street Business Association scholarship fund.
Entertainment will be provided in three performance areas. The Filipino American Dance Troupe will perform Polynesian dances from 11am to noon. Also performing will be Podium, E.L.E. Band, Malakite, Bayou Boys and Mobility from Travis Air Force Base. D.J. 1 will spin discs all day.
In other Tomato Festival developments-
· Tenbrink farms has over 100 varieties of heirloom tomatoes in the ground just for Fairfield’s festival. If Mother Nature is willing, we’ll have a rainbow of tomatoes for sampling and buying.
· The annual Tomato Cooking Contest will return with a new venue. The “amateur” competition will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn on August 7th, with the winners announced at the Festival. The professional competition will take place in an “Iron Chef”- type competition at the Tomato Festival, in the courtyard at Fairfield Center for Creative Arts (1035 Texas Street).
· Tomato Alley has been expanded, and will be completely enclosed and cooled, with the heirloom tomatoes and gourmet tomato products under one roof.
· San Francisco radio personality Narsai David will be on hand to sign his new book, share cooking tips and promote his gourmet sauces in Tomato Alley.
· By popular demand, a Certified Farmers Market will be added to Tomato Alley so guests can buy their heirloom tomatoes and all the ingredients for salads, salsas and other treats right at the Festival- one stop shopping was never fresher!
· The “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” Film Festival returns, hosted by Pepper Belly’s Comedy and Variety Theater (849 Texas Street). The films will be shown continuously from 11am to 3pm with no admission charge.
· The traditional Tomato Costume, Tomato Eating, Tomato Tossing and Home Grown Tomato Contests return.
· Children’s activities include one full block of inflatable fun and an old-fashioned ride arcade including pony rides, face painting and arts and crafts projects. An additional area of kids’ activities with a climbing wall, super slide and remote control car racing can be found at the North Texas Street Business Association area at Armijo High School.
· More than 200 vendors from all over California are expected to participate, selling everything from toe rings to time - shares.
· In addition to delicious barbeque, other food choices will include the Downtown restaurants, plus Mary’s Pizza Shack, Meyers Korean-style Barbeque, Shave Ice, Hot Dogs and more, including tri-tip barbequed up by members of the North Texas Street Business Association.
· Expanded free shuttle bus service will be added to accommodate the increased visitor attendance created by the festival’s enhancements. Shuttle stops will include Armijo High School, Westfield Shoppingtown Solano (stop near the transfer station on Gateway) and the Fairfield Transportation Center.
· Corporate sponsors of the Thirteenth Annual Tomato Festival include the Fairfield Downtown Association, the Fairfield Redevelopment Agency, the Daily Republic, Travis Credit Union, Solano Garbage, Sam’s Club, KUIC fm 95.3, Sierra Springs Water, TV Chismes, Garson Design Services, Made in the Shade Tent Rentals, Credit Bureau Associates, Westfield Shoppingtown Solano, Garson Design Services, Fairfield Safe & Lock and MV Transportation.
The festival depends on an army of dedicated volunteers. Volunteers help the vendors in Tomato Alley, sell tickets for children’s activities, assist children with arts and craft activities and help vendors set up their booths. To become a festival volunteer, call the Fairfield Downtown Association office at 707-422-0103, or visit the FDA website- www.fairfielddowntown.com.
Additional contacts- Kansas City Barbeque Society: www.kcbs.us, Narsai David: www.narsaidavid.com and Jeff Jones: West Coast Barbeque Championship: jeffbbq.com