12-05-2025
Beloved Monterey County food festival announces permanent closure
(KRON) – A Monterey County festival that has been in production for more than six decades has announced its closure. The city of Castroville has had its last Artichoke Festival, the festival announced on Friday.
According to the festival, the event celebrated the region's agricultural heritage, artichoke royalty and community spirit.
The festival's board cited 'insurmountable' financial restraints, such as production costs, insurance premiums, permitting requirements, and operational challenges as the reason for the closure.
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'This festival has been a labor of love for so many of us. Watching it grow from a hometown celebration to a regional highlight has been one of the greatest honors of my life,' said the Executive Director of the Artichoke Festival, Linda Scherer.
The festival originated in 1959 to honor and promote local agriculture, educate the public about the unique qualities of artichokes, and support community nonprofits through proceeds raised, said the festival.
Another Northern California food festival recently declared its termination after decades of operation due to financial reasons. The Pittsburg Seafood and Music Festival announced last month it will not see its 41st year.
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