Get ready to flap your wings for the San Juan Bautista Chicken Festival on Sept. 16. The free, family-friendly event is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown San Juan Bautista on Third Street.
This is the first poultry-related festival held in San Juan Bautista in nine years.
“The 2009 event was a two-day affair with much more activity and community involvement, including a parade,” said Max Martinez, a resident helping with coordination, promotion, and advertising.
Features include a chicken cook-off, live music and dancing, biergarten (beer garden), crowing contest, children’s activities including the chicken dance, and a Chicken Queen coronation.
Additionally, there will be merchant and resident flea market booths, raffles, a 50-50 drawing, and more.
The local 4-H Club will hold live chicken displays alongside Parker Padilla, locally renowned chicken breeder who will have his prize roosters on display.
Sponsors include the San Juan Bautista Community Business Association, Merchants Association of San Juan Bautista, San Juan Bautista Rotary Club, and the City of San Juan Bautista.
“The current festival, for me, is a sincere delight to be a part of,” Martinez said. “Bringing joy, love, and community service to town gives me great joy!
To sign up as a vendor competitor for the Chicken Cook-Off, enter as a Chicken Queen contestant, apply for a flea market booth, or for more information, contact Naomi Medina at (831) 801-5404.