The organizers of a new Fresno festival believe nothing brings a community together more than food. So, they’ve put together an International Food Festival.

It’s taking place on Saturday at Manchester Center, outside in the parking lot area.

“I grew up going to food festivals with my family,” said Nate Jumna, founder of City Grub Fest, the group organizing the event. “We always loved seeing our community come together to support local vendors and try different kinds of food.”

Saturday’s festival runs from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature a wide variety of food trucks, including: Robs Bayside BBQ, PSP Grill, Sushi In N Out, Cool AF, Sweet & Spicy and Vornita’s. That’s a mix of Asian, Mexican and American foods.

“It is important to have events like these so we can bring our community together,” Jumna said. “It also shines a light to our local business owners.”

The event’s Facebook page already has more than 7,000 people that say they’re interested in attending.

There’s no fee to come to the festival. Food is purchased directly from different vendors.

There will also be merchandise and informational booths, along with a live DJ.

Jumna says he’s excited to be holding the event at Manchester Center, which is rebranding themselves as “The New Manchester.” The complex, located on Shields and Blackstone in Central Fresno, is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation.

“They have been really supportive and are excited to have an event like this,” Jumna said. “Most events like these happen on the north side of Fresno and we want to bring the community back towards the central area and show that you don’t have to travel far to have a fun time with your family.”

Sandra Cortez, the Marketing and Business Development Manager for The New Manchester, hopes to be able to host more events like this one.

“ It’s an opportunity for local businesses to show the amazing diversity of ethnicities we have in the Valley and the best way for that to be memorable is through delicious food,” Cortez said.

A portion of funds raised from the International Food Festival will go towards Together 1 Heart which works to secure the rights of young women and girls who are victims of human trafficking. To learn more about Saturday’s festival visit their website CityGrubFest.com

Saturday Fresno State’s Gibson Farm Market is hosting its annual Fall Festival. This free family-fun event features a wide range of activities that are sure to make for a relaxing autumn day.

You can sample student-made products like Fresno State pumpkin, vanilla and java jolt ice cream made on campus at the creamery. Raspberry tea, olive oil, grapes, and raisins will also be available to sample. 

“This year’s Fall Festival is a great way for families and friends within the community to come see all the great things Fresno State produces on our campus farm,” said Jeremy Lewis, Farm Market Manager. “We hope to educate the public by showcasing the various enterprises, clubs, and students that make everything possible while sampling some delicious student-made products.”

The Gibson Farm Market is located on Chestnut Avenue, between Barstow and Shaw. The market consists of products produced by the 1,000-acre University Agricultural Laboratory’s 22 enterprises. All proceeds from sales help fund programs within the Jordan College of Agriculture.

The Gibson Farm Market is open year-around and carries a variety of seasonal items such as fresh produce, nuts, raisins, dairy products, meat, and poultry. All staff members are current Fresno State students.

During Saturday’s Fall Festival seasonal items including: pumpkins, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, and pomegranates will be available to purchase.

For those wondering, Fresno State’s delicious sweet corn is done for the year.

The Fall Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a pumpkin patch and farm animals on display. Victor E. Bulldog will make an appearance from 11 a.m. to Noon. There will also be a Kid’s Zone and several tractors on display; perfect for family fall photos. 

Horticulture students will host a succulent planting demonstration at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Also new this year, the Culinology and Dietetics clubs will hold a cooking demonstration from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Fresno State’s award-winning wine will be served from Noon to 4 p.m. You can taste Malbec, Alicante Bouschet, Albarino and Late Harvest Muscat Canelli. 

To learn more about the Gibson Farm Market’s Fall Festival, visit their website.

The Big Fresno Fair runs through Monday. One of the big attractions is always the food! There are lots of new items this year. FresYes is on your side with a look at five of the new fair food items you won’t want to miss.

Dole Whip

A Disneyland favorite can now be purchased at the Big Fresno Fair. Dole Whip is a soft-serve dairy-free frozen dessert created by Dole Food Company. At the Happiest Place on Earth, they sell it outside of the Enchanted Tiki Room. At the Big Fresno Fair, you’ll find it right outside of the carnival gates, near the infield parking entrance.

“If you want a taste of Disneyland, you can come get a Dole Whip at the Big Fresno Fair and the lines are a lot shorter,” says Ruben Olivares, a worker at the Dole Whip stand.

You can get Dole Whip in pineapple or strawberry flavors. They can do half and half, too. Cones sell for $5. Cups and waffle cones are $7 and a float is $9. For $15 dollars you can have a Dole Whip float inside a fresh pineapple.

“People love the fresh pineapple floats,” Olivares said. 

If you want to spice things up, you can add Tajin and Chamoy for $2.

Reese’s and Oreo Pinwheel Sandwiches

Another sweet treat that’s new at the Big Fresno Fair this year can be found at the Fruit Caboose booth. They’ve been a part of the Fresno County Fair for over 30 years.

New on the menu are Pinwheel Sandwiches. They come in two flavors. Reese’s and Oreo. 

The Reese’s is two patties with vanilla ice cream in the middle, rolled in Reese’s Pieces.

The Oreo Pinwheel has two Oreo cookies on the outside with chocolate ice cream in the middle. It’s rolled in Oreo cookie crumbles.  They both sell for $8.

“Everything we create is good,” says Jose Cuellar of Fruit Caboose. “It’s ice cream, peanut butter, and chocolate. What’s not to like?”

The Fruit Caboose stand is easy to spot. Just look for the big cone in the food area near the Paul Paul Theatre across from the horse racing entrance.

Footlong Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog 

You’ll find a foot-long, bacon-wrapped hot dog at the Chillin’ & Grillin’ stand located between the Ag Building and Home Arts. What makes this bacon-wrapped dog different than others is that it is topped with freshly grilled onions and bell peppers.

“People get excited because it’s so big,” said Anna Bell with Chillin’ & Grillin’. “It has about three pieces of bacon on it.”

This new Big Fresno Fair food item sells for $14.

Hot Cheeto Potato

Hot Cheetos are all the rage at the Big Fresno Fair this year. Bob Jackson has been bringing his Corn Star booth to Fresno for 36 years. He sells grilled corn and potato items. For the first time, he’s added a Hot Cheeto Potato to his menu.

“It’s been a hot little seller here,” said Penny Nicolson of Corn Star. “We’re selling more in Fresno than at the San Diego and Orange County Fairs.”

So what is a Hot Cheeto Potato? It’s a baked potato topped with cheddar cheese sauce, sour cream, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and Chamoy sauce. It sells for $11.50 and can easily be shared.

You can find the Corn Star stand along the backside of the Photography/Fine Arts Building, facing the grandstand. Just look for the 25 foot blow up corn and digital sign. 

Crazy Fries

At Good Ol’ Burgers, located outside of the Livestock area, near the Kids Zone, you’ll find Crazy Fries. There are five different kinds to choose from, some spicy, some savory and some cheesy.

The Carne Asada Crazy Fries are fries tossed in a special chipotle sauce and topped with carne asada, sour cream, pico de gallo and guacamole. They sell for $15. 75. 

There’s Pork Belly Crazy Fries that feature garlic fries with grilled pork belly on top. “It’s just really good flavor,” says Mayra Garcia of Good Ol’ Burgers. “The meat is nice and tender.” The Pork Belly Crazy Fries are also $15.75.

Also new this year are Hot Cheeto and Takis Chip Crazy Fries. Both sell for $12.75. It’s a big box of fries, coated in chipotle sauce and topped with ground-up chips.

“People really like it,” Garcia said. “It’s a different type of flavor.”

If cheesy is more your thing, then you’ll want to try the Mac & Cheese Crazy Fries. That’s plain fries topped with creamy mac and cheese. They sell for $12.75.

If you’re headed to the fair, share your awesome pics with the FresYes team by using #fresyesinsider on all your posts.

Saturday night filmgoers in Fresno will join audiences in over 400 cities spanning six continents to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers. The 22^nd annual Manhattan Short Film Festival is being screened at the Tower Theatre from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

“Audiences can expect well done, Oscar worthy films running the gamut of drama, satire, and human interests,” said Michele Viets, a board member with Creative Fresno, the organization bringing the Manhattan Short Film Festival to Fresno. 

“Part of our mission is to bring art to Fresno and the surrounding areas,” Viets said. “Fresno has a community of film lovers and we hope to make this an annual event.”

Ten short films will be screened Saturday night. Audience members cast ballots for Best Film and Best Actor awards. By being part of the Manhattan Short, each film is automatically qualified to be considered for an Academy Award.

The films featured in this year’s festival come from France, Iran, Canada, Finland and Germany. There are also two from the United States and three British films. These ten films were selected from over 12 hundred submissions from 70 countries.

The American films featured are Debris and At the End of the World. Debris is 14 minutes long. It’s an action, crime drama about a disastrous event on a construction site. When the film’s star acts quickly to save his crew, he stumbles upon an unspeakable truth. 

At the End of the World takes place in an apocalyptic future. A lonely government worker finds solace with a soldier during the last World War. But their future is threatened when the soldier is sent back into battle. 
Tickets for the Manhattan Short Film Festival are $15 and can be purchased online or at the Tower Theatre Box Office.

A free, family-friendly outdoors event is happening this weekend at Woodward Park. The 41^st Annual Koi Show is happening at the Woodward Park Group Activity Area, next to the Shinzen Friendship Garden. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Central California Koi Society. “The koi fish exhibited at our show range in size from six to 36 inches long,” said Richele Kleiser, President of CCKS. “Most people don’t know how massive, friendly and beautiful these koi fish really are.”

You may be asking yourself what is koi? It’s a type of fish, popular in Japan because it is supposed to bring good luck. They’re colorful and are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor ponds and water gardens.

“I think most people don’t know that koi can be raised right here in the Valley,” Kleiser said. “Koi fish are like living art, each one is unique with a variety of patterns, colors, body shapes, and scale types.”

In addition to viewing the hundreds of koi fish at the show, there will be dozens of vendors selling koi, art, and décor.

Event-goers are invited to also visit the Shinzen Friendship Garden which has its own koi pond, waterfalls, and iconic moon bridge. Admission is waived because of the Koi Show.

“This is the perfect setting for our event,” Klesier said. “Guests can enjoy the park, green space, large area with picnic tables and shade trees, and everything else that the Shinzen Friendship Garden offers.

Docents will be on hand to tell you more about the garden and help suggest some of the best places to take photos.

For the first time, food trucks will be at the Koi Show. This event was previously held in the parking lot at Fig Garden Village.

This is the only fundraiser hosted by the Central California Koi Society each year.

You can learn more about this event by visiting CentralKoi.com