5 Fabulous Ways to Ring in 2022 in Fresno

December 30, 2021 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

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Natali Carrera is a devoted coffee addict who also loves her teenage son, her husband of 19 years and shopping small & local. She is the founder & CEO of parent support non-profit Success Together, Inc. and has been a freelance content creator for FresYes.com for 7 years. Natali is an unrelenting cheerleader for and lifelong resident of Fresno, as well as a Fresno State grad.

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New Year’s Eve is just days away, and for those itching to celebrate the dawn of a new year, or simply the end of 2021 – we’ve got 5 fabulous events for you to check out this holiday.

Note: Masks and or proof of vaccination/negative COVID tests may be required to attend these events, please closely read information provided by the organizers before purchasing tickets. Be safe and have fun!

1. St. Joaquin Wine Bar’s New Year’s Eve Soiree

St. Joaquin will be ringing in the New Year with music, food, and a healthy dose of holiday “spirit” (their natural wines)! DJ Leonard will be the Master of Ceremony for the evening serving up “smooth jams and sweet melodies to help you move into 2022 with style!” Tickets are $20/person and include dancing and a sparkling wine toast at midnight. To get yours, click here.

2. Fresno Underground Supper’s Bootlegger’s Ball

Fresno’s Underground Supper Club holds some of the most exclusive, well-planned, and fantastically-themed events year-round. For NYE, they’ll be ringing in 2022 in “true Roaring 20’s style with a speakeasy-themed evening. Flappers and their Jellybeans are invited for a night of giggle juice, great grub, and really swell sounds.” Tickets include a three-course meal (traditional and vegetarian options available) and the event is described as “an immersive evening of Lust, Anger, Revenge and a Raucous party. Featuring music by Andrew Lippa and some of Fresno’s premier actors and singers bring a wild evening of entertainment to lead you into the New Year.” Tickets are $150 per person and available here (cocktails are available from the cash bar, but are not included in the ticket price).

3. New Year’s Eve Party at Goldstein’s featuring live music from Boha

Goldstein’s will be hosting a fun and funky reggae-themed night of celebration featuring local reggae-fusion band, Boha. Goldstein’s menu offerings include beer, ciders, hard kombucha, CBD beverages and more. The event which will feature food from Tacos Tikal, an aerialist ball drop and Miller High Life midnight toast begins at 9:30pm and tickets are not required. For additional info click here.

4. New Year’s Eve at Fulton 55 hosted by LMC

If you’re looking to dance the night away to house and techno tracks, LMC’s event is an awesome pick for your NYE. The event starts at 8pm and features the Family DJs. LMC is known for hosting great events and this is their return to hosting NYE after a 2-year hiatus due to COVID. For tickets, click here.

5. Dave & Buster’s Family Friendly Early NYE Celebration

This event takes place from 5-8 pm and the cost per person is $46.68. This price includes tax and gratuity, an appetizer buffet featuring family favorites, dessert, unlimited soft drinks, a $20 Power Card per guest (to be used on games that provide redemption tickets), unlimited video gameplay (non-redemptive games and simulators), and a video ball drop to ring in the New Year. Tickets are available here.

The History of Christmas Tree Lane

December 16, 2021 by Jason Farris Leave a Comment

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Jason Farris

Head YES man at FresYes.com

I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES

Can you find all Nine Reindeer?

One of my favorite things to do with my kids when we take the drive down Christmas Tree Lane is to see if we can find all nine hidden reindeer. There is a wooden replica cut-out of each of Santa’s reindeer hidden throughout Christmas Tree Lane? See if you can find them all. The nine reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph

The First Tree

In 1920, a local child passed away at a home in what is now the Fig Garden neighborhood. When the holidays came around, the tree at the home was decorated in honor of that child. Currently, there is a sign at the tree that reads, “In 1920, to honor a child that has died in this home, this First Tree was decorated. Each year, more trees were decorated and Christmas Tree Lane was born.”

As the sign says, each year since the First Tree was decorated, families in the neighborhood continued to decorate their trees and front yards more and more until this tradition became a big community event.

Throughout the Decades

Christmas Tree Lane is a tradition that has brought in many spectators almost every year since 1920. Only a few events have caused the light show to completely shut down for a season, much to the disappointment of Fresno residents.

The first time the lane shut down was in 1941 as a result of World War II. Wartime restrictions and the attack on Pearl Harbor earlier in the month caused the celebration to shut down for the year. However, it is said in the years following this, colorized postcards showcasing the brilliant light display became more widely circulated and increased the popularity of the event in the mid-late 1940’s.

The lane went dark for a second time in 1973 due to an energy crisis in California, which was the second and last time the lane ever completely shut down. While the lane didn’t fully shut down due to COVID-19, there were restrictions (no walk-only nights) put into place so people could still enjoy the light show.

There was another surge in popularity in the mid 2000’s when Christmas Tree Lane started getting noticed by the press. Sunset Magazine. TLC, and ABC Network all featured Christmas Tree Lane in various ways over the course of 7 years, which made people across the country eager to visit the Fresno neighborhood. Christmas Tree Lane has gained more and more popularity throughout the years and now currently brings in over 100,000 people every year.

Notable Events

After some disputes in the mid 1950’s, the City of Pasadena withdrew its support for lighting Christmas Tree Lane. As a result, citizens of the unincorporated Altadena region formed the Christmas Tree Lane Association and began working with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 to fund, electrify, and light Christmas Tree Lane themselves.

In 1990, Christmas Tree Lane was added to the National Register of Historic Places and was nominated for Landmark Status by the state of California and became state landmark 990

Christmas Tree Lane Today

For the second year in a row, Christmas Tree Lane will be limited to a drive-thru experience only and will not allow walk-thrus. Christmas Tree Lane openned on December 1st, 2021 this year and runs through Christmas Day. Starting at 6:00 pm every night, the lights are turned on and visitors will start driving through the neighborhood.

The Christmas Tree Lane Association still manages the event and it is free for all attendees, although donations are appreciated. Christmas Tree Lane partners with local organizations such as the Fresno County’s Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the Fig Garden Homeowners Association, and the Fresno High Marching Band.

Community

Fresno is a tight-knit community with a rich history, and the tradition of Christmas Tree Lane is just one example of that. Over the years, a lot has changed in the city but we always come together to enjoy holiday celebrations at Christmas Tree Lane.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the Fresno community and would like to start looking for homes here, reach out to one of the realtors at FresYes to start the process today!

Fast Facts About Fresno

November 28, 2021 by Jason Farris Leave a Comment

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Jason Farris

Head YES man at FresYes.com

First stop, Fresno!

Fresno was founded in 1872 by the Central Pacific Railroad Company and as a station on the Central (and later Southern) Pacific Railroad. The name Fresno means “ash tree” in Spanish and you can find one featured on the city’s flag; the city received this name due to the abundant white ash trees that once could be found in the area

A Central City

The city covers an area of around 110 -115 square miles. It is located near the geographical center of California and is a reasonable distance away from three National Parks: the Yosemite National Park (60 Miles), the Kings Canyon National Park (60 Miles), and the Sequoia National Park (75 Miles). Being centrally located to beaches, amusement parks and large cities with all their traffic shouldn’t be overlooked. Truly, Fresno is located near some of the greatest locations in the world. Here is a past post we wrote on 7 Things you can do at Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.

What’s the weather like?

Fresno displays Mediterranean climate characteristics, with mild and moist winters, and very hot and dry summers. The record high temperature for Fresno is 115 Degrees Fahrenheit and was set on July 8, 1905. This is according to the National Weather Service but I’m pretty sure it was hotter in August of 1996 – I recall the power went off in the greater Western United States that year on the 10th. Good news, with Fresno so close to so many beaches, you aren’t likely to be here, and if you are, you should be living in a home with a pool. The record low is 17 Degrees Fahrenheit and was set on January 6, 1913. Snow is a rare sight, and the heaviest snowfall reported at the local airport was 2.2 inches on January 21, 1962.

Diverse Demographics

Estimates put the population of Fresno around 545,000 as of January 2020—making it the 34th most populous city in the nation—and more than 70 ethnic groups are represented in Fresno’s demographics. The original inhabitants of the San Joaquin Valley region were the Yokuts and Miwok peoples.

Agricultural Hotspot

Fresno is located in an incredibly important agricultural region—one frequently referred to as the “Raisin Capital of The World”. In fact, the Sun-Maid raisin company is based in Fresno. But raisins aren’t all we have to offer! More than 300 different crops are raised in the greater Fresno County area. Yes, you read that correctly, 300 different crops in Fresno County. This leads us to some amazing Farmer’s Markets!

Sports Teams to Follow

Fresno does not have a sports team represented in the 4 major American sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL). The Grizzlies, the minor league baseball team, does have a prominent fan base. The city is also home to the California State University Bulldogs.

Nation’s First High-Speed Rail

Fresno plays host to the nation’s first high-speed rail. Well, it was supposed to. The project began in downtown Fresno in 2015 and aims to span the entire state. The first segment will operate between the San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles, or at least we were told. I would love to give you some more details here but truth be told, I’ve never really believed it would come to pass and it hasn’t – with no end in site.

Taco Tuesday? Taco’s Everyday!

Fresno is the taco capital of California… possibly the world! The Fresno Grizzlies baseball team even hosts an annual event, The Taco Truck Throwdown, featuring musical acts and a great variety of food trucks. We have lots and lots of Taco resources here on FresYes.com – here is a list of 5 tacos to try when you are here.

Fresno County Wine Journey

The Fresno County Wine Journey and nearby Madera Wine trail offer visitors extensive access to large ranges of wineries. One-fifth of the total wine grapes grown in California are located in Fresno County, so you may be treated to beautiful views of farmland as well!

Cooldown at a Waterpark

Fresno can expect to receive around 300 days of sunshine per year! To combat these sweltering days, you can enjoy a refreshing time at one of the incredible waterparks available in the area. The Island Water Park and Wild Water Adventure Water Park are two prominent options that are sure to offer fun for you and the whole family!

Beautiful Blooms on the Blossom Trail

In early spring, drive or bike along the nearly 70-mile Blossom Trail for gorgeous views as the trees burst with pink and white petals. As summer advances, the route morphs into a fruit trail, with vendors and their stands dotting the route with ripe seasonal offerings.

Guided Tours through Underground Gardens

The Forestiere Underground Gardens represent one man’s 40-year effort to carve a subterranean refuge from the hot summer heat. Spanning over 10 acres and going as far as 25 feet underground, the tunnels and passageways in the Underground Gardens feature living spaces and even fruit trees and grapevines still persevering from when they were first planted! Plan an extended tour to learn more about the landmark.

Fun at the Big Fresno Fair

For two weeks each October, over 600,000 people will enter the gates of the Big Fresno Fair, the fifth largest fair offered in California. Live music acts, exhibitions, carnival games, and other attractions are available for guests to enjoy, and unique events like the Annual Fall Wine Festival and Brew Fest will also occur during this event.

Explore Beautiful Murals Throughout the City

Downtown Fresno offers an incredible selection of murals that you can discover on your journey to explore the city. While making your way through various restaurant offerings and past unique public art staples, you can be sure to come across a stunning mural depicting scenes and sentiments of Fresno past and present.

Something for Everyone

Whether you are a sports fan, a nature-lover, an adventurer, or an art enthusiast, Fresno offers an experience for everyone. For even more ideas for planning your next trip, consider exploring the rest of our blog for interesting finds in the Fresno area.

Outdoor Activities On Thanksgiving Day

November 19, 2021 by Jason Farris Leave a Comment

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Jason Farris

Head YES man at FresYes.com

Have a Pumpkin Hunt

Everyone loves Easter egg hunts, and this is a Fall take on the classic searching game. There are a lot of fun ways to put together a pumpkin hunt, but the basic premise is this: pumpkins are hidden around the area, and participants search for them. Whoever finds the most pumpkins is the winner.

There are a ton of extra optional ways you can customize your game too. You can use mini pumpkins, or even just paper bags with pumpkins drawn on them, filled with candy. You can count each pumpkin found as a voucher for receiving candy or other treats at the end of the game, and you can even paint the pumpkins first, and hold a contest at the end for the best-painted pumpkin. However you choose to do it, pumpkin hunts are a fun time for the whole family, including the little ones.

Fresno Turkey Trot

Fresno’s annual Turkey Trot is a great way to spend some family bonding time, get some fresh air, exercise, and do something with your local community. Held in Woodward park and benefitting the Fresno Food Bank, the Turkey Trot takes place early in the morning, so you can take the whole family, get some air for a great cause, and still make it back in time for Thanksgiving dinner! Parking is at the Mt. View parking area, and participants are encouraged to arrive by 7 AM.

Play Cornhole

Playing cornhole is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have some laid-back fun, throwing bean bags around the lawn. With a mild learning curve, the game is fairly simple and not physically demanding, so even first-time players are sure to have a blast. Cornhole can be played by even young children and elderly family members.

Take A Hike

Even if the Turkey Trot isn’t your scene, or if that just wasn’t enough walking for one day, there are a ton of great areas to take a short hike around Fresno on Thanksgiving! Some of our favorite trails to hit are the Fresno Clovis trails that intersect Old Town Clovis—perfect for a morning family outing, River West Access, and Lost Lake Park.

Merced River Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A. Beautiful Yosemite Valley Scenery with Merced River. Summer in Yosemite Valley. Nature Photography Collection.

Getting some fresh air, and taking in all nature has to offer is a great way to preface Thanksgiving dinner, and even work up an appetite for all the wonderful foods you’ll be enjoying with the family.

Have A Turkey Bowl

An ages-old tradition of Thanksgiving celebrations, playing a friendly game of tag or tough football is a great way to start a new family tradition or hold on to an old one! Having an annual Turkey Bowl is a great way to bridge generational gaps, work up a hearty appetite and have fun enjoying the outdoors while everyone excitedly awaits Thanksgiving Dinner.

Play Turkey Tag

While having a Turkey Bowl is a great way to spend time with family and enjoy the outdoors, some of the little ones might not be big enough yet, or maybe some members of the family simply aren’t interested in football. Whatever the case may be, they’ll probably enjoy Turkey Tag as well!
The game is simple. Turkey tags can be made out of wooden clothespins and craft feathers, or even construction paper. Then, during the celebration, players are encouraged to stealthily stick tags on as many people without being noticed. If you’re tagged, your goal is to remove the tag and stick it on someone else without their noticing.

Turkey Tag can also be made into a chase-style tag game, wherein players are all clipped with a certain amount of tags—two or three—and can chase one another around removing tags. Whoever collects the most tags wins!

Whatever you choose to do…

Thanksgiving is an exciting time of year and a time to spend with family, friends, and loved ones—and perhaps most importantly, eat good food together. This year, the weather is going to be great, and there are few better ways to enjoy it than together with the family while reflecting on the things we’re most grateful for in our lives—like each other and canned cranberry sauce. Enjoy the outdoors and the company of your loved ones this year with these fun outdoor Thanksgiving activities for kids and family!

Pumpkin Patch Round-Up 2021 Edition

October 8, 2021 by FresYes Writing Team Leave a Comment

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As we begin to enjoy our first taste of cooler temperatures and clearer skies, those of us who are big Fall and Halloween fans begin to get excited for the fun that’s soon to come!

To help you in your seasonal merriment, we’ve once again rounded up a list of six awesome local pumpkin patches for you to enjoy this October. Read on for all the details!

1. Planet Pumpkin

Many are familiar with this large and very popular pop-up pumpkin patch that is located at Nees and First in Fresno. This year, the patch is open once again, and will offer rides (just $2 each), shaved ice, food, face painting by Mona Designs, photo booth pictures, Lolo’s Shaved Ice, asada fries, Sanchez Corn, tacos, kettle corn and, of course, lots and lots of pumpkins. Planet Pumpkin will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Halloween.

Face painting by Mona Designs (image credit: MonaDesigns559)

Planet Pumpkin Photo Booth (image credit: MonaDesigns559)

2. Hillcrest Farms

Located in Reedley, Hillcrest Farms offers a wooded wonderland of family fun with pumpkins, steam trains, hay rides, concessions, nature trails, and play areas. Of all the patches, this is the one I hear touted most often as a favorite.

“They have everything for kids of all ages! Train rides, hayrides, a corn maze, eats and drinks, and of course some amazing pumpkins from all of the pumpkin families!” says Visalia resident Shari Charron.

Hillcrest has an entry fee of $10 per car except on the weekend of Oct. 30-31, when the fee will be $5. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Their treehouse party area is also available with advance reservation.

3. Simonian Farms

Located in eastern Fresno, Simonian Farms offers old-fashioned fun with their year-round ice cream and retro soda shop, shooting gallery, and gold-panning area.

During the month of October, Simonian offers a pumpkin patch complete with Halloween costume accessories gift shop, a haunted house, and hay bale maze. Entrance is free, and while you’re there, you can also stock up on locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as artisan-made jams, jellies, wines, and candies. Simonian Farms is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

4. Sunshine’s Farm

This small family farm is open from 11am to 7pm on weekdays and until 8pm on weekends. They grow a wide variety of vegetables and Asian specialty produce year round, but during the month of October they also offer a pumpkin patch, decorative pumpkins, movie nights and photos! Sunshine’s Farm is located at 284 S. Temperance in Fresno, on the way to Sanger. For more information, visit their Facebook page here.

Rows of sunflowers tower above the pumpkin patch at Sunshine’s Farm (image credit: Sunshine’s Farm)

5. Sweet Thistle Farms

Sweet Thistle Farms is a year round flower farm located at 5365 N. Mendocino Avenue near Shaw and Academy in Clovis. During October, they offer a Pumpkin Patch featuring “over 14 different pumpkin varieties, hay rides, photo opportunities, cheese sampling, food and vendors located around the property.” The entry cost is $15 per car, not per person, and you can make your reservations online here. The Pumpkin Patch is open Saturdays and Sundays during the day, and Friday evenings.

6. Hunter Farms

A highly-praised favorite among Fresnans is a bit of a drive, but well worth it from what we hear. Atwater’s Hunter Farms began operating its pumpkin patch in the fall of 2013, and each year since its attractions have increased and their popularity has grown.

Hunter Farms offers pumpkins, both a corn and hay maze, fall photos, a petting zoo, a hay pyramid for climbing, a trike track, a tractor train ride that takes passengers through historical scenes, simulated gold mining, and a “barnyard bounce” (giant, outdoor bouncing surface).

Open daily from 10 a.m. until dusk, Hunter Farms is sure to delight guests both young and old. For pricing information, click here.

The Big Fresno Fair is Back!

October 1, 2021 by FresYes Writing Team Leave a Comment

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What to know before you go, 2021 edition

After a year of drive-thru concessions in lieu of the typical large-scale event due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Big Fresno Fair is back to a full-fledged in-person event for 2021!

The Big Fresno Fair was originally created to celebrate the region’s rich agricultural industry and history, as well as to provide an opportunity to educate the community, showcase products, and crafts, and attract entertainment acts of all kinds. It’s grown to entertain, educate, and stimulate the local economy in hundreds of different ways, generating an average of 77 million dollars a year in local revenue and hosting over 600,000 guests each year.

Planning a visit? Here are things to know before you go!

Dates and Times

The Fresno Fair’s opening day is Wednesday, October 6^th, and the final day is Sunday, October 17^th.

4-11pm Tuesday-Thursday
10am-Midnight on Fridays and Saturdays
10am-11pm Sundays and Mondays
Buildings close at 10:00pm daily, with the exception of Museums, which close at 8pm
Horse racing begins at 1:45pm, and races will be held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Admission

Adults – $12.00
Children 6-12 – $8.00
Children 5 and under – FREE
Seniors 62 and over – $8.00
Military – $8.00 (ID required)
Visa/MasterCard are accepted at all admission gates

Parking

Parking is $10 in most lots, with the exception of the Chance Avenue Lot, which is $15.

Packages and Discounts

You can purchase a Fair Season Pass that grants daily access for $38 (not transferrable)

Additionally, unlimited carnival ride wristbands are available for $30 on weekdays and $35 on weekends (including Fridays)

There are a number of special events and purchasing options that will provide additional discounts. You can view those specials here.

COVID-19 Precautions

The following COVID-19 precautions will be in effect throughout the duration of the 2021 Fair.

The fair asks all guests to prescreen themselves for the following criteria, and refrain from attending if any of the criteria are met:

Have a fever (100.4 or higher), or any sense of a fever or chills.
Have trouble breathing, cough, sore throat, nose congestion, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea or loss of taste or smell.
Have had close contact (longer than 15 minutes cumulative within a 24-hour period and within 6 ft.) with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is in quarantine due to possible COVID-19 exposure.

Masks are required indoors, regardless of vaccination status and suggested outdoors, anytime social distancing is not possible. Social distancing is strongly recommended whenever possible. If face shields are worn instead of a mask, there must be a bottom drape. Additional hand sanitizing stations will be available for public use throughout the fairgrounds.

All indoor locations will be regularly disinfected and fogged. All staff will be wearing masks regardless of vaccination status and tested for COVID-19 before the fair begins and again during the second week of the fair.

What’s New for 2021?

Livin’ Local MarketPlace

Enjoy shopping from local vendors and makers featuring a wide range of product offerings including artisan cheeses, dairy products, honey, olive oil, vinegar, almonds, walnuts, walnut oil, teas, bread, dried fruit, spices, jerky, preserved food, handcrafted and repurposed items, jewelry, locally roasted coffee and more! (Located in the former Gems & Minerals Building)

Pop! Culture Experience

The Pop! Culture Experience is sponsored by Blue Shell Gaming and will feature a Comic-Con style building with vendors, a gaming museum, Virtual Reality stations, retro and new-gen video gaming, including Mario Kart LIVE and eSports competitions! There’s even a parents’ lounge where parents can relax or learn more about gaming. Entrance is free, gameplay is $5/hour or $20 for the entire day.

Food Truck Alley

For the first time, the Fair will welcome a number of locally owned food trucks for fairgoers to enjoy purchasing from in addition to the usual touring concession booths. HOORAY!!!

For additional details on this year’s Big Fresno Fair, visit their website here. We at FresYes as wishing everyone a fabulous Fresno Fair experience!

FREE Back to School Resources for Local Families

August 4, 2021 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

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Natali Carrera

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Fresno History: Soupy’s Lakeside Pool?! - January 25, 2022
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It’s been a tough couple of school years, however, the year ahead offers the promise of the return to large scale in-person learning and many tastes of normalcy such as extra curriculars, after school programs and other much loved and needed educational opportunities.

To celebrate the start of the 2021-2022 school year, several community organizations and businesses are hosting special back to school events offering numerous free resources from backpacks to school supplies, free hair cuts, medical and dental services and food distributions.

Whether your family could benefit from these generous opportunities, or you know someone who could we wanted to be sure to pass them along, as we know COVID has made financial situations especially challenging for many families in recent months.

Fresno’s Newest Swap Meet is Booming Sunday Mornings

April 1, 2021 by Natali Carrera Leave a Comment

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Fresno History: Soupy’s Lakeside Pool?! - January 25, 2022
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The Fresno Swap Meet. which launched within the past month has gone from non-existent to bustling in the blink of an eye thanks to hosts Fresno Street Eats & The Island Waterpark. The new weekly Fresno Swap Meet takes place on Sundays from 7am to 3pm on the South end of the parking lot. Food trucks line up along the furthest Southern border and rows of vendor booths form a maze of merchandise directly in front of them.

Tacos, Raspados, Pretzels, Dippin’ Dots and More to be enjoyed at the Fresno Swap Meet

Entrance to the Fresno Swap Meet is free, however there is a $3 parking fee, which you pay upon arrival and receive a ticket to display on your dash. Since the event takes place in the parking lot, I would recommend arriving early during the warmer months, to enjoy browsing before the mercury rises too much.

I visited the Fresno Swap Meet this past weekend with a friend, and saw all kinds of things on display for purchase. We arrived around 10:30am, and the parking lot was 3/4 of the way full (and that’s a large lot!).

I’ve seen these cute little mood indicating reversible octopuses all over TikTok! Snag your own at the Fresno Swap Meet

Some of the booth highlights for me were succulents, air pants and other houseplants, handmade jewelry, antique glassware and custom Easter baskets. My friend enjoyed searching through a collection of vintage video games and consoles, and was on the hunt for rare fruits and imported candies.

My amazing, delicious mangonada – sweet, spicy, refreshing!

If there are churros, a churro you must enjoy. It’s just a rule. Don’t try to fight it.

We both enjoyed a warm churro and she found a crispy, jumbo corndog and I had the perfect mangonada. If you’d like to know which food trucks will be present each week, you can stay up to date on the Fresno Swap Meet Facebook Page. Notes: Masks and social distancing protocols are in place. This week, due to the Easter holiday, the Fresno Swap Meet will be held on Saturday, April 3rd, and it will return to Sundays the following week, Sunday, April 11th.

For directions, click here.