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Tomato Festival events fill toss void
By Matthew Bunk
Copyright ©2005 Daily Republic
FAIRFIELD - When the Tomato Festival kicks off Saturday, there will be plenty of tomatoes to eat, buy or whatever, but throwing them isn't on the agenda.
When appliance manufacturer Maytag decided not to sponsor the Great Tomato Toss, a special event in which hundreds of contestants were to gather downtown for a tomato fight, the event's coordinators had to fall back on some of the old standbys.
This year's Tomato Festival will feature live music throughout the day, the Tomato Alley market, the annual tomato-eating contest, roughly 200 food and craft vendors and the West Coast Barbecue Championship. There will also be children's entertainment and rides.
The festival will be from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Texas Street in downtown Fairfield. Streets from Great Jones to Jefferson will be blocked to traffic.
In past years, as many as 40,000 people attended the one-day event, said Sue Violette, the event coordinator for the Fairfield Downtown Association.
"It's a fun day for the whole family to come out," Violette said.
Musical performers with styles ranging from jazz to salsa will play on two stages set up downtown. The lineup of entertainers includes Julio Bravo, Pamela Rose, Bautista and Special Request.
The West Coast Barbecue Championship returns to the festival for the second year with at least 50 barbecue teams set to compete. Teams compete in the categories of chicken, pork ribs, pork shoulder and brisket.
More than 100 varieties of heirloom tomatoes will be offered in the cooled Tomato Alley market. Other tomato-related goods will be sold there as well.
Growers will bring various varieties - some little, some big, some red, some green.
The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Film Festival will be again hosted by Pepper Belly's Comedy and Variety Theater with free films showing throughout the day.
Admission and parking are free. Parking will be available at the Solano County Government Center parking garage and at Armijo High School, with a shuttle service from Westfield Solano mall.
Reach Matthew Bunk at 425-4646 Ext. 267 or mbunk@dailyrepublic.net.
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