This past weekend was our city’s annual Tomato Festival!

Why Tomatoes?

If you drive past the miles and miles of land surrounding our city, you are sure to see fields filled with tomatoes. It is an important commodity in the area.  And while providing fresh tomatoes to consumers, various local tomato companies, such as Ingomar and Kagome sponsor the event to showcase uses tomatoes.

There is the tomato eating contest, a mini farmer’s market, and of course the Los Banos High School Marching Band’s Fried Green Tomato booth.  Proceeds benefited the marching band foundation.

There are many different food booths at the event, but the marching band’s tomato booth is well, one of the only tomato related vendors.   The lack of actual tomato related vendors is the secret the the band’s success, besides the fact that the fried green tomatoes are delicious.

Past and current band parents and members participate in the event, helping it become a lucrative and successful event.  The booth is one of the many fundraisers that the band foundation holds during the year.

Another fundraiser coming soon is the annual “Tiger Dog” fundraiser featuring hot links, linguisa, and jumbo hot dogs.

Upcoming Events for the band:

This weekend, Saturday, October 14th.

“Cupertino Tournament of Bands”

@Cupertino High School

Cupertino, CA

Saturday, October 21st:

“Santa Cruz Band Review”

@The Santa Cruz Boardwalk

Santa Cruz, CA

Saturday, November 4th

“Veterans Day Parade”

@Home

Los Banos, CA

Saturday, November 11th

“Central California Band Review”

@Golden Valley High School

Merced, CA