Madera Tractor Parade of Lights set for Dec. 1

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636

Madera to bring in Christmas season with Tractor Parade of Lights

Madera, CA. – Madera, like many other central California communities, has a large agricultural presence thanks to the fertile soils of the San Joaquin Valley. The way the community kicks off the Christmas Season, however, is more unique.

Thursday, Dec. 1 is the annual Tractor Parade of Lights and Wine Stroll in Madera. This popular annual event rings in the Holidays every year one week after Thanksgiving.

The parade celebrates Christmas as only a farming community can, with tractors, harvesters and other farm implements as well as fire trucks, cars and anything else decked out in dazzling Christmas Lights making their way down the city’s downtown district.

Holiday revelers comprised of residents and visitors alike gather along the sides of Yosemite Avenue and watch the procession as it makes its way past the various locally owned shops in downtown Madera.

The parade kicks off at 6 pm.

Both before and after the parade, attendees have the chance to become acquainted with their local merchants and wineries as well. The Wine Stroll features 15 local wineries pouring inside business along Yosemite Avenue. Guests can pick up wine glasses to taste, or mugs for hot chocolate and apple cider at participating businesses.

The Wine Stroll starts at 5 pm.

For more information, call (559) 673-5951 or the Madera Chamber of Commerce at 559-673-3563.

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Madera Pomegranate Celebration to feature numerous events

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636 

The Pomegranate Celebration and Festival is coming

Madera, CA. – The inaugural Madera Pomegranate Celebration and Festival is shaping up with numerous events taking place the week of Oct. 29 through Nov. 5.

Madera is known as the Heart of Pomegranate Country, as so many pomegranates are both grown in the region and come to Madera for Processing.  

“The vast majority of the pomegranate products from recognizable brands you see on grocery store shelves use pomegranates either grown here or processed here. SO Madera really is the heart of pomegranate country,” said Jarrod Lyman, chairman of the Madera Chamber of Commerce’s Tourism Alliance Committee, which is putting the event on.

Events

The celebration week kicks off Saturday, Oct. 29 at Homegrown Cellars, a pomegranate farm and country store in Madera with the Pomegranate Run For Your Life 5K run/walk. Proceeds from the event will go to help fund a Christian orphanage for special needs children. To register for the race or for more information, call 559-664-8599.

Taking place later that night is the annual Madera Rotary Club Halloween Costume Ball and Dinner Dance. This year’s theme is tied in to the Pomegranate Celebration to help kick things off. The event takes place at Hatfield Hall at the Madera District Fairgrounds, doors open at 6 pm. Call 559-674-5401 for more information.

Valley Pistachio Country Store, a popular spot off of Highway 99 featuring local produce will be offering pomegranate-themed appetizers Tuesday, Nov. 1. 559-674-0020.

Stiebs is also holding a recipe contest aimed at finding the best pomegranate inspired dishes prepared by professional chefs and home chefs as well as pomegranate drinks. The winner of each of the three categories will take home $500. To enter, go to http://www.stiebs.com/contest.html. Recipes will be judged Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the catering kitchen of Madera Community Hospital where finalists will be selected. Winners from that group will then be announced at the festival Nov. 5.

Also taking place Wednesday is a dinner at The Vineyard Restaurant in Madera. The Vineyard will be serving Martinis made with pomegranate-blossom infused vodka. 

“Many of the beneficial compounds in pomegranates are concentrated in the blossom. By macerating them in vodka for three months, these compounds are released in to the vodka in your martini,” explained Chris Mariscotti, owner of The Vineyard and committee member of the Madera Chamber’s Tourism Alliance. “Finally, a healthy martini,” he added with a laugh.

Those martinis will be complimented by a dinner with each course featuring pomegranates. The first course is Filo cups with whipped Brie, pomegranate molasses pistachios and pomegranate seeds, which are known as arils.

The second course is grilled Portobello mushrooms with pomegranate-mustard vinaigrette and pumpkin seed frisee and arugula salad. 

The third course is pomegranate-glazed Mary’s Chicken with beet risotto and watercress. The dinner is finished off with a desert consisting of pomegranate gelato with crème fraiche.

Pomegranate Festival

The week-long celebration wraps up Saturday, Nov. 5 with the first annual Pomegranate Festival hosted by the Madera Chamber of Commerce Tourism Alliance Committee.  The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Appellation California Wine Tasting and Visitor Center located at Avenue 7 and Highway 99 in Madera. The festival will feature live music by the popular band Deja Blues, cooking demonstrations, booths, a kids area and more.  “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Lyman. “The Tourism Alliance Committee is teaming up with Twin Pomegranates Winery, one of our sponsors, to do a ‘Pom-a-pult”. Guests will have the chance to shoot pomegranates at a target, with bulls eyes getting prizes.” 

Local restaurants will be on hand selling dishes using pomegranates, local author Karen Adler will be showcasing a children’s book telling the history of the pomegranate while vendors will be selling various pomegranate products.

“This even will definitely prove the versatility and health benefits of the pomegranate, as well as show why Madera is known as ‘The Heart of Pomegranate Country’,” said Lyman. 

Major sponsors for this event are Stiebs and Stellar Distributing along with a host of other sponsors who are supporting this highly anticipated event.  For additional listing of sponsors and more information regarding the celebration and festival please visit www.pomegranatefestival.com or find them on facebook at www.Facebook.com/pomegranatefestival.

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Madera Old Timer's Day Celebration

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636

Old Timer’s Day Parade

Madera, CA. –  A popular, annual tradition in Madera takes place this weekend.

The Old Timer’s Day is an annual celebration that takes place the final Saturday in September each year honoring the rich history of Madera.

The day kicks off with a parade beginning at 10 am. Co-sponsored by the Madera Downtown Association and the Kiwanis Club of Madera, the parade starts on Yosemite Avenue near Flume and travels west, concluding at Courthouse Park. 

Immediately after the parade the Old Timer’s Day in the Park starts. Activities include a BBQ, food and crafts booths, various activities, as well as the “Whiskerino Contest” where the longest and shortest beards will be judged. Attendees with the best mustaches and most unique beards also have a chance to walk away with prizes. 

The Madera County Historical Society will also have the old Courthouse Museum open. The King and Queen will greet visitors while they browse the old courthouse, turned in to a museum that highlights the diverse history of Madera. 

For more information on the parade, call 559-673-5951. For more information on the Old Timer’s Day in the Park, call 559-673-0291 or 559-675-7715.

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Homegrown Cellars to unveil butterfly house

Jarrod Lyman
Director of Media
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
(559) 683-4636

Butterfly house to open in Madera

Madera, CA. – Homegrown Cellars is known for their bevy of pomegranate products, but a new attraction will bring added attention to the popular farm. 

Homegrown Cellars owners Alex and Jackie Lehman announced the grand opening of a new 3000 square foot butterfly house at Homegrown Cellars. An unveiling will take place Saturday, Sept. 3 from 10 am until 7 pm. 

Hundreds of butterflies from four species will be in display to start with. Guests will be able to see Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Morning Cloaks and Red Admirals butterflies.

After the grand opening, the butterfly house will be open every Friday and Saturday through October. Future plans for it include breeding of butterflies, and additional species, including exotics. The house will close in the winter and reopen again in March. 

They will also be selling Pomegranate Smoothies, and the gift shop featuring pomegranate products, including their popular pomegranate honey, will also be open. 

Homegrown Cellars is located at 13702 Road 20 in Madera. For more information, visit www.HomegrownCellars.com.

The popular agritourism site is also the kick off point for the inaugural Pomegranate Celebration and Festival which runs October 30 through November 6. More information on that can be found at www.pomfest.com.

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