Health & Safety

Artichoke Festival Clear Bag Policy

NOW IN EFFECT

ALL BAGS SUBJECT TO SEARCH UPON ENTRY INTO THE ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL

To provide a safer environment for our fans, the Artichoke Festival has implemented a clear bag policy that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the Festival grounds. We strongly encourage fans to not bring any type of bags, but outlined below is what is permissible.

  • Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12.”
  • One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
  • Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the Festival grounds with one of the clear plastic bags.
  • An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
  • For your convenience, Artichoke Festival branded clear plastic tote bags are available for purchase online, on-site, and at our souvenir booth. You can also purchase a non-branded clear bag in various places, like Amazon

Click here to view the full policy, with approved and non-approved bags and an FAQ.

HEALTH & SAFETY AT THE ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL

COVID-19

As the world finds a new normal and can view the worst of the pandemic as a difficult lesson learned, we share much joy in being able to share and celebrate the Artichoke Festival with our fans. As of this update, Festival guests will not be asked to show proof of negative COVID-19 tests or vaccination status.

Attendees may choose to mask at any time, and no one will be asked to remove their mask. Those with symptoms, a positive COVID-19 test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask or stay home. We ask that all guests be prepared to follow public safety guidance posted at the event and on this website. In keeping with our shared sense of community well-being and respect for others, the Artichoke Festival Committee encourages all guests to be fully vaccinated and maintain booster shots against COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible.

As always, we still recommend that those guests with weakened immunity should wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. Please stay home if you are sick or have been around anyone who has been sick.

We look forward to working together to enjoy a stronger California!

Feeling Sick, Please Stay Home – COVID-19 Safety

We ask that all guests be socially responsible and respectful of those who may have weakened immunity. If you or anyone you have been around are experiencing any of the following symptoms of COVID-19 as identified by the CDC at CDC.gov, please stay home, wear a mask, and keep away from others for at least 5 days, and get tested:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Security Measures

We take security and safety at the Artichoke Festival seriously and hope you will help us in our collective effort in following all security measures. Our security protocols, including the Clear Bag policy, bag check policy and prohibited items list, were created to protect everyone, including guests, staff, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and performing artists. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us make the Artichoke Festival the safest experience possible for everyone.

The following items are PROHIBITED on Festival grounds:

  • Guns, knives, mace/pepper spray/stream, or any items that could be considered or used as weapons
  • Alcohol, illegal substances or cannabis products in any form
  • Glass bottles, cans or hard-sided containers
  • Non-factory sealed plastic bottles (permitted if empty)
  • Ice chests or coolers
  • Outside food and beverage (unless for medical reasons)
  • Pets, other than service animals
  • Grills, charcoal and flammable liquids
  • Tents, tables and large shade umbrellas
  • Fireworks, firecrackers
  • Unmanned aerial vehicles
  • Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, skates/rollerblades and Segways
  • Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate by Artichoke Festival personnel

At the Festival

Parking
On-site, all-day parking will be available on Fairground Rd., (free, first come-first served), and in pay-to-park lots on either end of the Festival grounds. The east parking lot off Airport Rd., through Gate 8, is General Parking. The golf course lot, off Garden Rd. on the west end of the Festival grounds is General and VIP Pass Parking.

A shuttle is available for Festival guests from the East parking lot (Gate 8) to an additional shuttle-only admissions booth at the back of the Festival grounds. Parking gates will open 30 minutes before the event. Parking passes can be purchased with cash or credit card at the lot entrances. Find more info about parking and directions.

Entry Guidelines
Upon arrival, please be aware of posted signage and markers that have been displayed to help educate and prepare guests as they enter the Festival. All security lanes will be marked. At entry gates, Festival staff will share policies and request verbal acknowledgement prior to entry. Gates will open for guests at 11:00AM both days of the event.

Signage and Guidelines
Safety signage, including visual and verbal reminders of directional flow, safety, and guidelines, must be adhered to while visiting the Artichoke Festival. Failure to comply with posted or verbal guidelines may result in ejection from the Festival grounds.

Touchless Admissions Encouraged
The Artichoke Festival highly encourages touchless admissions at the gate. Guests may use major credit cards and debit cards.

Souvenirs
A Festival Souvenir booth will be open during the event for Festival guests.

Food and Beverage Concessions
Festival Concession Booths and other food vendors will be available for guests to walk up and purchase food and drink. The Festival does not direct non-Festival owned vendors regarding the purchase of goods, however many, but not all of these vendors will be able to take debit or credit cards for purchases. ATM machines will be available for obtaining cash from debit/credit cards. No cans or glass bottles will be allowed. Please note: due to California guidelines, all water fountains will be closed, please plan accordingly. Empty, non-factory sealed plastic bottles are permitted.

Festival Grounds Sanitization
Enhanced sanitization protocols are in place for the Artichoke Festival, including routinely sanitizing and cleaning high-traffic areas.

Festival Staff/Volunteers
Volunteer and staff are required to provide contact tracing information, and will be apprised of the latest safety and health guidelines prior to the start of the event.

Code of Conduct
The Artichoke Festival is a family-oriented event, and all who attend are expected to conduct themselves accordingly with respect and consideration toward each other. Those who cannot comply risk being removed for the remainder of the event. There will be no refunds to the guest for any such removal. The following activities or behaviors are prohibited:

  • Bullying or aggressive horseplay, fighting, throwing objects, or intimidating behavior toward other guests, volunteers, or staff will NOT be tolerated.
  • Disruptive profanity, and threatening or vulgar clothing, language or signs.
  • Any act defined by federal, state, or local stature or ordinances as constituting a crime, including damage, destruction, theft, or vandalism.
  • Inappropriate attire: shoes and shirts are always required at the Artichoke Festival.
  • Smoking of tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaporizers, or other similar products that produce smoke or vapor anywhere other than the designated area(s).
  • Failure to maintain proper control of a service animal.
  • Failure to follow the direction or reasonable requests of Artichoke Festival personnel.
  • Solicitation including the selling and/or distribution of materials of any kind.
  • Guests entering the Artichoke Festival grounds grant unrestricted rights and licenses to promoters, facility management and all other entities associated with the Artichoke Festival or Monterey County Fair or their respective agents to guests’ likeness in any broadcast, telecast, photograph taken or other transmission or reproduction in connection with the event.
  • Castroville Artichoke Festival, Inc. reserves the right to determine what activities constitute violations of this Code of Conduct and to take any and all actions permitted by applicable law, including without limitation removal and prosecution.

Risks for Disease

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19, or other communicable diseases exists in any place where people gather. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death.

By purchasing a ticket, you assume all risks, hazards, and dangers arising from or relating in any way to the risk of contracting COVID-19 or any other communicable disease or illness, or a bacteria, virus or other pathogen capable of causing a communicable disease or illness, whether occurring before, during, or after the event, however caused or contracted, and voluntarily waive all claims and potential claims against the City and County of Monterey, state of California, the Artichoke Festival Organizers, and their affiliated companies relating to such risks.

You expressly agree to comply with all Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinance, regulations, and the rules of the Event Organizers when attending the event.

CDC Guidelines