Thousands expected for 2nd re-named, re-imagined Loomis Fruit Shed Festival

The second annual Fruit Shed Festival is this Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Loomis. Admission is free. The Loomis Basin Chamber of Commerce event is the re-titled but very similar version of the former Eggplant Festival hosted by the Town for decades. Locals say the Eggplant Fest was originally a playful lark, a tongue-in-cheek salute to ag festivals like the Courtland Pear Fair. But the gag ended up a beloved community tradition in its own right for 36 years until 2023. As one joke went, all the cool fruit and vegetables were picked over by other towns like the Gilroy Garlic and Lodi Grape festivals, and all that was left for Loomis was the nerdy eggplant. Kind of like the Hooterville Rutabaga episode on the popular 1960s TV comedy Green Acres. "There was something fun about celebrating a specific food, and something light-hearted about choosing a joke food," said Lonoaea Puua on Loomis social media. After all these years, however, some Chamber members felt the eggplant was losing its quirky charm, limited as a theme to attract sponsors and visitors in a changing world. It also didn't quite accurately reflect the diversity of growers in the Basin and Placer County agriculture, some said. A survey was emailed to more than 1,400 and posted on social media pages, with 158 filling out the survey. The responses came back with 61 percent in favor of changing the name. "I'm just happy it has no eggplant in the name," said Scott Hornung on Facebook. The purple plant is still part of a variety of fruit on the new logo. It doesn't even sound like a fruit of course, but eggplant is in the berry family with tomatoes and bananas. Besides the orchards, the festival now highlights the iconic Loomis fruit-packing sheds, like the repurposed High-Hand and Blue Goose warehouses along the railroad tracks downtown. Dating to the early 1900s, fruit sheds employed generations of Loomis Basin families at harvest time. "During the fruit-growing season, nearly everyone played a part in picking and packing fruit," said Howard Stitt, who writes the weekly Looking Back Loomis history column for Gold Mountain California News Media. Meanwhile, the re-imagined gathering is expected to once again draw more than 5,000 people to downtown Loomis. What to expect: * Local vendors and makers market: Shop handcrafted goods, boutique finds, farm-fresh produce, and more from more than 80 local vendors. * Live music and local performances: Enjoy a full lineup of local bands, performers and entertainers on the community and main stage. * Kid Zone and family fun: Bounce houses, games, crafts, face painting and fun for all ages. * Chalk Art Contest: Watch artists transform the streets of Loomis into colorful masterpieces. * Baking Contest – Cobbler Edition! Bakers of all ages are invited to compete in this year's cobbler-themed baking contest. Bring your best fruit-filled creation for a chance to win prizes, bragging rights and the title of Best Cobbler in Loomis. * Beer and Wine Garden: Sip and relax with local brews and wines (21+ with valid ID). * Delicious food and delightful treats: From BBQ to baked goods, enjoy a wide variety of food vendors celebrating local flavor. * Community booths: Connect with local nonprofits and support small businesses. Amateurs and chefs are invited to enter the Anything Apple baking contest, with applications due Thursday, Oct. 2. Loomis officials remind everyone the Town now features a new overflow parking lot down the street at the former WW Moulding property to serve festival visitors. There is also a new parking lot behind the firehouse on Magnolia Street, and a free shuttle will run through town from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. After years of closing Taylor Road downtown for the occasion, the festival grounds have also been all moved off the street to the parking area along the tracks surrounding the Train Depot, keeping the old highway open to traffic.