Long Beach going back to its “roots,” setting the scene for the Radish Festival
By Toni Miles
In an effort to bring the Friendly City “back to its roots,” the City of Long Beach and Long Beach Main Street are teaming up to resurrect a beloved Long Beach tradition that actually started in 1991.
The Long Beach Radish Festival is set to take place in the heart of Long Beach, in the downtown area at City Hall on Jeff Davis Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
The festival will be packed with food, fun and family activities celebrating Long Beach’s unique agricultural legacy, with all things radish.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can enjoy a variety of radish-themed attractions, live music, artisan vendors, food booths and community exhibits in what organizers are hoping will be one of the city’s most vibrant springtime events. Admission is free, and organizers say the festival is open to residents and visitors of all ages.
“We’re excited to bring back a beloved Long Beach tradition that began in 1991, the Long Beach Radish Festival,” said organizers. “Join us for a day celebrating all things radish and local, featuring farmers, artisans, food vendors, live music, and family-friendly fun in the heart of downtown.
The Friendly City is going back to its roots, celebrating all things radish at the Long Beach Radish Festival, set to take place on Saturday, April 18, in downtown Long Beach.
The event is expected to include radish-themed foods – including the famous radish chips once served in local bars – to unique handmade goods and community booths, the festival will highlight the rich agricultural roots and small-town charm of Long Beach.
The Radish Festival honors Long Beach’s history as a center of radish farming in the early twentieth century, when the city was once proudly known as the “Radish Capital of the World.” Long Beach’s fertile soils and rail access once made it a major source of truck-farm crops, with radishes among the most notable products to be shipped across the region.
Festival attendees will find local farmers, makers and food vendors showcasing their goods against the backdrop of live entertainment and community celebration. Beyond traditional radish dishes and radish-inspired treats, the event will feature a broad selection of southern cuisine, arts and crafts, children’s activities and opportunities to learn more about local agriculture and the role it played in shaping Long Beach’s cultural heritage.
Business owners and community leaders have rallied around the festival, which helps grow business for downtown merchants while serving as a reminder of the City’s small-town charm.
For more information, vendor applications, festival schedules and parking, residents are encouraged to check the City of Long Beach or the Long Beach Main Street Facebook page.
