Since 1975, people of all ages have enjoyed flocking to Fresno State’s campus to celebrate spring’s arrival at the Vintage Days Festival. Vintage Days is thrown each year by a student committee that spends months planning the event. Attractions include live music and performances, a huge craft and vendor fair, a car show, the kids zone filled with fun activities and inflatables for children to enjoy and of course the ever-popular student and club booths featuring foods and refreshments representing a wide-variety of cultures and carnival-style game booths.
I can personally remember riding through the crowds on my Dad’s shoulders, dancing to live music played by my uncle (local musician Roger Perry) and winning a goldfish at the ring toss booth. I’m certainly not the only one with fond favorite memories of Vintage Days. Alumni and former Student Director of USU Productions Eric Morin said, “We (my wife and I) usually look forward to our kettle corn, cinnamon roll and barbecue beef sandwich, and I also just really look forward to running into old classmates, faculty advisors – it feels like a mini-homecoming.
Raine Bumatay, Principal of the Fresno Adult School also shares Morin’s love of Vintage Day food, as she professed her love for the corn dogs from the Newman Center and “Fresno State’s root beer! That’s a must!”
Nicole Grace grew up in Fresno and now resides in Hayward, CA, however she makes the drive down to enjoy Vintage Days each year. “I always went as a kid, so many good memories with my parents and grandparents. Our favorite part is probably visiting the art building since I took so many classes there. We always leave with some pottery and blown glass made by the students.”
Given this year’s extenuating circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vintage Days cannot take place in its typical fashion, attracting crowds of festival goers. However, all is not lost! The Vintage Days committee has been hard at work adapting plans to ensure Valley residents can still enjoy a large portion of their beloved attractions virtually – this year’s Vintage Days Festival has gone digital!
Here’s all the info you need to know, to enjoy Vintage Days 2020 from the comfort and safety of your home.
Vintage Days will run for three days, Friday, April 17th – Sunday, April 19th. The student-run festival, which typically attracts about 50,000 attendees, will this year shift to an online format featuring musicians, dance groups and other performance artists via social media posts and stories. Online festivalgoers will be able to enjoy curated playlists featuring local talent previously scheduled to perform during the event.
Arts and crafts activities for children will be downloadable on the Vintage Days website and be featured in instructional videos on Vintage Days social media accounts. Projects will utilize common household items for materials.
Automotive enthusiasts can also submit their vehicles to participate in the online car show by filling out the online application requesting photos, make and model and any interesting information about the vehicle. Community members will be able to vote for the people’s choice award on Sunday, April 19.
Fans of the expansive Crafts Faire, a staple of Vintage Days, will be able to peruse and shop the directory and gallery of artisans who create unique, handmade goods including jewelry, children’s toys, home décor and much more on the festival’s website.
To enjoy the festival and ensure you don’t miss a moment of your favorite performances, Connect with @FSVintageDays on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit fresnostate.edu/vintagedays to participate.
The festival is expected to return to its regular, in-person format outside the Satellite Student Union at Fresno State from April 16 through 18, 2021.
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