SACRAMENTO —

The second Annual Farm to Fork Celebration winds down this weekend with some big events.  Saturday, 100 vendors lined Capitol Mall for the Farm to Fork Festival.  The free event allowed local grocers, farmers and food producers to share their products with the community.

“I’m stuffing myself with everything and anything I can, and everything tastes good!” said Stuart Stipes.

Stipes is one of thousands who came to the event Saturday.  Organizers say this year’s festivities drew a larger crowd than last year’s event, which attracted about 25,000 people.

“This isn’t just a festival where people are here to just grab free samples – although there are quite a lot of free samples – but they’re here to learn and talk to the vendors and understand what farm to fork means,” said Farm to Fork spokesperson, Sidney Sheideman.

People attending the festival say they enjoyed sampling all the products grown in our area.

“This is what were about in the valley this is what could become a signature and put our city on the map,” said Colette Rice.

Vendors, like Nugget market, enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the community.

“There are so many people from around the community that we can share our produce with, our local items,” said Nugget Market community relations manager, Jennifer Dowden.

Last year’s week-long Farm to Fork celebration was so popular that organizers expanded it to two weeks this year.  The events conclude Sunday with a gala dinner on the Tower Bridge.  Tickets cost $175 per person, and they sold out fast.

Organizers say some of the money from the gala funds the free festival.

Sunday the tower bridge will close from 1 – 10 p.m. for the gala.  About 700 people are expected at the dinner, which will be prepared by more than 30 local chefs.