1987 was a very good year for a small town group with independent means and a plan to change the City of Tracy forever, at a time when the world was a far different place.

Instead of the current second weekend in September event, the inaugural Dry Bean Festival was held on August 22-23. But, by 1988 organizers recognized the summer heat/date blunder and created a lasting harvest celebration tradition in a cooler month.

The bean festival seed was planted by an entrepreneurial group of San Joaquin County business and agricultural leaders at a luncheon meeting on Nov. 17, 1986.   Tom Woolley, a manager of Leprino Foods Co., who was also president of the Tracy Chamber of Commerce, conducted the meeting.  The main players were Larry Teixeira of Rhodes Bean and Supply Co-op, Bob Carruesco and Kathy Post Lewis of Gamut Promotions, Sam Mathews of The Tracy Press, now Publisher Emeritus,  Ken Yasui, a bean grower, and six others. 

     

As a director of the California Dry Bean Advisory Board, Teixeria proposed a festival featuring beans, similar to the other California commodity-based festivals in Gilroy celebrating garlic, and in Stockton, for asparagus.

Downtown Tracy, with its long bean growing tradition and proximity to major Northern California population centers and Central Valley farm communities, was the location of choice. Instead of a traditional park setting, the five block tree-lined business district became the festival focal point at Central Avenue and 10th  St.  The site offered weekend vendors and attendees’ access to existing businesses and a charming, shaded, and relaxed atmosphere for people to stroll, gather, eat, and be entertained.

Tracy Dry Bean Festival

Celebrates Silver Anniversary

The group goals were, and continue to be: “ provide monetary support for participating local non-profit organizations, and the Chamber; promote the local and state dry bean industry; provide a major special event for the City of Tracy, utilizing the Chamber of Commerce as its vehicle; and to provide a family event that focused on ‘Good Food, Entertainment, Community Involvement and a Good Time.’”

Good food, especially bean dishes with an ethnic flair, has always drawn many cooks and visitors each year.  In 1987 the booth menus included: Portuguese bean soup, garbonzos Basque, baby limas con chilies con queso, Mardi gras salad, black eye pea Creole, ribs-n-beans, and, of course, chili beans.  In recent years, the very popular HomeTown Buffet bean dish extravaganza featuring samples of up to seven different side dishes, soups, and salads for $5 has been a huge hit.  Some vendors grind dry beans into bean “flour” and also offer tasty free

samples of homemade and experimental bean fudge and candies, ice cream, pie, cookies and cakes which are for sale. In 1993, the soybean burger was introduced.  Some years, prizes were awarded for on-the-spot bean side dish contests.

But, hands down, the biggest featured cooking contest for 22 years has been the Chili Cook-Off on Sunday morning with free tasting samples of the three- bean chili handed out by competition cooks to the public at 1:15 p.m.   Usually, lines start forming near the cooking booth/s at Central and 10th around Noon for a first come, first served treat.  Entries must be submitted to a blind judging panel at 1 p.m., with the cash award presented to the winner on stage at 4 p.m.

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The first and longest running attraction was a car show, which has evolved into the “Show–N-Shine” Car and Bike Show with over 100 vehicles vying for prizes on Saturday.   The family oriented arts and crafts booths morphed into the “Kids Be’an Kids” craft area and carnival with rides, games, bean toss, bean stock planting, art mosaic classes using beans, pig racing, kiddie “tractor” pull using pedal tractors and other contests for youngsters which vary each year

Another longstanding tradition for the festival has been the Tracy Bean Queen and Princess Pageant which has become a Tracy tradition since Ali Costa was crowned the first Bean Festival Princess in 1991. As the number of pageant contestants grew the “Little Sprout” category was created and in 1995 Stephanie Hill was crowned Tracy’s first Bean Festival Little Sprout. Although the pageant category names have changed through the year’s one thing is certain, making new friends, having fun and developing confidence has remained this programs main goal. Juana Dement, Pageant Coordinator has done a magnificent job in reviving the Bean Pageant in Tracy! The Bean Queen, Princess and Royal Courts serve as positive role models for youth in Tracy. The Bean Queen, Princess and Royal court members participate perform and volunteer for various charities and events. These girls stay busy all year long proudly contributing to their community.

In 1988 the “Bean Run,” a 5K and 10K athletic event was inaugurated and continues today.  A bike ride was added in 1996 for those wanting to ride, versus run the distance.  Funds raised from the weekend events are donated to charities and worthy causes.

Today, there are 100-150 street vendors, 50 non-profit organizations, most downtown businesses, and dozens of community sponsors who support the festival.  But, besides the host Chamber officials and steering committees over the past 25 years, the biggest contributors to the festival successes have been the hundreds of Tracy volunteers who assist in every capacity from setting up and hosting a V.I.P. food and drink lounge for vendors and workers, to providing ice, tables, chairs,  public sanitation, and trash cleanup.  These are representatives of community organizations found at every festival venue, usually dressed in colorful and identifiable garb.

So, the 25th annual Tracy Bean Festival’s success, longevity, and real story reflects the people who attend, support and host the event. 

“It cannot go unmentioned that the Tracy Dry Bean Festival would only be a dream, if not for the monumental volunteer hours, unselfishly donated to make this event a reality,” concluded Kinst.

Article By Gary Daloyan - with contributions from Sam Mathews, Tracy Press, Gary Kinst, Dave Kirsten, Sofia Valenzuela, and Ken Hylton

© 2011 All Rights Reserved Tracy Chamber of Commerce.