Thomas Ruelas, owner of Thomas Railroad will join this year’s festival with the BellaTori Family Train.  With beautiful craftsmanship, the train has plenty of bells and whistles to delight all.  Using green technology, this electric train provides a historic nostalgia of Americana and is ADA Wheelchair Accessible. BellaTori trains are manufactured entirely in the U.S.A. & built with pride by American Craftsman with an exceptional commitment to quality and meticulous detail.  There will be a minimal fee charged to ride.  So jump on board with us on November 3!  

The Madera Pomegranate, Fruit, and Nut Festival is proud to announce that author, Denise Doyen will be at this year’s event and host several readings of her book, The Pomegranate Witch.  Hearkening back to classic children’s rhymes and tales of enchantment, THE POMEGRANATE WITCH is the charming and darkly expressive tale of a gang of plucky neighbourhood children determined to get their share of delicious, ripe, red pomegranate fruits, and the terrifying witch who carefully guards her precious tree against their increasingly elaborate attempts. With impeccable rhyme work and clever, engaging wordplay, author Denise Doyen offers a bewitching, satisfying poem rich with both fright and delight. Complemented perfectly by the illustrations of rising star, Elisa Wheeler, THE POMEGRANATE WITCH has the potential to become a modern classic.

Books will be available for purchase.

About the Author – Denise Doyen is an acclaimed author of children’s picture books. Her first, Once Upon a Twice, earned starred reviews, was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book, and received the E. B. White Read Aloud Award Honor. She lives in Pacific Palisades, California. Elisa Wheeler is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestseller Miss Maple’s Seeds and the illustrator of several acclaimed books for young readers, including Holly Black’s Newbery Honor winning and New York Times bestselling novel Doll Bones and Alison McGhee’s Tell Me a Tattoo Story. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

About Rip Cat Recording Artist John Clifton

As a co-founder (w/ brother Bill Clifton) of Fresno’s The MoFo Party Band, John Clifton has solidified himself as one of Central California’s most in demand Blues frontmen since he started in the late ’80’s. His from the gut vocal and harmonica presence and high energy performances have captivated audiences worldwide.  Hitting the road hard since the early days and performing over 150 dates a year, John regularly tours in the U.S. and has headlined some of the most well known venues and festivals throughout Europe such as the Beersel Blues Festival in Belgium, and the Blues Express and Polish Boogie Festivals, both in Poland. He has also electrified audiences on festivals and in venues throughout the islands of New Zealand and Fiji!

In 2016, The John Clifton Blues Band performed on the Doheny Blues Festival, California’s largest and most prestigious festivals, with Edgar Winter and Lynyrd Skynyrd headlining. He also injected a shot of adrenaline to the acclaimed Edition de Bain de Blues Festival in France.

With style and prowess on the level of Kim Wilson and Rod Piazza, John has always kept it real with his own voice and identity and never set out to be a copy of any of his musical heroes. As a showman he delivers straight from the heart, soul, and gut, staying clear of the typical clichés and novelties.  He also keeps things fresh and exciting by effortlessly infusing styles from West Coast to Chicago Blues, classic R&B and Soul, to some hard driving vintage Rock’n’Roll.

John Clifton…one of those rare musicians that has dedicated himself to the Blues and has found continued success and relevance by remaining dedicated, excited, hardworking, and focused.