FollowApril 28, 2015
It’s around 10:45 am and Tejas and I are looking for the goat cheese sample platters at the Piers. CUESA, or the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, is hosting their seventh annual Goat Festival, or Goatchella 2k15.
We walk toward the Ferry Building where all the goat themed hubbub is.
There’s a demonstration for the first anniversary of the South Korean Ferry Tragedy.
We finally make our way inside of the Ferry Building to find the CUESA goat cheese, but come across more expensive blocks of goat cheese and a “Goat Day” sign. We figure we must be getting close.
Outside, there are so many people crowding around the food tents, possible in line to pet the goats. We join the frenzy.
Free samples! If you ever find yourself in the Ferry Building, go to Stonehouse Olive Oil and buy their Black Truffle Salt. SO GOOD.
Now there are fresh crème brûlée pastries. Also very delicious and about $3. The line is becoming bearable with all these delicious treats.
Apparently, the line for the goat petting zoo is farther along the pier and has a 1.5 hour wait. #nochella2k15
Instead of petting the goats, we go around the lines and look at other people playing with the goats. (We’re on a schedule to get back for some of Cal Day.)
Awkward… goat pelts…
Tejas and I get some amazing tamales at one of the stands. They are actually spicy!
On our way out, we see an animal rights protest. “Goats are friends! Not food! Goats have families!” I talk to some of the protestors from Berkeley Organization of Animal Advocacy.
They were at the festival to highlight the hypocrisy of the goat petting zoo and cooking demonstration all in one place.
“The festival draws participants in with a petting zoo of baby goats, and sells the body parts of their parents in the same compassionate light,” said protestor Sapphire Fein.
#goatchella2k15
Photos by Aditi Raghunath
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