The Hayward Zucchini Festival celebrated 31 years of giving back to local non-profit organizations and charities.

This is one of the only places you can taste the many different zucchini based foods, including zucchini ice cream, bread, relish and quiche.

The festival, sponsored by the South Hayward Lions Club among others, has raised more than $2,500,000, in 31 years which goes to different charities such as the local Boy Scouts and Rotary clubs, Reese Essi, assistant manager to the event said.

Essi, 25, has worked the festival his entire life, and said the attendance has diminished the past few years.

“Usually we draw around 15-20,000 for the two days, which is the average for the past years,” said Essi, who is the son of Richard Essi, Zucchini Festival manager. “We used to have more, the first few festivals we had 70,000 to 100,000 in attendance.”

He attributes the diminishing attendance to the economic downfall beginning in 2006.

The event has become a staple of Hayward and contains an amusing history, according to Reese. He explained that a group of city leaders, including former Hayward Mayor Alex Giuliani, gathered together to rebuild the community during the 1980’s. The idea of having the fruit came from nearby fairs, which featured other produce. Playing off those events, Reese said, someone laughingly shouted “Zucchini!” and the festival was born.

The small town affair ended on Sunday, but is an all-year job Reese said.

“It’s a two day event, but it’s a year long job,” said Reese. “It’s almost a year long job getting the vendors and setting the entertainment and as soon as we finish cleaning up, we start working for the next year.”

The Zucchini Festival features a kid town and is geared towards families around the area.