Images by: Sterling Munksgard
Emerald Cup :: 12.10-11.16 :: Sonoma County Fairgrounds :: Santa Rosa, CA
The 2016 Emerald Cup in Santa Rosa, California welcomed 30,000 cannabis and live music enthusiasts to Sonoma County Fairgrounds on December 10 and 11. With the passing of Proposition 64 by California voters, the Emerald Cup saw its largest crowds to date. Last year the festival saw, a then record of, 21,000 patrons. Over a decade ago the festival was a modest gathering of growers at a secret location in the Emerald Triangle. The Emerald Cup is now the premier destination event of cannabis lovers world wide. “It’s the turning point of going over the top of the roller coaster. There’s no turning back and we’ll see full legalization in a couple years,” said Emerald Cup founder Tim Blake.
The festival, run by Taylor Blake and Tim Blake has seen great growth and change over the last few years. This year the festival had over 1,200 entries of edibles, flowers, concentrates, and topicals – a 50% increase in entries from last year. The winning items not only get a shiny trophy but come with bragging rights for the next 12 months and also becoming highly sought after at dispensaries and can draw premium prices. Winners included Zkittles from Dookie Brothers, Purple CandyCane from Greenshock Farms and Strain #8 from 3rd Gen/Terp Hogz/Dying Breed.
Besides all things marijuana the festival also featured plenty of live music and art. Damian Marley, Dirty Heads, Stick Figure, The California Honeydrops and Tribal Seeds were among the performers. Also on site doing live paintings were Alex Grey and Allyson Grey. Check out photos of the event captured by Sterling Munksgard:
