9th annual Cali Roots Festival Kicks off

The 9th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival wrapped up its first day.

Though Cali Roots is now a Central Coast fixture, this year marks one important “first”.

Thousands came from all over the country and world to the Monterey County Fairgrounds.

People Cali Roots has drawn for years.

“We didn’t expect it to grow to this size,” Dan Sheehan, festival organizer, “As it grew me and my family decided to move to Monterey just to be closer to our main event.”

“This is my fifth year here and every time I come it gets better and better,” said Vince from Los Angeles.

The artists playing the festival, many of whom are friends, were just as excited to be there.

“I didn’t think I’d ever perform somewhere like here,” said singer Sammy Johnson.

“The crowd here is really, really good,” artist Brother Ali said,” I’m really grateful the atmosphere is here that we started our careers together and we’re partners. I’m really happy that E 40 is here.”

Another thing many looked forward to this year was the fact that recreational marijuana is legal in California. Still Monterey Police say not at the fairgrounds.

“We’re on the fairgrounds it’s a public place you can’t smoke marijuana in public,” Sergeant Jake Pinkas.

Though the scent is still in the air at the Fairgrounds, those who’ve come say there isn’t too much that can bring them down.

“We love it, there’s no other venue like this you know,” Vince said, “There’s no other venue like this you know, there’s no other venue like this.”

Police say they want everyone to have a good time but they will be ticketing people if they’re caught smoking marijuana.

Festival organizers say they’ve teamed up with Lyft and have a free bicycle valet for all of the cyclists.

To find out more about Cali Roots click here.