California Apple Festivals in 2024

Update for 2024:

It looks like most festivals are returning, aside from those that were killed off by the lockdowns of the past 2 years. That took a heavy toll on their finances. I am checking with them day by day, if you have an update for an, please tell me via the Feedback form.

Looking for a apple festival in California in 2024? (just scroll down the page)There is no other listing as complete and current as this list, just updated! All the apple festivals in California we can find are listed on this page! If you love strawberries, look for a festival near you below! And I'm always looking for more apple festivals! Please write me, if you know of any to add! I update the dates as soon as the festivals publish their information, but you can always click on the links (usually the name of the festival) to see the current information on the festival's own website.

Always click on the links to the festival to confirm this year's dates; weather and other conditions could cause a change at the last minute. They may change or cancel at the last minute. . If they don't have a website, call the phone number provided, but ALWAYS CONFIRM THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES BY EITHER VIEWING THEIR WEBSITE OR CALLING.

Click here for the form to add a festival and have detailed information; or click here if you have general information and are not connected with the event!

2024 Apple Festivals in California - Where, When and More to Find an Apple Festival Near You!

California

Apples typically ripen from July (yes, some early varieties start then, especially in southern areas) through early November. Most apple varieties ripen in Spetember and October and this is when most apple festivals are held. Unlike strawberries, which grow almost anywhere, apples are grown commercially in half as many states. They do not grow well in very warm climates, like Florida, and along the Gulf coast, etc. Apples require a certain number of hours of cold (below 40 F) in order to produce fruit. So most commercial apple production and apple festivals are north of Interstate 20 (I-20).

There are two general types of apple festivals 1) community festivals, usually organized by a church, school, local Chamber of commerce or a town and 2). Apple festival held at and by a farm. They are different in what they offer, and community festivals tend to be less expensive so they are grouped separately. (of course not all states and areas have both.)
Following the festival listings are links to our easy to follow directions about making apple jam, freezing apples, apple pies and much more.

Community Apple Festivals

• Fortuna Apple Harvest Festival - held in October (schedule is here)
  Humboldt County, PO Box 1000, Fortuna, CA 95540. Phone: (707) 725-9261. Alternate phone: ( 707) 725-0806. Email: fbid@sunnyfortuna.com. Cider works tour and an Apple Harvest Festival. Directions: Citywide Take Kenmar or Main St exits from Hwy 101 and park at one of 5 venues. Free Haywagon rides take you from there to Festival sites. The festival celebrates historic Apple Harvest & Fortuna's Clendenen's Cider Works & Orchard.
• Johnny Appleseed Days Festival - Saturday and Sunday in early October Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Terry Ashe Park, 6626 Skyway, Paradise, CA. The festival celebrates John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, who traveled for most of his life across the U.S., planting apple seeds and encouraging settlers to plant apple orchards. An annual event, the first such celebration was in 1880 and was called the Harvest Home Festival. It continued through the years with some name changes and postponements due to war years, etc. In 1968, it was finally named the Johnny Appleseed Festival. Contact the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce/Visitor's Bureau at (530) 877-9356 for more information. First held in 1888, the fair now known as Johnny Appleseed Days is the oldest harvest festival in the state! The 2021 fall festival will celebrate Paradise's orchard heritage with apple pie and ice cream and anticipates a crowd of 5,000 over two days. Paradise residents and members of the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce will gather to prepare Do-it-Yourself apple pie kits with fresh apples from Noble Orchards, a limited-edition commemorative tea-towel and super-secret Paradise Apple Pie Spice Mix. These were a sell-out in 2019! Apple pie will be baked in Paradise by pie pavilion sponsor Save Mart, and slices will be served in the Save Mart Pie Pavilion. Local businesses will share goods and services, and Paradise will host artisans from all over the state and beyond selling a variety of handicrafts. The ever-popular children's area, sponsored by Paradise Unified School District, will feature face painting, nostalgic games and Johnny Appleseed himself with fruit and stories. Continuous hometown entertainment graces the Gazebo Stage throughout the event. The food court will offer an outdoor seating area and a variety of delicious food.
• Julian Apple Days Festival - apples, pumpkins,
  Menghini Winery Julian Orchards Lane, Julian , CA 92036. Phone: 760-765-4758. Email: tturner@pacbell.net. Directions: Menghini Winery is located 2 miles past Julian at the corner of Farmers Road and Julian Orchards Lane. 760-765-2072. And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in October. Open: Saturday and Sunday, October 4th and 5 Thursday, 2008 10 am to 5 pm. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Payment: Cash, only. U-Pick Apples located nearby - Peacefield Orchard, 3803 Wynola Road, 760-765-0530.

• Sonoma County Gravenstein Apple Fair - mid August
  Ragle Ranch Regional Park, 500 Ragle Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472. Phone: (707) 837-8896 - Message Returned Promptly. Email: farmtrails@farmtrails.org. The 43rd Gravenstein Apple Fair will be held on August 13th and 14th, 2016 under the shade of majestic oaks in Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol. Join us for a weekend of old-fashioned fun. There's something for everyone: live music on 2 stages, arts & crafts vendors, excellent local food, wine, cider & beer, contests & activities, children's corner, chef's tent, artisan cheese tent, do-it-yourself tent, life on the farm arena and of course our famous heirloom Gravenstein apples.
  UPDATE for 2021: Due to the pandemic and related budgetary shortfalls, we had to cancel the Gravenstein Apple Fair in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, we held a drive-thru event called Grav & Go, with bulk apples, pies, jams, and other apple-related products for purchase. In 2021, we held a limited-attendance Benefit Concert to raise funds to bring back the Gravenstein Apple Fair in 2022.

• Springville Apple Festival - the third weekend in October,
  Springville, CA. Phone: (559) 202-6904. Email: SpringvilleAppleFestival@gmail.com. Sponsored by the Springville Community Club in mid-October, the Apple Festival is a family oriented, non-profit, alcohol and drug free event that attracts more than 20,000 visitors each year. The Festival consists of over 200 booths. Craft booths are juried to ensure quality merchandise, selling handcrafted, hand-embellished arts and crafts items. Food booths offer a large variety of choices. Entertainment consists of; Music, kid's games, carnival-type rides and clowns. The Festival has activities for all age groups;

Farm Apple Festivals

In addition to community and church festivals, some private farms have their own apple festivals. See each farm for this year's dates (they often do not announce them until the end of May). They usually have PYO apples then, too. Also, scroll down to see the links to recipes, freezing, canning and jam making directions at the bottom of the page.

• Apple Butter Festival at Riley's at Los Rios Rancho - Event dates: Thanksgiving weekend, from 10 am to 5 pm each day.
  39611 S. Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen. Phone: (909) 797-1005. Contact: Devon Riley, email: dvnriley@aol.com. Directions: Take the Yucaipa Blvd. exit from I.S. 10; turn left on Oak Glen Road and follow the signs near the crest of the hill to Riley's at Los Rios Rancho. The Apple Butter Festival is free to the public and includes a hands-on demonstration of apple butter making the old-time way, outdoor pioneer games, music, carriage rides, and more. Saturday's events include the "Lighting of the Ranch" at dusk, when the giant pines at the entrance will be illuminated to welcome in the Christmas season. Guests are invited to make apple garlands and popcorn strings to help deck out the ranch for the holidays. An old-fashioned hoedown (tickets required) Saturday night will feature music by the Riley's Mountaineer Band.

Related Apple Information: Freezing, Making Jam, Jelly, Canning, Apple Pies, Recipes and More

Also, see our pages on easy illustrated apple directions:

• tips for picking apples at a farm,
• our guide to apple varieties! Which type of apple is best for sauce? Fresh? Pie?: See our extensive guide to apple varieties and their uses
  

Recipes and Canning directions

• How to make applesauce
• How to make apple butter
• How to make apple bread (also known as Ellijay apple bread)
• How to make apple crisp
• How to make apple cobbler
• How to make a pumpkin pie from a fresh whole pumpkin!
• How to make apple jelly
• How to make apple pie filling (canned)
• How to can apples
• How to make applesauce for a single meal (not canning it) with NO special equipment
• Apple crunch - best of all! Moist, low sugar and using oats!
• How to make dried apple slices

For other fruit and vegetable festivals, see this page!