California Cherry Festivals in 2020

Update for 2020 and Coronavirus:

Keep in mind that some of the festivals below may be canceled or altered for 2020. The situation is changing so rapidly and many festivals are not announcing their plans until the last minute, so when we have not seen an update, we've left last year's data below and suggest you see the festivals website or call the festival as the date gets close to see if they will hold it this year. Some festivals are still being held, while others are being canceled for 2020. .

Looking for a Cherry blossom festival or cherry fruit festival in California in October 2020? There is no other listing as complete and current as this list, just updated! Cherry All the Cherry festivals we can find in California are listed on this page! If you love Cherries, look for a festival near you below! And I'm looking for more Cherry 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.

Especially this year, due to Coronavirus, be sure to click on the links (the blue, underlined name of the each festival) to confirm this year's dates on the website for each festival. 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!

Cherry Festivals in 2020: Find a Festival Near You!

California

June and July are the big months for harvesting cherries. Cherries typically ripen from late May (in the South) through June and July in the upper Midwest and New England. There are two main types of cherries; sweet cherries and sour cherries (also called pie cherries). Sweet cherries obviously taste sweet and are good for eating fresh. Sour cherries are much more tart and are usually used in making cherry pies. Sweet cherries also require more cold weather to set fruit, so they are rarely groiwn successfully in warm climates like the Deep South.

There are two general types of cherry festivals 1) community festivals, usually organized by a church, school, local Chamber of commerce or a town and 2). Cherry festival held at and by a orchard. 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 cherry jam, freezing cherries, cherry pies and much more.

Community Cherry Festivals

Beaumont Cherry Festival - June - see the website for updates
Stewart Park, 9th and Orange Street, Beaumont, California. Kids Under 5 FREE! $1 CHERRY FESTIVAL DISCOUNT BY USING THE FREE CHERRY FESTIVAL PARKING AND BUS SHUTTLE!!! the Cherry Festival has been the biggest community event in Beaumont. Virtually the entire community participates in this four-day celebration, which features games, rides, booths, music, entertainment, and the best food and drink the Pass Area has to offer. Come out and join us! We look forward to seeing you at this year's festival! Remember there are lots of amazing raffles and plenty of delicious desserts. $5.00 entry fee and dessert, $10.00 entry fee with spaghetti dinner.
Leona Valley Cherry Parade and Festival - It is usually on the first Saturday in June; (eg, June 2, 2018)
8367 Elizabeth Lake Rd, Leona Valley, CA. Phone: 661-270-0771. Email: lviacherryfestival@yahoo.com. Admission is free. Celebrate the beautiful Cherry Trees and Blossoms of Leona Valley at the annual Cherry Parade and Festival. Plenty of food and craft vendors after the parade along with fun family activities like the popular Cherry Festival Pie Eating Contest!! Lots of fun for the whole family. This will be our 40th anniversary. We have over 20 u-pick cherry orchards, most of which are organic (a few are certified organic).
Linden - Stockton Cherry Festival - May 19, 2018 from 11am to 4pm
Linden Elementary School Grounds, 18100 E. Front Street, Linden, CA 95236. Email: indencherryfestival@aol.com.. Parade Start Time: 10am. Starting at Front and Market. Free, no Entry Fee: FRESH CHERRIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FESTIVAL! Also live bands, car show, vendors, games for the kids, and lots of family fun! Join us for a great day of fun and, of course, fresh cherries! Featuring a Cherry Queens' breakfast, parade, car show, vendors, and more. Queens' Breakfast: at 8:30am, the parade starts at 10am at Front and Market.
Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival - Late April - see their website for this years dates.
Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Avenue, Monterey Park, CA. Admission: Free. Planned and coordinated by community volunteers! See, hear, and taste a bit of the Japanese and Japanese American culture through a first-hand experience of watching traditional Japanese dancing, hearing the resounding beats of the taiko drums, observing the mastery and various skills of martial arts, participating in the ancient art of the tea ceremony, or buying hand-made crafts or food with an Asian flair. Also, games & crafts for children, and numerous cultural displays. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE DIRECTIONS & PARKING, HISTORY PICTURES PRESS SECTION
Pasadena Cherry Blossom Festival - The Cherry Blossom Festival SoCal officially closed in 2011.
We are working to bring back the Festival in 2020. If you would like to help in these efforts or interested in being a sponsor - please contact Wendy at wowproductions2@gmail.com. Thank you!
FOR UPDATES - LIKE US AT https://www.facebook.com/cbfsocali/
San Francisco Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival - mid-April - see their website for this years dates.. San Francisco, CA
San Francisco's Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown provides two weekends of Japanese singing, dancing, martial arts demonstrations, food and a parade! he Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival®, one of California's most prominent celebrations of Asian traditions and the biggest on the West coast. Starting in 1968, the festival serves to cultivate the continued alliance between Japan and United States using culture as its bridge. Each year, over 220,000 people attend this dazzling display showcasing the color and grace of the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community. We expect this year to be filled with special events and new attractions. . All are welcome to join in the festivities as we celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture in San Francisco's Japantown! The festival will be held within the borders of Laguna and Fillmore Streets between Geary Boulevard and Bush Street. There will be food booths, cultural performances, martial arts, live bands, the annual Queen Program, and more. The Grand Parade will be held on Sunday, beginning at 1pm starting from City Hall and concluding in Japantown.
San Leandro Cherry Festival - late May or June - see their website for this years dates. (jUNE 2 IN 2018)
San Leandro, CA. Cherry Festival Information, Cherry Pie Bake-Off . 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Parade at 10:00am - San Leandro Blvd.
See this page for harvest dates for each variety of cherry in California

Farm Cherry Festivals

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

Murray Family Farms - first weekend in May
6700 General Beale, Bakersfield, Ca , CA 93307. Phone: (661) 330-0100. Alternate Phone: (661) 371-0400. Email: t.hargrove@murrayfamilyfarms.com. Open: Monday to Sunday 8 am to 6 pm. Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Come join Murray Family Farms in celebrating our favorite time of the year, CHERRY SEASON! Visit us at the Big Red Barn to sample dozens of varieties, and enjoy age old farm fun! Picking updates: Click here for picking updates. Directions: Click here for a map and directions. We are certified organic for some crops. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard. Click here for our Facebook page. Typical dates for crops (always see current info on our website) areApril - May: Strawberries, Asparagus April - July: Sweet Cherries (17 varieties) May - July: Apricots, Apriums May - Aug: Blueberries, Blackberries May - Oct: Yellow and White Nectarines May - Oct: Plums and Pluots May - Oct: Summer Veggies May - Oct: Sweet Corn, Melons June - Oct: Heirloom Tomatoes September - Nov: Asian Pears September - Jan: Apples October - Nov: Pumpkins and Gourds Nov - April: Winter Veggies Nov - July: Mixed Citrus All Year: Oranges. Certified Organic, apples, apricots, avocados, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, figs, flowers, grapefruit, lemons, loganberries, marionberries, melons, nectarines, olallieberries, oranges, other berries, other citrus, pears, peaches, persimmons, plums, pomegranates, pumpkins, raspberries (red), raspberries (Spring, red), raspberries (black), raspberries (Spring, black), raspberries (Autumn, black), tangerines, strawberries, watermelons, Honey from hives on the farm, gift shop, concessions / refreshment stand, porta-potties, restrooms, picnic area, picnic area (bring your own food), face painting, jumping pillow, petting zoo, farm animals, birthday parties, weddings and wedding parties, school tours, group reservations, events at your location (call for info)(UPDATED: April 02, 2018)

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

Also, see our pages on easy illustrated cherry directions:

For other fruit and vegetable festivals, see this page!

Also, see our pages on easy illustrated directions about

how to can cherries at home!
H ow to freeze cherries - just like blueberries
how to make cherry preserves / cherry jam
how to make homemade, canned cherry pie filling
How to pit cherries
Cherry pitters, many models

United States

Colorado

Cherry Festival - over the 4th of July weekend
Paonia, Colorado. See photos here. .

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Ball Enamel Waterbath Canner, Including Chrome-Plated Rack and 4-Piece Utensil Set

Don't forget the Ball Blue Book!

Home Canning Kits

This is the same type of standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)! There is also a simple kit with just the canner and rack, and a pressure canner, if you want to do vegetables (other than tomatoes). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!