Something truly magical happens when artistry and nature combine, as they do at the annual Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic in Northern California. This colorful event has taken place every year for the past three decades, so consider this year's festival a must if you have yet to experience its festivities. There is something very special about hot air ballooning in California. Watch as dozens of creative and vibrant balloons launch into the air and fly over Sonoma County. This is one hot air balloon festival in Northern California that's bound to leave you in awe.
Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic has been a beloved tradition for over 30 years! Start making plans now to attend this year's event, which will take place on July 13th and 14th, 2024.
This annual two-day event has become a favorite among many, and it's clear why. It's not very often you get to see so many colorful and creative balloons take off into the air at one time! It's a sight that's worth setting your alarm early for.
The hot air balloon classic takes place at Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Gates will open to the event each morning at 4 a.m. Yes, it's early, but it's worth it. The main balloon launch occurs around 6:30 a.m. each morning.
Approximately 30 balloons participate in the main balloon launch every year, and it's truly a sight to be seen. Each balloon is unique in its own way. Some of the balloons are colorful orbs whereas others are formed in the shapes of popular characters.
After the main launch, visitors are welcome to participate in tethered balloon rides. Tethered rides are just $15 and can be purchased during the event or online ahead of time. Both children and adults are welcome to partake!
The festival also boasts a wide selection of food booths, craft booths, and a children's play area. Everybody - no matter how old or young - will be enthralled with all there is to do and look at, so be sure to bring the whole family.
Tickets are currently on sale for this popular hot air balloon launch, so consider purchasing yours soon. They are available on the official Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic website. Don't miss it!
Have you attended this beloved hot air balloon classic before? It's never too early to start making plans for this year's event. It's one thing to watch these balloons take off, and another thing entirely to ride in one.
Fall in Southern California may have everyone thinking about pumpkins, but it is also the perfect time to enjoy all things apple - from picking your own fruit to fresh apple cider (and apple cider donuts!) to delicious apple butter. Apple butter making is a tradition found in several parts of the country and one that started in the U.S. hundreds of years ago. The annual Apple Butter Festival in Oak Glen, CA, which is known for its apple farms and cideries, is an opportunity for everyone to come join the fun and honor this long-standing tradition. And I think it may be the fall season’s most charming harvest celebration.
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As far back as the 16th century, colonial farmers would come together, bringing their last apples of the year, to celebrate an abundant harvest and the changing of seasons. The last of the annual produce was boiled down to make preserves that would last them through the winter. This tradition was more than a practical way to keep from losing any apples and being able to enjoy them until the next harvest. It was also an enjoyable way to preserve a spirit of community for these early families who, in addition to making apple butter, celebrated with music, dancing, and a feast.
Riley’s at Los Rios Rancho now hosts the annual Apple Butter Festival each year on Thanksgiving weekend. The historic ranch is an ideal place for this harvest celebration, and there is plenty of fun to be had. For starters, families will enjoy apple butter making the traditional way - outdoors in the ranch’s 100-year-old copper pot. Do you know what it means to “start the snitz” or “add the money” when making apple butter? Join a hands-on demonstration and find out!
Jackson’s Orchard/Flickr
Other fun activities will include pioneer crafts, fall foliage carriage rides, games, pumpkin painting, cider tasting, an Oak Glen Treasure hunt, and a Saturday night hoedown. Admission to the festival is free, but note that small fees and/or tickets are required for some activities, such as the hoedown.
This charming harvest festival is a unique and fun way for families to celebrate the end of the fall season. Will you be heading to Oak Glen in November to join in the tradition? Find out more about the Apple Butter Festival on the Los Rios Rancho website. What is your favorite fall festival? Share with us in the comments. And if you’d like to spend the weekend in Oak Glen for the festival, check out this lovely farm stay Airbnb!
The best pumpkin patches in Southern California are alive and well when summer gives way to fall. This fruit jumps into center stage. From morning lattes to breads and scones to many people’s favorite pie, the pumpkin is the star of the fall season. Pumpkin patches are not only places where you can pick up a fresh pumpkin but also where families can enjoy fun adventures and make epic memories. Right about now you are thinking, “So where are the best pumpkin patches near me?” Hopefully, on this list of some of the best pumpkin patches in Southern California, you will find your next favorite spot.
Tanaka Farms is one of Orange County’s only pumpkin patches where you can pick your own pumpkins right from the patch. And that’s just the beginning. Enjoy wagon rides, a corn maze, a produce and snack stand, and even a pumpkin canon at this popular pumpkin patch in Irvine. This year is the farm’s 26th anniversary. The complete itinerary takes about 1.5 to two hours.
If you are looking for the best pumpkin patches near Irvine, CA, this park belongs near the very top of the list. While the pumpkins don’t actually grow here, this is still a super-fun pumpkin patch families adore. Depending on the day, there are myriad of activities, such as face painting, a hay maze for littles, carnival games, pony rides, paddle boats, and lots and lots of picnic and photo opportunities. Discover more on the Irvine Park Railroad website.
One of my favorite farms in general is also a local favorite when it comes to pumpkins. Underwood Farms is a large, picturesque farm with lots of activities for families, including pumpkin picking, live music on weekends, tractor rides, petting zoos, and more. This is definitely one place worth bringing your camera and spending some time. Find further details on the Underwood Family Farms website.
4. Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch: Culver City, Oct. 5 - 29, 2024
When it comes to pumpkin patches near Los Angeles, Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch is anything but your typical low-key event. You will find a pumpkin village, a super slide, a tipi village, giant rocking horses, a tiny bounce house for the littlest guests and a bigger one for older kids, a straw maze, a petting zoo, face painting, and quite possibly a few L.A. faces you will recognize. Read all about it on the Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch website.
This year expect to find Blue Ghost and Cinderella pumpkins among other colorful varieties. Purchase some autumn decorations, including corn stalks, gourds, hay bales, and Indian and strawberry corn. And smell what's cooking in the farm kitchen, such as warm pumpkin bread. For more information, visit Greenspot Farms website.
6. Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival at AGRIscapes: Pomona, Sept. 28 - Oct. 27, 2024
The Huntley College of Agriculture at Cal Poly Pomona grows some 40,000 pumpkins and attracts up to 120,000 visitors. This year marks the 31st anniversary for visitors to cut their own pumpkins from the vines, find their way through two corn mazes, wander through a sunflower maze, spend time in the petting farm, play games, take tractor-pulled hay wagon rides, listen to live music, and purchase food and beverages from on-site vendors. You could easily spend all day at one of the best pumpkin patches in SoCal. Tickets for this event usually sell out, so it is recommended to buy them online ahead of the date you plan to visit.
Frosty’s Pumpkin Patch in Chino is another true pumpkin festival with lots of inflatables, carnival rides, pony rides, a sunflower labyrinth, a corn maze, an animal viewing zoo, a corn cob beach, and a one-of-a-kind photo op path featuring art, backdrops, and sculptures by local artists. You will also find any size, shape, and color of pumpkin, including heirloom pumpkins, for purchase. Find out more on the Frosty’s Forest website.
If you are farther south and looking for pumpkin patches near San Diego, there is a great one in Carlsbad, and I mean, the name alone suggests a uniquely good time. A thrilling 50-foot slide is just one of the exciting inflatables that include bounce houses, an obstacle course, and more slides. Visit the cuties at the petting zoo; take a wagon train hay ride, and play epic games like pumpkin bowling and a pumpkin slingshot. There is a snack shack daily and on weekends, grab a delicious meal from an on-site taco truck. The highlight may be “Movies in the Patch” every weekend; families can bring chairs and blankets and enjoy a flick under the stars every weekend night at sunset. Admission is free and wristbands and tickets can be purchased for inflatables and other attractions. Discover more on the Palomar Pumpkin Polar Palooza.
The Best pumpkin patches in Southern California prepare us for a pumpkin adventure. Are you ready? Pick one (or several) of these over-the-top spots in SoCal; pack up the family, and head out. We want to know which one is your favorite! So let us know in the comments below.
