Southern California’s Annual Poppy Festival Belongs On Your Springtime Bucket List
Every season in California has something amazing to offer. Summer means Long Beach days followed by crisp breezes in the fall. In winter, the desert is mild and welcoming, and snow turns tiny mountain towns into Normal Rockwell paintings. When spring comes, especially when there has been a good amount of rain, wildflowers bring hills and fields to life with color. There is one flower festival in Southern California that celebrates the state’s favorite wildflower.
The official state flower of California, the California poppy, is also known as the California sunlight, golden poppy, or cup of gold, which seems especially fitting when you look at these blooms up close.
Every year, generally between early April and mid-May, The poppies make their dramatic appearance. The most common blossoms are a rich orange in color, but they can be vibrant shades of red and yellow as well, and once in a while, white or pink.
While brightly-colored poppies can be seen popping up all over the state in the spring, they literally cover hillsides in Antelope Valley, and specifically Lancaster.
This year, the festival itself will be held at the Antelope Valley Fair and Event Center. Get ready for a flower-focused weekend of fun Friday, April 21 through Sunday, April 23, 2023.
Great music is a staple of any festival worth attending, and this is no less true of the California Poppy Festival. Live music will include more than just on-stage talent, as there is always a variety of strolling entertainment you will discover as you explore the festival.
The event features fun for poppy lovers of all ages, including the Kids Zone Carnival, the Thrill Zone Carnival, and the Helm and Sons Amusements. There is also a petting zoo, as well as camel and pony rides.
An entire area of the festival is dedicated to arts and crafts. You just may find the perfectly unique handmade souvenir to bring the celebration home with you.
Whether you attend the poppy festival or not, everyone should visit the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve during spring at least once in their lives. This state-protected area is breathtaking when the flowers bloom and there are trails throughout the reserve so you can immerse yourself in this natural world of color. A variety of other wildflowers also pop up in the fields.
The California Poppy Festival is sure to be a fun and colorful event. Have you ever attended this Southern California flower festival, or strolled through the Antelope Valley poppy reserve? We would love to hear about your experiences. Speaking of festivals, read about another colorful event in SoCal this year.
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