Festive family fun at “A Celebration of Transformation”
Sebastopol, Calif.- Sonoma County Farm Trails invites the public to attend the 51st anniversary of its major annual fundraiser, the Gravenstein Apple Fair, on August 10 and 11, 2024, at Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol.
Held annually during the peak of harvest of Sonoma County’s beloved Gravenstein apples, the Fair welcomes up to 15,000 attendees each year for a joyful weekend of music, local food and drink, farm demos and animals, kids’ activities, community building, and of course all things Gravenstein. Tickets are now on sale online at www.gravensteinapplefair.com
A Celebration of Transformation
The theme of this year’s Fair is “A Celebration of Transformation.” The Fair’s iconic poster, designed by Sonoma County artist Dan Gilbert, uses the motifs of Monarch butterflies and Gravenstein apples to explore the power of transformation.
Ragle Park
Gravenstein Apple Fair 2024 Quick Info
August 10 & 11, 2024
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Ragle Ranch Regional Park
Sebastopol, Calif.
Info & Tickets
“We chose ‘A Celebration of Transformation’ as our theme because it highlights the inextricable ties between people and the environment, agriculture and culture, working together to create a healthy, productive, nourishing, and life-sustaining habitat for us all,” said Farm Trails Executive Director and Gravenstein Apple Fair Producer Carmen Snyder. “A tiny egg turns into a magnificent Monarch, an apple blossom grows into a Gravenstein apple, but neither on their own, relying instead on the interplay of nature and nurture: sun, soil, water, and the people who responsibly cultivate the land and care for all its inhabitants.”
The theme will be woven throughout the Fair’s displays, programming, and activities. In addition, the Fair will offer entertaining, educational, and epicurean experiences for all ages.
Highlights of the festival include:
Educational Panels Featuring World-Renowned Food & Farming Experts (Saturday):
We are thrilled to welcome visionary culinary superstars for an in-depth discussion entitled “Protecting Agricultural Diversity.”
Panelists include the following:
- Alice Waters, Bay Area chef and James Beard Award winner, restaurateur of Chez Panisse, food revolutionary, and author of over a dozen books including “The Art of Simple Food”
- Dan Imhoff, California author, activist, and researcher whose books include “Farming with the Wild”, “The Farm Bill: A Citizen’s Guide” and “CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animal Factories”
- Kyle & Katina Connaughton, Owner-Chef and Owner-Head Farmer at three Michelin-starred SingleThread Restaurant
- Albert Strauss, Founder and organic dairy pioneer of Straus Family Creamery
- Tucker Taylor, Award-winning Master Gardener at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates & Gardens
- Elizabeth Kaiser, regenerative farming pioneer at Singing Frogs Farm
- Hector Alvarez, award-winning beekeeper at Hector’s Honey Farm
- Sarah Silva, Green Star Farm, CAFF Climate Farmer of the Year 2023
Live Music
Enjoy a diverse selection of stellar Bay Area bands including Barrio Manouche, Boot Juice, Broken Compass Bluegrass, King Dream, and LA GENTE SF! For a full list of performances, please visit our lineup here.
All Things Apple
The Fair will showcase 40 small-scale Sonoma County apple farms, producers, purveyors, and cider makers, all of whom grow, use, and/or incorporate local apples in their products and menus. Indeed, the Gravenstein Apple Fair has become a destination for cider enthusiasts, with the Craft Cider Tent offering the largest cider selection of any festival in the North Bay. The Fair’s “Apple Alley ” features over a dozen apple farms and vendors, offering everything from just-picked Gravenstein apples by the box and bag to fritters to pies to caramels (and much more!).
VIP Experience
Enjoy the best the Fair has to offer with the elevated VIP Experience – relax in luxury lounge tents with complimentary food and libations; enjoy all-day access to the Artisan Tasting Alley, where you can mix and mingle with producers; and take advantage of premium views and seating near the North Coast Apple Stage – all for one great price! This experience sold out in 2022 and 2023. Advance tickets recommended.
Artisan Tasting Alley
New this year is the Artisan Tasting Alley package, now available to all at a special ticket price. Previously limited to VIP, this popular tasting experience featuring over 20 producers will now be open to the general public! Cost of the ticket includes general admission, commemorative tasting glass and single-day one-time access to the Artisan Tasting Alley.
Food & Libations
Delight in locally produced gourmet foods, local craft ciders, world-class wines, and cult microbrews prepared by award-winning chefs and famed Sonoma County producers. Guests can enjoy an array of local ciders at four areas in the festival: Craft Cider Tent featuring 17 producers, Artisan Tasting Alley, VIP, and the Golden State Cider booth.
Children’s Activities
Meet farm animals, participate in contests and ag games, create art projects, chase giant bubbles, and marvel at the wandering entertainers. Families can also enjoy hands-on educational crafts and activities and apple-themed contests!
Life on the Farm Arena
Featuring in-depth demonstrations and presentations on topics about agriculture, biodiversity, and farm life. Guests can enjoy hearing directly from farmers, makers, and educators, such as the Monarch Joint Venture, Habitat Corridor Project, and SingleThread Farm at Dry Creek. Learn about the life cycle, nectar and host plants, and migratory routes of the Monarch butterfly, and what you can do to protect and preserve this indicator species. Discover the tools and tips to properly care for your backyard apple orchards to both increase the fruit’s quality and their beneficial impact on the entire ecosystem. Watch farmers and makers demonstrate and discuss the transformation from milking to cheese, from sheep shearing to fiber; from bulk apples to hard cider; and lots more.
Leader in Zero Waste
The Gravenstein Apple Fair was recently awarded the first-ever Green Resolution from Zero Waste Sonoma for “outstanding commitment and leadership in waste reduction and environmental stewardship in our county.” In 2023, our staffed Zero Waste stations diverted over 95% of discards from the landfill. The Fair was also a finalist for a VisitCA Poppy Award for Destination Stewardship and Sustainability, and Farm Trails is a finalist for the Sonoma County Tourism Stars of the Industry Award for Environmental Stewardship.
Thank you to our Sponsors! The Fair wouldn’t be possible without the support of our generous major sponsors, including: Dutton Ranch, Richard Kunde and Saralee McClelland Kunde Endowment Fund, Northern California Public Media, Shelter Co., American Ag Credit, North Coast Organic, Marin Edible, Oliver’s Markets, Guild Works, Sonoma County Farm Bureau, Harmony Farm Supply and Nursery, Golden State Cider, and Seismic Brewing Co.
