In most parts of the country, apple season doesn’t happen until fall. But the Gravenstein Apple Fair, a pioneering agritourism event held every August in Sebastopol, offers more proof that Sonoma County is naturally inclined to be on the culinary cutting edge.
What Are Gravenstein Apples?
Gravenstein apples, known for their sweet-tart flavor and red-and-orange striping, are ready for harvest during July and August. Opinions vary on how exactly they were introduced to Sebastopol and this region—an American nursery is the likely answer, but there were perhaps also influences by Spanish settlers and Russian fur traders—but either way the apples were flourishing here by the mid-1800s, helped along by the area’s sandy soil and cool summers. And they have a certain exclusivity: Their delicate peel makes them harder to ship, so they tend to be less common outside the region. In recent years, too, the growing cider trend has further boosted demand for them.
All of these factors make excellent excuses for a festival, which first started in the 1970s and happens at the oak-tree-shaded Ragle Ranch Park. It’s for a good cause, too: All event proceeds support the Sonoma County Farm Trails nonprofit, which has the goal of keeping farms forever viable in Sonoma County.
The fair also has serious environmental street cred: As part of its lauded Zero Waste effort, only about 5 percent of fair discards from the 2024 event—enough to fill the bed of a small pickup truck—went into a landfill. The other 95 percent included quality leftovers diverted to shelters and farms or went into recycling and compost.
What to Expect at the Gravenstein Apple Fair
About 15,000 people typically attend over the course of the weekend to experience the festival’s classic country-fair appeal, which features lots of apple-based treats on offer in the Apple Alley “neighborhood” near the entrance, including the much-beloved apple fritters. Pre-dessert options often include fried chicken sandwiches and corn dogs as well as gyros and paella, and the fair has a running soundtrack of live music from its main stage.
Kids activities often include goat-milking as well as crafts such as making lavender sachets or flower crowns. In the Life on the Farm area, everyone can take part in the Ag Games, where you can try apple juggling, toss watermelons, or watch the Ugly Produce Beauty Contest.
Be sure to stop by the Charles M. Schulz Museum Area for hands-on creative activities inspired by the museum in nearby Santa Rosa.
Serious foodies will also find plenty to do, too, from sampling organic ciders to learning how to press juice. Along with the local beer and wine options, the Craft Cider Tent showcases local cider from 18 producers, all created from apples grown within 100 miles of the fairgrounds.
Or go to the separate-admission Artisan Tasting Grove for more cider and local farmstead cheeses, pasture-raised meats, artisan breads, and desserts. If you feel like splurging, opt for the VIP experience to relax in luxury tents with complimentary food and libations as well as lawn games and prime views of the music stage.
On your way out, pick up a bag of Gravenstein apples, along with other local farm goodies such as artisan olive oils, jams, honeys, and sauces.