The Annual Almond Festival

Looking for a new tradition to add to your 2026 bucket list? Come explore the Capay Valley during peak Almond Blossom season! 

California is known for their almonds- they produce over 80% of the world’s global supply and these small, delicious nuts are the state’s #2 agricultural commodity crop. Their rich history in California and current popularity and continued growth on family farms in the Central Valley is worth celebrating- and the Capay Valley has taken it upon itself to do just that for the last 100 years! 

The annual Almond Festival started in 1915 as a fall harvest celebration in the town of Esparto and continued up until WW2, after which the day was revived as an early spring festival to celebrate the beautiful white popcorn-like blooms. The trees that line highway 16 and cover many of small family farms up and down the valley burst into bloom in the middle of February and continue for a few weeks before being replaced by the small green fruit that will take months to mature into the almond that is shaken off trees, sorted and then sold in California and beyond. 

This incredible festival is for foodies, outdoor enthusiasts and agriculturalists alike! Similar to the Rustic Ramble in April that showcases the whole Capay Valley, the Almond Festival has stops at each small town throughout highway 16. Each town has a variety of activities, food to enjoy, live music and local vendors selling their wares. 

Best of all, this event is free to the public! This year, the festival will be held on Sunday, February 22 2026 with most activities happening between 10am to 4pm. 

We hope we will see you there!