Just north along the coast, Carpinteria is getting ready to turn green for the 40th annual California Avocado Festival, running Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, 2026.
For three days, downtown Carpinteria will become a massive, free street festival packed with avocado-forward food, live performances from more than 60 bands, local vendors, and four decades’ worth of “Peace, Love & Guacamole” spirit.
Organizers anticipate more than 75,000 attendees at the event, which will span four blocks of Linden Avenue from Carpinteria Avenue to Sixth Street.
Four decades of celebrating California avocados
Launched in 1986, the California Avocado Festival began as a small community gathering intended to support local nonprofit groups and service organizations. Forty years later, it remains a volunteer-run nonprofit event, with proceeds benefiting the Carpinteria Education Foundation and Carpinteria High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter.
Avocado groves are an iconic part of Carpinteria’s surrounding foothills and coastal landscape, and the festival puts the region’s signature crop at center stage. Visitors can expect the classic oversized vat of guacamole, avocado ice cream, and an array of inventive avocado-inspired dishes.
Music is another major draw throughout the weekend, with more than 60 acts scheduled across four stages, including local musicians and youth performers.
It all kicks off with a “Locals Block Party” (open to all) on Friday, before the biggest crowds arrive on Saturday and Sunday.
California Avocado Festival at a glance
📍 Location: Downtown Carpinteria on Linden Avenue, between Carpinteria Avenue and Sixth Street.
📅 Dates: Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, 2026.
⏰ Hours: Friday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free
🌐 Website: California Avocado Festival
