Are you looking for a fun-filled and exciting way to celebrate lemons? Well, look no further because the Lemon Festival in Upland, California is the perfect place to enjoy fresh lemons and have a wonderful time! From delicious lemon treats to family-friendly activities, this festival has something for everyone to enjoy. Attendees can buy freshly-picked lemons, explore educational exhibits, and even join in on exciting competitions! With such a variety of activities, it’s no wonder why the Lemon Festival in Upland is one of the most popular lemon festivals in the US. Whether you’re a fan of lemons or just looking for a fun day out, this festival is the place to be.
Festival Summary
The Upland Lemon Festival is an annual community event held in Upland, California that celebrates the citrus industry. Occurring from June 9th-11th, 2023, this event offers a variety of activities and attractions that have grown from what originally started as a small, local celebration. Visitors can enjoy carnival rides, food competitions, craft vendors, community organizations, and more. Additionally, there are three performance stages offering live music and entertainment, as well as the annual Lemon Idol vocal contest.
Food and beverages are plentiful at the festival, with over fifty vendors offering everything from pizza to hot dogs to beer and cocktails (21+). There is also a healthy selection of lemon-flavored treats, such as lemonade and other specialty desserts. Admission to the event is free, however carnival rides require the purchase of tickets.
The Upland Lemon Festival also offers a unique opportunity to support the local community; a portion of proceeds from the event are donated to non-profit organizations and local businesses. With over seventy thousand attendees each year, this event has become the premier event in the Inland Empire and a beloved tradition for the city of Upland.
History of this event
Since 1997, the annual Upland Lemon Festival has been a cherished tradition, evolving from a small celebration of the citrus industry to a large-scale event. The festival features a variety of attractions, including carnival rides, food competitions, local business support, and games.
As expected, lemons play a significant role at the Upland Lemon Festival. Attendees can indulge in an array of lemon-infused treats such as ice-cold lemonade, lemon garlic fries, deep-fried lemonade, lemon shanty, noodles with lemons, watermelon lemon frost, and lemon crusted chicken sandwiches. Additionally, the festival offers a diverse selection of food options, including quesadillas, tacos, burritos, gyros, frozen chocolate bananas, falafel, cheeseburgers, curly fries, kettle corn, corn dogs, funnel cakes, and various Asian dishes.
The festival features a variety of activities such as carnival rides, food and beverage vendors, live entertainment, artisan craft and food markets, family carnival, contests, and games. Guests can attend concerts featuring local bands, tribute acts, and the Sunday “ROACHFEST”. There is also the Lemon Idol vocal contest, food competitions, craft vendors, community organizations, carnival rides, and a costume contest.
Discovering the Basics: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
This year, the festival will run from June 9-11, 2023, starting on Friday. The Upland Lemon Festival opens at 3 PM on Friday and at 11 AM on Saturday and Sunday up till 11pm. Carnival rides will stay open until midnight each day and alcohol sales ending at 10 PM.
No tickets or reservations are necessary to attend the Upland Lemon Festival that takes place in June each year. Admission to the festival is free, and all live music performances are also free.
Carnival rides require the purchase of tickets, which can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Prices for these tickets are $30, with a fee of $1.50 added. Food and beverage prices are set by the individual vendors, and they accept cash only. .
Best Food in the Upland Lemon Festival
The Upland Lemon Festival feature over 50 food vendors. Plus, there will be multiple outdoor bars offering beer and cocktails (21+) and plenty of lemon specialties.
At the Festival, attendees can purchase a variety of dishes, from comforting classics to exotic delicacies. For something a bit different, sample the lemon garlic fries, a delicious combination of crispy potatoes, garlic and lemon. If you’re in the mood for something savory, grab a bite of the lemon crusted chicken sandwich, which is served with a lemon aioli sauce. Be sure to wash it down with a bottle of freshly squeezed lemonade! All of these dishes can be found at the festival’s numerous food vendors.
Art and Craft Market and Rides
The Upland Lemon Festival is a beloved tradition that has been celebrated for over two decades. It began as a way to commemorate Upland’s citrus industry and has since grown into an expansive event that features live music, craft vendors, food competitions, carnival rides and more. This year, the event will be held from June 9th to 11th and will draw in thousands of people from the area.
The market place will feature over 125 local and regional businesses selling a variety of crafts and specialty goods. The carnival rides and games require the purchase of tickets. Carnival ride tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door, and discounts are available for those who buy in advance. Plus, there are many competitions and activities for young and old alike. These include the Lemon Idol vocal contest, the Lemon King and Queen competition, and much more.
So, come celebrate the Upland Lemon Festival and join the thousands of people who will be there!
Best Time to Visit, Parking and OmiRide Upland
The parking charged $20 in the past year, and there are feedback that it’s hard to find the parking space. There are also limited handicap parking. It’s advised to go earlier to secure the parking space.
For those attending from out of town, don’t worry about traffic, parking or road closures. In 2022, OmniRide provides $4 rides to the Festival from the Upland Metrolink station event stop. It started the service from 6 – 10 pm on Friday, June 10 and 10 am – 10 pm on Saturday and Sunday. This year, the offer has not been announced, please check here if you want more details!
Three Things you should know before you go!
June 9-11, 2023 marks the 26th annual Upland Lemon Festival in the beautiful city of Upland, CA. Attendees can expect an exciting weekend full of carnival rides, food competitions, craft vendors, and community organizations. Admission to the festival is free, but ride tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. It’s located in Historic Downtown Upland, CA.
For those looking to avoid road closures and limited parking, take advantage of OmniRide’s Lemon Festival service by scheduling a trip via the Transit app. Fare is $4 per ride and the virtual stop is conveniently located near all the festivities. This happens in 2022, please check their official website before you go to see whether similar service will happen for 2023 too!
Finally, don’t forget to check out the live entertainment stages, featuring local bands and well-known tribute acts. Then test your skills in the Lemon Idol competition, the Lemon King and Queen contest, the daily prize giveaways, and the costume contests! For more information, visit the official event website at uplandlemonfestival.com.