Central Coast Cider Festival expands with new spring date
– The Central Coast Cider Festival is moving to April this year to include more cider producers, with the event set for Saturday, April 25, at the Sunken Gardens in Atascadero from noon to 4 p.m.
Over 20 cider producers will converge at the Sunken Gardens for the eighth annual festival. The festival moved to the Sunken Gardens location in 2024.
Cider makers attending will come from as far north as Sebastopol, Lafayette, and Chico, and as far south as Crestline, Gardena, Los Angeles, and San Marcos. Participating producers include Onirique Cider, Mount Diablo Cider, Lassen Traditional Cider, Sycamore Ranch Winery & Cidery, Honest Abe Cidery, Benny Boy Brewing, and Raging Cider & Mead Co.
“You’re more likely to find a four-leaf clover in the orchard than this many cider options in one place,” said Jeremy Fleming, co-founder of SLO Cider and Central Coast Cider Association president. “We’re talking dozens of makers, hundreds of pours, and flavors you didn’t even know cider could pull off.”
The festival is intended to welcome both cider enthusiasts and those who want to learn more about cider or explore the different styles available. Offerings will include traditional dry ciders, sweet, hopped, and fruit-infused ciders, as well as meads, which are fermented with honey.
Cider is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. It is similar to wine in that it is made through fermentation, but it is distinct from craft beer, which is brewed from grains and involves boiling. The term “hard cider” is often used to distinguish the alcoholic version from non-alcoholic apple cider.
“Cider is where fruit gets to shine without hops stealing the spotlight. It’s naturally gluten-free, endlessly creative, and rooted in orchards … not barley fields. Plus, you’ll never mistake a sip of cider for anything else,” Fleming added.
This year’s festival will also feature local craft breweries, including Wild Fields Brewhouse, Firestone Walker Brewing, and Central Coast Brewing Co. Over 20 food and merchant vendors will be on site, and guests can participate in mega-sized beer pong.
Live music will be provided by the Hot 45 and the Akoustiks, with DJ sets by Traffic Records.
“Cider is the underdog with endless potential. Most people have only tried one or two commercial brands, but real craft cider is an entirely different experience. It can be bold, tannic, and tart; crisp and refreshing; or adventurous with spices, hops, or other fruits. Every pour tells a story… from the orchard where the apples grew to the creative vision of the cidermaker. One afternoon at the festival might change the way you think about cider forever,” Fleming said.
Connoisseur tickets are available for $125 and include a VIP ticket to the festival as well as a special VIP experience on Friday night at Lone Madrone, featuring an educational session with an apple grower and pommelier, cider tasting, and time with the cider makers. Ten of those tickets remain. VIP tickets are $75 and include early entry at noon. General admission tickets are $55 with entry at 1 p.m. Designated driver tickets are available for $20.
For more information, visit www.CentralCoastCiderFestival.com.
