Celebrate sustainable food culture at Berkeley’s Harvest Festival on Oct. 19

Visit Cedar Rose Park for kids' activities, live music, a seed swap, food contests, City employee booths, and test rides of electric bikes and scooters while chatting with electric car owners.

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Join us for our annual Harvest Festival, a celebration of fall featuring food, live music, and kids' activities that highlight our city's local food culture.

This free festival showcases foods grown, harvested, and prepared by our community members.

Register your best pesto or pie for a chance to be crowned champion in food categories like best cucumber pickle, sweet bread, or homegrown fruit. Swap crops and seeds, and pick up tips from fellow gardeners.

You can also meet City staff from departments such as 311 Customer Service, Civic Arts, Fire, Mental Health, Planning, Police, Public Works, Rent Board, the Library, and Youth Engagement to ask questions and learn more as we strive to serve all of Berkeley.

We'll also have kids' activities, chances for you to volunteer, live music, food vendors, and more.

Enter food contests, swap crops and seeds

The Food and Garden Exhibitions will promote urban farming, homemade food, and healthier eating through the following activities:

• Food Contests: Participants can submit entries in categories including homegrown fruits and vegetables, cucumber pickles, cookies, pies, savory breads, gluten-free baked goods, jams and jellies, pesto and sauces, and salsas.
  • Contestants of all ages can register online for free using the Harvest Festival Food Contest 2024 in our recreation portal.
  • Bring food submissions to the judging area 9:00 am to 11:30 am; judging occurs at noon.
  • All participants will receive recognition, and ribbons will be awarded in each category.
  • Food entries must feature a main ingredient that can realistically be cultivated in Berkeley, even if it wasn't grown here.
• Crop Swap: Exchange surplus fruits and vegetables with other gardeners. All types of produce are welcome.
• Seed Swap: Share garden seeds and tips with others; no seeds to swap? Come learn from fellow gardeners.

Volunteers ages 12 and up can sign up in advance to help at the Harvest Festival, as no day of registration will be available.

Family-friendly activities, food, and live music

Join us in the "Kids Zone", where children can ride a zipline, bounce on inflatables, make scarecrows, decorate pumpkins, visit a petting zoo, play in the Tot Zone, get their face painted, and enjoy carnival games for prizes. Use the photo booth to capture yourself with friends and family at the festival.

Live music will include accordion soul by Andre Thierry; rock, blues, funk, and R&B covers by Keep on Truckin'; and R&B performances from United We Fam, with a DJ spinning between sets. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to relax and enjoy the show.

A variety of food trucks and vendors will provide options including Southern cuisine, lobster, hot dogs, BBQ, desserts, and more.

Explore electric cars - and use sustainable mobility to get there

Visit the Cedar Rose basketball courts for the Ride Electric event. Explore electric cars, ride electric bikes, or try e-scooters from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, where you can connect with local owners and learn about available discounts and rebates.

Consider biking over using the Ohlone Greenway or one of our bike boulevards and use our free bike valet when you arrive. Alternatively, ride AC Transit #52 or check AC Transit's route planner,or walk over from North Berkeley BART.

Organized by the City's Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department, this event is just one of a variety of camps, classes, and activities for all ages and backgrounds offered through our online registration portal.

Come out on October 19 for live music, kids' activities, and a celebration of our city's sustainable living and local food culture.

Links

• Harvest Festival
• Submit Food Contest Entry
• Ride Electric event