Root & Tuber Festivals in California 2026
4 root & tuber festivals this year.
Root vegetable and tuber season in California runs October through December, with sweet potatoes, yams, and storage crops coming in during fall. The Livingston area in Merced County is known for sweet potato production; the Livingston Sweet Potato Festival celebrates the harvest each September. Turnips, parsnips, and rutabagas are cool-weather crops that sweeten after the first cold nights of fall. Below are the 4 root & tuber festivals on California's 2026 calendar — each with its dates, location, and a map.
Want to pick your own root & tuber in California?
U-pick Root & Tuber farms in California →Still to come
Ube Festival Bay Area
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Daly City
A vibrant Bay Area celebration of ube, the purple yam at the heart of Filipino cuisine, featuring food vendors, desserts, and community festivities.
Livingston Sweet Potato Festival
September 25–27, 2026 · Fri–Sun
Livingston
A three-day Central Valley festival celebrating the local sweet potato harvest with food vendors, a carnival, live music, and family entertainment.
Earlier in 2026
Holtville Carrot Festival
February 5–8, 2026 · Thu–Sun
Holtville · Free
Holtville, the self-proclaimed "Carrot Capital of the World," celebrates its signature crop with a multi-day carrot festival featuring a parade, carnival, street fair, and food booths.
UbeFest (LA County)
April 11–12, 2026 · Sat–Sun
Cerritos · Free
A two-day Filipino cultural festival in Cerritos celebrating ube, the vibrant purple yam, with over 150 food and cultural vendors, live performances, and entertainment.
Frequently asked
- When is root & tuber season in California?
- Root vegetable and tuber season in California runs October through December, with sweet potatoes, yams, and storage crops coming in during fall. The Livingston area in Merced County is known for sweet potato production; the Livingston Sweet Potato Festival celebrates the harvest each September. Turnips, parsnips, and rutabagas are cool-weather crops that sweeten after the first cold nights of fall. Harvest events and U-pick windows follow the same window — check each listing for exact 2026 dates.
- Can you pick your own root & tuber in California?
- Yes — California has pick-your-own root & tuber farms where you can harvest your own. See the Gather Grove U-pick root & tuber guide for locations and seasons.
- Are root & tuber festivals in California free?
- It varies — many are free community events, while others are ticketed. Each festival's page on Gather Grove lists its admission.