Looking for an outing that’s equal parts snack run and fall walk? The UBC Apple Festival is back for its 35th year on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, the weekend after Thanksgiving. It’s a fundraiser for UBC Botanical Garden, run by the Friends of the Garden and a small army of volunteers, and it’s one of the coziest fall traditions in Vancouver.
Kids get a leaf pile and a children’s area, and parents get apple pie, hot cider and bags of BC apples to take home. Everyone gets to wander through the garden on a crisp October day.
When & Where
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | Sat Oct 17 & Sun Oct 18, 2026 |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. both days |
| Location | UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver |
| Ages | All ages (kids under 13 must be with an adult 18+) |
| Weather | Rain or shine |
Entry is by time slot, and 2:00 p.m. is the latest slot, with grounds closing at 4. Check the official Apple Festival page for any updates before you go.
Tickets
Book online. It’s cheaper than paying at the gate, and the Tasting Tent sells out.
| Ticket | Online (from Oct 1) | At the gate |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 8–64 | $15 | $18 |
| Seniors 65+ | $14 | $17 |
| Kids 0–7 | Free ($0 ticket required) | Free ($0 ticket required) |
| Tasting Tent add-on (8+) | $12 | If any are left |
A few things parents should know:
- Book a $0 ticket for every child 7 and under. It’s free, but the garden counts every visitor. Add a $0 Tasting Tent ticket for them too if they’re coming in.
- You need admission to buy apples. The apple sales are inside the festival grounds.
- No refunds or date changes. It’s volunteer-run, so pick your day carefully. You only get a refund if the festival itself is cancelled.
Buy through UBC Tickets.
The Tasting Tent
This is the headline for apple fans. You get to sample rare and unusual varieties you won’t find at the grocery store. Tasting Tent spots are timed (slots run until 3:30 p.m.) and capacity is very limited, so pair it with your admission when you book.
Already have admission but skipped the tent? You can still add it later on the Tasting Tent page if spots are left. If it’s sold out, check again on festival day, when the garden releases any tickets that open up.
What Kids Will Love
- The Children’s Area: a leaf pile and family activities all day, plus steel drums with Anthony Blackman from 11 to 3 both days. That’s the spot for little ones who need to burn off energy.
- Live music all day: there are two stages plus roaming Morris dancers. On Sunday, the Open Door Fiddlers play at the Moon Gate at 2:00 p.m. You can find the full lineup in the 2026 entertainment schedule.
- The giant apple display: more than 100 apple varieties, crabapples and unusual fruits, set up by the BC Fruit Testers Association. If you grow apples at home, bring one in and the experts will help you figure out what it is.
- Cooking demos and the rest of the garden, including the tree climb and the Greenheart TreeWalk area marked on the festival map. Check what’s open on the day.
Food & Apples to Take Home
Come hungry. The 2026 vendor list includes candy apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate, wood-fired pizza, pierogies, kettle corn, grilled cheese, gourmet hot dogs, tornado potatoes, hot chili, Okinawa soba and coffee. The Friends of the Garden also sell pie and hot cider. There’s a cider garden for the grown-ups too. See the full vendor list.
The main event for a lot of families is the apple sale: more than 50 varieties of BC apples by the bag. If you’ve been wanting a backyard tree, there are also 50+ varieties of apple trees for sale, mostly young one-year trees about 60 to 120 cm tall.
Getting There
UBC Botanical Garden is on SW Marine Drive at the south end of campus. The 2026 festival map shows a shuttle stop and bike parking, and the garden’s own parking lot is used by vendors during the festival. In past years, festival shuttles ran from UBC parkades and stopping on SW Marine Drive wasn’t allowed. Check the Apple Festival page for this year’s parking and shuttle details before you drive, or take transit to UBC.
Parent Tips
- Book a morning time slot. The festival opens at 11, and you’ll get shorter lines at the apple sale and more time before little legs give out.
- Bring a refillable water bottle. The garden doesn’t sell bottled water, but there are refill spots around the site.
- Pack a reusable bag (or a wagon). A bag of apples gets heavy fast, and a young tree is awkward to carry back to the car.
- Dress for the weather. It goes ahead rain or shine, so bring rain boots and layers. The leaf pile is much more fun when nobody minds getting muddy.
- Leave the dog at home. The garden is pet-free, but service animals are welcome.
- Make a fall weekend of it. If you want more October fun, pair it with Fin-tastic Fall at the Vancouver Aquarium or the Bear Creek Pumpkin Train in Surrey. If it’s pouring, The Robot Zoo at Science World is the indoor backup.
Quick Answers
Do kids need a ticket? Yes. Kids 7 and under are free, but you still need to book a $0 ticket for each child.
Is it worth getting the Tasting Tent? If your family loves apples, yes. It’s $12 for ages 8 and up, and it sells out, so book it with admission.
What if it rains? It goes ahead rain or shine.
Can I just pop in to buy apples? No. You need festival admission to get to the apple sale.
Final Thoughts
The UBC Apple Festival is a simple, sweet fall outing. Little ones get leaf piles and steel drums, older kids can taste their way through apples they’ve never heard of, and you head home with pie and a bag of BC apples. Book your time slot early, grab Tasting Tent tickets if you want them, and dress for the weather.
Event page: UBC Apple Festival
Tickets: UBC Tickets: Apple Festival
Featured image: UBC Botanical Garden.
