BEAUMONT, CA — Now in its 103rd year, the annual four-day Cherry Festival returns to Beaumont next month. It’s touted as a very big deal — “103 and cherry as can be.”
“Virtually the entire community participates …,” according to festival organizers.
Here’s what to know about this year’s family-friendly event:
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1. The festival takes place June 1-4 at Stewart Park (9th Street and Orange Avenue).
2. Festival hours are:
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3. The festival’s history dates back more than 100 years when cherry growers in Beaumont and Cherry Valley were looking for a way to celebrate the end of the picking season. The area no longer produces cherries like it once did, but homage continues more than a century later. There will probably be some cherries at this year’s festival but don’t expect to see them by the crateloads.
4. The festival features games, rides, booths, music, entertainment, food and drink.
5. Live concerts are part of the festival and performers are lined up. See the full list here (including performance times).
6. The Cherry Festival Parade takes place June 3 and winds through downtown. Expect a small-town feel with lots of locals and plenty of horses. The parade is organized by the nonprofit Cherry Festival Association and the Beaumont Rotary Club.
7. Festival tickets are currently on sale. See prices and pass information here.
8. Ahead of the four-day event, the Cherry Festival Car Show happens from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 27 at Stewart Park. The show is free to attend.
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