UBC Apple Festival

Vancouver’s Apple Festival is UBC Botanical Garden’s biggest fundraising event. It features live entertainment and lots of tasty apples to buy and sample.

In 2025 the event happens on the weekend of October 18th and 19th. Other events that take place in the Lower Mainland around this time of year are Harvest Days at VanDusen Garden and Canyon Frights at Capilano Bridge. There are also Circo Osorio Circus shows in Coquitlam. If you like farms and the harvest season, and you have young children, then places to visit in the Fraser Valley include Petey’s Pumpkin Patch, the Chilliwack Corn Maze and Taves Family Farms.

Continue reading to learn about the event at the UBC Botanical Garden in late October.

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About the Apple Festival | Admission Details | Festival Activities | Tips & Advice | Other Information

UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival

The UBC Apple Festival happens on Saturday and Sunday in mid to late October. It takes place at the UBC Botanical Garden which is at 6804 SW Marine Drive on the main University of British Columbia campus.

The UBC Botanical Garden is worth visiting at any time of year, but it’s especially beautiful in autumn when the trees are full of colour. The Apple Festival is not a massive event, but it adds a lively, seasonal atmosphere to a fall garden visit.

People at UBC's Apple Festival — UBC Apple Festival (Photo by Chloe Sirges)

About the Apple Festival

The annual UBC Apple Festival takes place on the weekend after Thanksgiving and can attract over 15,000 people when the weather is good. In 2025, the UBC Apple Festival returns for its 34th year on Saturday, October 18th, and Sunday, October 19th.

Expect family-friendly entertainment, dancing and live music, plus the chance to sample and buy dozens of apple varieties and even purchase apple trees. Proceeds support UBC’s Botanical Garden.

Admission to the Festival in 2025

Tickets for the festival use timed entry with time slots between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm each day.

Early-bird pricing was available until September 30th. In 2025, the members’ presale began at noon on September 16th, and the public on-sale opened at noon on September 17th. Regular ticket prices are listed below for 2025 (prices are subject to change).

Adults/Youth (8+): $11
Seniors (65+): $10
Children 0–7: Free (still require a $0 admission ticket)

All tickets are sold online only.

An optional Apple Tasting Tent ticket can be added during the booking for $10. Guests can enter the tasting tent to sample different varieties of the fruit. Most other activities (excluding purchases) are included in the price of admission.

UBC Apple Festival Tree Sales Station — Apple Trees for Sale (Photo by Chloe Sirges)

Apple Festival Activities

There is a lot to see and do at the UBC Botanical Garden’s Apple Festival, not least of which is the opportunity to wander around the botanical gardens. They are beautiful with their fall colours.

Activities specific to the Apple Festival include the apple tasting, which features about 48 different kinds of BC-grown apples. As a fundraiser, there are also apples for purchase as well as a variety of apple trees available for sale. There is also an interesting market with other things for sale and live entertainment.

Apple Festival Trees for Sale — (Photo by Chloe Sirges)

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips and information to help you make the most of your visit to the UBC Apple Festival.

TIP #1: If you’ve never been to UBC Botanical Garden but want to, then check out this event. The fall colours are beautiful!

TIP #2: The apple tasting venue sells out quickly so don’t wait to buy your tickets. Get them early online.

TIP #3: Parking close by can be a challenge but a free shuttle bus is available most years starting at 9:30 am between the venue and both UBC’s Fraser River Parkade and Campus West Parkade.