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 2026 the event happens on October 17th and 18th.
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 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 a Saturday and Sunday in mid to late October each year. 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.
About the Apple Festival
The annual UBC Apple Festival takes place on the weekend after Thanksgiving and can attract thousands of people over the course of the weekend when the weather is good. In 2026, the UBC Apple Festival returns for its 35th year on Saturday, October 17th, and Sunday, October 18th.
Expect family-friendly entertainment, 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
The festival runs from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. Tickets use entry slot times so make sure to arrive at the time you select.
Online ticket prices as of October 1st are listed below.
- Adults/Youth (8+): $15
- Seniors (65+): $14
- Children 0-7: Free (still require a $0 admission ticket)
Early bird tickets are available up until the end of September. Tickets purchased on site at the event cost a few dollars more.
An optional Apple Tasting Tent ticket can be added during the booking for $12. 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.
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 around 50 different varieties of BC-grown apples. There are apples for purchase as well as a variety of apple trees available for sale. There’s also an interesting market with other things for sale and live music.
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 10:00 am between the venue and both UBC’s Fraser River Parkade and Campus West Parkade.
Other Information
See UBC Botanical Garden for more information on the gardens.
Click Botanical Garden Events for additional details on the festival.
Another website you might be interested in is VancouverFoodFestivals.ca.
Click Vancouver Fall Activities or October or November in Vancouver’s Best Places’ calendar for ideas on other things to do in autumn.
