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 2023 the event happens on Wednesday, October 18th and Thursday, October 19th.

UBC Botanical Garden Apple Festival

In 2020 the UBC Apple Festival was scheduled to take place on October 17th and 18th. However, the event was cancelled because of COVID-19. Although the festival didn’t happen, people were still able to order apples online and pick them up on select dates. The 2021 edition was the same.

In 2022 the UBC Apple Festival took place on the Saturday and Sunday of October 15th and 16th. The festival was similar to what it was in years prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

The venue is at the UBC Botanical Garden which is located at 6804 SW Marine Drive on the University of British Columbia campus.

The UBC Botanical Garden is a recommended place to visit in Vancouver, especially between mid-October and mid-November with all of its fall colours. There’s even more to see than usual during the Apple Festival. It’s not a huge festival, but a nice one to complement a visit to the garden.

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

About the Apple Festival

Attracting over 15,000 people in years when the weather is good, the annual UBC Apple Festival takes place on the weekend after Thanksgiving. In 2023 the festival happens on on Wednesday, October 18th and Thursday, October 19th. The two-day event runs from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days.

Entertainment includes child-friendly shows, dancing and all kinds of music. Furthermore, there are dozens of apples to sample and buy and even apple trees for sale. All proceeds go to UBC Botanical Garden.

Admission to the Festival

In 2022 admission to the event was about $9 each but free for children ages 7 and under. All tickets had to be purchased online.

Moreover, you can enter the Apple Tasting Tent and sample different varieties of the fruit for an additional $9, at least that’s what the price was in 2022. Most other activities (outside of buying things) 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 lots 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 especially beautiful with their fall colours.

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

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

Entertainment Schedule

Performances that took place at the UBC Apple Festival in 2022 included the following.

West Entrance Small Stage

Saturday, October 15th (2022)

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm – Michael Burnyeat and Kosta Borzhinov (Celtic music)
1:00 pm to 1:45 pm – Tim Readman and Prairie Wolfe (mixed music styles)
2:00 pm to 2:45 pm – Maria Ho and Bob York (Brazilian Jazz music)
3:00 pm to 3:45 pm – Tom and Ellen (duets and sing alongs)

Sunday, October 16th (2022)

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm – Luc LeMans (pop and rock music)
1:00 pm to 1:45 pm – Sangre Morena (Latin American songs)
2:00 pm to 2:45 pm – Dragonfly (Jazz and Contemporary)
3:00 pm to 3:45 pm – Sangre Morena (Latin American songs)

Moongate Tunnel

Saturday, October 15th (2022)

11:30 am to 3:30 pm – Rebecca Blair (harp)

Sunday, October 16th (2022)

11:30 am to 3:30 pm – Judy Henry (harp)

Great Lawn Main Stage

Saturday, October 15th (2022)

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm – JES (mixed music styles)
1:00 pm to 1:45 pm – Blackthorn Blossoms (Celtic and English music)
2:00 pm to 2:45 pm – Michael, Lynn and Michael (local folk music)
3:00 pm to 3:45 pm – The Trout Lake Trio (folk songs)

Sunday, October 16th (2022)

12:00 pm to 12:45 pm – The Lawless Firm (Gypsy Jazz-style music)
1:00 pm to 1:45 pm – The Wheat in the Barley (mixed musical styles)
2:00 pm to 2:45 pm – The Hot Teas (a cappella music)
3:00 pm to 3:45 pm – The InCiders (musical storytelling)

Children’s Area

Saturday, October 15th (2022)

11:30 am – Story time
12:00 pm – Story time
12:30 pm – Story time
1:00 pm – Story time
1:30 pm – Anthony Blackman (steel drums)
2:30 pm – Anthony Blackman (steel drums)

Sunday, October 16th (2022)

11:30 am – Story time
12:00 pm – Anthony Blackman (steel drums)
12:30 pm – Story time
1:00 pm – Story time
2:00 pm – Anthony Blackman (steel drums)
3:00 pm – Anthony Blackman (steel drums)

Advice and Suggestions

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, admission is discounted and it’s a fabulous time to visit.

TIP #2: The apple sampling venue sells out so don’t wait until the end of the day to buy your tickets. Get them early!

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.