Two women stand at a table filled with green avocados at the 2023 California Avocado Festival.(Courtesy photo)
The 2024 California Avocado Festival in downtown Carpinteria is expected to attract 40,000 people. (Courtesy photo)

The 38th Annual California Avocado Festival is coming up Friday-Sunday, Oct. 4-6 on Linden Avenue in downtown Carpinteria.

Avofest 2024 hours will be Friday, 1-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.  

Highlights include:

An Expanded Youth Area – A partnership with Roll n Rock has enabled a new focus on youth activities at the festival. The Youth Stage will feature local bands, and the Boys & Girls Club will host an Avofest-first youth dance party, 5-7 p.m. Saturday at the Youth Stage. Officially, it’s the Glowcado Groove Youth Dance Party.

Kickoff with Locals Night Friday – Opening ceremonies begin at 5:30 p.m., when this year’s chairperson Francis Brand will balance an avocado on the head of the seal at Seal Fountain Plaza in the 800 block of Linden Avenue.

Special Events – Saturday and Sunday

Noon Saturday — The Avocado Strong Arm Contest will determine who has the mightiest avocado arms in the world. Sign up and participate at Seal Fountain Plaza.

Noon Sunday — The Guacamole World Championship Contest will be held at noon on Sunday at the Mac Brown Grotto.

Simultaneous to Sunday’s Guacamole World Championship Contest, this year’s Largest Avocado and Avocado Tree auctions will take place. Proceeds support Carpinteria High School Future Farmers of America. 

Avofest numbers:

Estimated Avofest attendance is 40,000 people.

75 vendors will be on hand with food, art, and other wares, including food and new twists on the diverse California avocado. 

72 bands will play at four stages throughout the 29 hours of Peace, Love & Guacamole.

250 volunteers make Avofest tick through pouring beer, selling T-shirts, etc. 

3,000 pounds of avocados will be mashed into the World Largest Vat of Guacamole created and sold by Carpinteria High School cheerleaders. 

As a community-benefiting festival, Avofest supports three college scholarships, and will contribute $1,5oo to the Warrior Pool Foundation along with $5,000 in support of Future Farmers of America. 

California harvested 350 million pounds of avocados this year between February and September.