Location: Beaumont, CA
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Hey AV explorers, Thomas here – if you’re ready to trade tumbleweeds for a classic small-town fair with live music, carnival rides, and cherry everything, Beaumont is your move this upcoming weekend. About 2.5 hours from Lancaster, it’s a full day-trip experience that the whole family can dig into. And with the festival kicking off Thursday, May 28th, you’ve got a jump on the weekend before the crowds really build. The Beaumont Cherry Festival has been a Pass Area tradition for over 100 years, celebrating the region’s rich cherry-growing heritage with the kind of community energy that’s getting harder to find.
This year it’s also got a fresh new chapter – the festival moved to a brand-new 30-acre site at the corner of Beaumont Ave and Cougar Way, so even veterans of the event are in for a new experience.
The entertainment lineup alone makes the drive worth it. Thursday opens with a Native American bird singers ceremony and a Brenton Wood tribute. Friday brings American Idol winner Abi Carter and country artist Easton Corbin. Saturday’s parade kicks off at 10:30 AM on Beaumont Avenue with the theme “Stars, Stripes & Sweet Cherries,” followed by mariachi, banda, and cumbia acts into the night. Sunday closes it out with 90s rock nostalgia – The Ataris, a Sublime tribute, and Eve 6 headlining at 7:15 PM. All live entertainment is included with general admission.
Festival Hours:
Thu May 28: 5–9 PM | Fri May 29: 5–11 PM | Sat May 30: 12–11 PM | Sun May 31: 12–9 PM
Admission: $10–$18 | Free parking, with shuttles available from Walmart and Beaumont Sports Park
Making it a Full Day:
If you want to stretch the trip, the drive down through Cajon Pass and into the Inland Empire gives you some solid scenery. Before or after the festival, downtown Beaumont has a handful of local spots worth poking around. Beaumont is also just a short drive from Oak Glen – the apple orchard community up in the San Bernardino Mountains – which makes a lovely add-on if you’re going on a weekend afternoon before the festival opens.
Thomas’s Local Tips:
- 🍒 Thursday or Friday is the sweet spot – The festival opens Thursday at 5 PM, making it a great run without the full weekend crowd. Friday brings the biggest headline acts with Abi Carter and Easton Corbin, and the vibe is electric without being overwhelming.
- 🚌 Use the free shuttle – Parking is free, but the shuttle from the Walmart lot and Beaumont Sports Park drops you right at the gate and saves you the walk. Easy win, especially if you’re bringing kids.
- 🎡 Budget the carnival wristband separately – Carnival ride wristbands are sold on-site at the carnival grounds and aren’t included in general admission. If you’ve got kids, factor that in ahead of time so there are no surprises at the gate.
- 🎶 Sunday is for 90s fans – If your crew grew up on The Ataris and Eve 6, Sunday is your day. It’s also the most relaxed of the four days, with the festival running noon to 9 PM and a slightly more laid-back crowd than Saturday.
Nature’s calling, it’s time to pick up… See you out there!
