Gourd Festivals and Events in Calif.

SAN MARTIN: Calabash Gourd Festival October 13-14, 2018, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Uesugi Farms
14485 Monterey Road
San Martin, CA 95046
morganhillpumpkins.com | gourdfest.com
Hosted at the Pumpkin Patch. Event also includes California Gourd Society California Bay Area Gourd Competition. Hosted by the Calabash Club of Silicon Valley 

VISTA: Gourds  at Vista Fiber Arts Fiesta October 6-7, 2018, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
 Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum (AGSEM)
2040 N Santa Fe Avenue
Vista, CA
Free admission, $5 parking, sandiegogourdpatch.com 
Fiber arts weekend, Vista Fiber Arts Fiesta, includes Gourd art, supplies, vendors.  Dry camping available, Picnic area.

SANTA ANA: OC Gourd Society Gourd Art Competition October 27-28, 2018
Elks Club
Elk Lane
Santa Ana, CA
ocgourdsociety.com

YUCCA VALLEY: Gourd Festival November 17-18, 2018
Friday Night Reception
Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Yucca Valley Community Center
57090 29 Palms Highway
Yucca Valley, CA
Free admission, yuccavalley.org
The annual Yucca Valley Gourd Festival is pure Holiday Magic. The festival includes Kids & Adult Classes, Face Painting, Santa Photos and Shopping for unique, crafted gifts.

The gourd is a unique fruit that does more than feed the body & mind. From ancient times (13,000 years ago) the gourd has also fed the soul as people have pondered ways to use this shapely object which can form a hard shell, thus expanding its versatility.

Currently there are two or three main gourd festivals in the calendar year in California. There have been more in past years but they come & go, depending on the interest and volunteers willing to produce these festivals.

Some of the many things gourds have been used for have included: art, vases, musical instruments, drinking vessels, jewelry, furniture, dishes, boxes and bottles.

In California gourds grow abundantly and are of special interest to a network of gourd societies usually under the umbrella of the California Gourd Society (californiagourdsociety.com), which calls more than 15 clubs "patches". Among the places you may find lessons, meetings, and competitions are Jackson, Lakeport, Santa Clara, Folsom, Placerville, Berkeley, Petaluma, Knights Landing, Red Bluff, Redding, Bakersfield, Arcadia, Venice, Costa Mesa, San Diego, Temecula, Tulare and Ventura.

In California the best way to stay connected is by joining the California Gourd Society which is a chapter of the American Gourd Society. Membership keeps you in the loop with regular news, competitions, resources and needed networking to improve your craft and compete.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.