CA's Artichoke Festival Is Back; 2021 Dates Announced

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA — The Artichoke Festival is making a comeback in the summer of 2021.

Tickets will be on sale soon for the 61st annual event on July 24 and 25 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in the city of Monterey, organizers said. This year's theme will be "Thistle be a Good Time!"

Guests can expect to find the iconic California flora fried, steamed and grilled. Artichokes will be rolled into lumpia and burritos, stuffed into sausage, baked into cupcakes and blended into ice cream.

Local chefs will provide cooking demonstrations each day, organizers said. There will be a farmers market, agriculture education exhibit and hot rod car show.

Some 8,000 guests are expected to attend the two-day event. Still, organizers say safety and social distancing protocols will be in place.

Monterey is just 19 miles south of Castroville, nicknamed the "Artichoke Center of the World."

Proceeds from the festival will benefit nonprofits in the region, including the Salinas Valley Arts and Innovation Hub, Salinas Steinbeck Rotary, Partnership for Children, Gold Coast Rods and the Marina Lion's Club.

Tickets will be on sale soon here. They'll cost $15 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6 to 12 and $10 for active military members and people ages 62 and older. Kids under 6 are free.

Early bird ticket packages will be available July 10.