Cranberry Festival Season: Sweet Harvest on the Coast

October is cranberry season on the Long Beach Peninsula, and the area goes ALL IN with the celebration! We're talking two full weekends of cranberry-themed everything, and if you've never experienced a cranberry harvest festival, you're missing out on one of the coast's most charming traditions.

Why Cranberries?

The Long Beach Peninsula and nearby areas have been growing cranberries commercially since the 1880s. The unique combination of acidic soil, abundant water, and mild climate creates perfect conditions for these tart little berries. Today, Washington is the fifth-largest cranberry-producing state in the nation!

Two Festivals, One Amazing Month

Cranberry Harvest Festival (October 11-12, 2025) Location: Cranberry Museum, 2907 Pioneer Road, Long Beach

This is where you really learn about cranberry farming. The museum itself is a gem – it's in a historic farmhouse and tells the complete story of cranberry cultivation on the peninsula.

Festival highlights:

• Bog tours: See actual working cranberry bogs (FASCINATING!)
• Harvest demonstrations: Watch farmers flood the bogs and rake berries
• Fresh cranberry products: Sauces, relishes, baked goods, jams
• Educational exhibits: Learn why bogs need to be flooded
• Kids activities: Cranberry-themed crafts and games

Cranberries on the Coast Festival (October 17-19, 2025) Location: Sheldon Field, Ocean Park (just up the peninsula from Long Beach)

This is the bigger, more festival-y festival. Think community celebration meets harvest fair.

Festival highlights:

• Local vendors: 50+ artisan and food vendors
• Live music: Multiple stages with regional bands
• Food trucks: Cranberry-inspired dishes (cranberry BBQ sauce? Yes!)
• Wine and beer garden: Local breweries and wineries
• Cranberry recipe contest: See what creative dishes people come up with
• Dog-friendly: Well-behaved pups welcome

SeaQueen's Perfect Festival Location

Here's the beauty of staying at SeaQueen during cranberry festival time:

Close to Everything:

• Cranberry Museum: 5-minute drive
• Ocean Park Festival: 10-minute drive
• Beach access for dog walks: Right there
• Restaurants: Walking distance

Your Festival Home Base: After a day of festival-ing, you can:

• Rest your feet in the hot tub
• Cook dinner with your cranberry haul
• Let the dogs decompress in the fenced yard

What to Expect

Weather: October in Long Beach is beautiful! Average temps in the 60s during the day, 50s at night. Perfect sweater weather.

Crowds: The festivals are popular but not overwhelming. You'll have space to breathe, unlike summer events.

Parking: Both festivals have good parking. Ocean Park has shuttles if needed.

Making the Most of Cranberry Weekend

Friday:

• Arrive at SeaQueen, settle in
• Hit up local restaurants (I love The Depot for dinner)
• Evening hot tub with a glass of wine

Saturday:

• Morning: Cranberry Museum Festival (go early for bog tours – they fill up!)
• Lunch: Grab cranberry treats at the festival
• Afternoon: Beach walk to work off the food
• Evening: Cook at SeaQueen or try Pickled Fish

Sunday:

• Ocean Park Festival (10am-5pm usually)
• Browse vendors, enjoy live music
• Stock up on cranberry products to take home
• Return to SeaQueen for a cozy evening

What to Buy at the Festivals

Don't leave without:

• Fresh cranberries: Cook your own sauce at SeaQueen!
• Cranberry relish: Local recipes are BOMB
• Cranberry wine: Yes, it's a thing, and yes, it's good
• Baked goods: Cranberry scones, muffins, breads
• Artisan crafts: Support local makers

The SeaQueen Kitchen Advantage

Here's a fun idea: Buy fresh cranberries at the festival and make your own cranberry sauce in SeaQueen's kitchen! We've got:

• Full cookware (including that perfect saucepan)
• All the sugar, spices, and basics you need

Booking October Weekends

Cranberry festival weekends book up, but not as crazy as Kite Festival. If you're seeing this and October is still available – grab it! These are genuinely fun weekends with perfect fall weather.

Why Come to Cranberry Festival?

It's quirky, it's educational, it's delicious, and it's uniquely Pacific Northwest. Where else can you tour a working cranberry bog, sample cranberry wine, buy local art, listen to live music, and then retreat to your private hot tub all in one weekend?

Plus, early October means gorgeous fall colors, comfortable weather, and that shoulder-season calm that makes the coast so special.

Guest Testimonial

Last year's cranberry festival guests wrote: "We learned so much about cranberries (did you know they don't grow IN water?), bought enough cranberry products to last until next October, and had the best cranberry scones of our lives. SeaQueen was the perfect home base – close to everything but peaceful and private."

Start Planning!

Whether you're a cranberry enthusiast, a festival lover, or just looking for a fun October weekend at the coast, cranberry festival season delivers. Book SeaQueen, mark your calendar for October 11-12 and 17-19, and get ready for some tart, sweet, coastal fun.

See you at the bogs!