On April 26-27, the 23rd Annual California Poppy Festival will deliver two days of music, art, food and fun with “incredible energy and beautiful weather” at Lancaster City Park, 43011 N. 10th Street West, Lancaster. The festival will feature performers, events and exhibits spanning 35 acres, while offering loads of entertainment and excitement for the more than 40,000 attendees anticipated this year. Residents are encouraged to come together with family, friends and visitors for this annual celebration of the community and the vibrant state flower.
“Each year, the Poppy Festival manages to bring more food, more entertainment, more special highlights and certainly more fun to the Antelope Valley,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “I marvel at how much effort and energy goes into putting this event together; always with something new, always with returning favorites and –of course– always right here in Lancaster. This is undeniably one of the most popular community celebrations in Southern California.”
Launched in 1992, the nationally-acclaimed California Poppy Festival continues to grow every year. The event consistently attracts new patrons, while keeping loyal attendees returning year-after-year by always offering a wide array of attractions.
This year’s features include: four stages of entertainment; plentiful amounts of food, both fair standards (such as funnel cakes, kabobs and deep-fried Twinkies) and homegrown favorites (roasted corn, fresh fruits and gourmet spices); a farmers market; an Adventure Zone; animal attractions; an Aerospace & Aviation display center; fine arts; an International Market; a Healthy Living Pavilion; and more than 200 Arts & Crafts vendors. The Classic Car Show will also return on Sunday.
New this year will be a Poppy Beer Pavilion, hosted by Schooners Patio Grille. During the festival, a limited supply of pre-sale tickets for the Field of Drafts event, which will be held Nov. 1, will be available for purchase at the Poppy Beer Pavilion.
Another fresh arrival will be the Bike Show and Shine event, which debuts on Saturday and is hosted by A.V. Harley Davidson. There will be a $5 donation in which all proceeds will benefit charity. The entrance for all motorcycles will be at the VIP entrance in the batting cages parking lot. Both the Poppy Beer Pavilion and Bike Show and Shine will be located on the north end of the festival near the main stage.
For the first time in Poppy Festival history, the city of Lancaster will attempt to break a world record as it will host the “Largest Dessert Decorating Class” for Guinness Book of World Records recognition. Sunday at 3 p.m. on the main stage, be a part of history-in-the-making with 2,000 decorating students. Each participant will receive a certificate from Guinness for their record-breaking contribution.
Be sure to stop by each venue to experience live music, singing, dancing, performances and educational shows. To see a full description of the attractions and get more event information, visit www.poppyfestival.com.
