2022 ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL FAQS

Saturday, June 11th from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM for our Adults, Children, Seniors, and Military.
Sunday, June 12th, from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM for our Adults, Children, Seniors, and Military.
Wine Tasting begins one hour after opening, and ends one hour before closing on both days.

All admission tickets are available at artichokefestival.org/tickets.

Ticket booths at each entrance will also sell tickets during the Festival, with an effort to be touchless. Special discount packages will be available online up through the Festival.

The Festival will not be able to offer the popular field tours this year, because of caution regarding transporting guests to the fields in a bus. However, most of our other events will be able to continue; including artichoke eating contests, artichoke canasta (harvest) contests, entertainment, food sales, farmer’s market, chef demos, wine tasting, and arts & crafts vendors.

Current procedures and protocols regarding the COVID-19 pandemic are posted on our Health & Safety page. The Festival will follow all county and state guidelines for large public events: all guests will be required to comply with current CDC, California Dept of Public Health and Monterey County public health guidelines regarding COVID-19 at the time of the event. The Artichoke Festival Committee encourages all guests to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and to stay current with vaccination protocols as soon as they are eligible. Upon entry to the Artichoke Festival, all state health and safety guidelines must be adhered to, or the ticket holder is subject to removal from the Festival.

Staff and volunteers are encouraged to wear gloves when coming in close contact with equipment and festival patrons. Touchless payment options are recommended. Tables and seats will be cleared and sanitized after each use. Sanitizer stations are available in all dining areas. Restroom surfaces and contact points throughout the Festival will be wiped down and disinfected continually throughout the event day. Please stay at home if you are experiencing any flu symptoms, have a temperature greater than or equal to 100 degrees and/or you’ve had known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have Covid-19.

The Artichoke Festival provides a safe environment for families and all our guests, exhibitors, staff, volunteers and partners. The Festival has a public safety program which includes a Code of Conduct and Screening Policy. Handheld metal detecting wands will be in use by our security company and security and first-responder teams will be on site daily.

Yes, there is a clear bag policy for the 2022 Artichoke Festival.

  • Guns, knives, mace/pepper spray/stream, or any items that could be considered or used as weapons
  • Alcohol, illegal substances or cannabis products in any form
  • Bottles, cans or hard-sided containers
  • Non-factory sealed plastic bottles
  • Ice chests or coolers
  • Outside food and beverage (unless for infant/medical reasons)
  • Chairs (wheelchairs or motorized wheelchairs are permitted)
  • Pets other than approved service animals
  • Grills, charcoal and flammable liquids
  • Tents, tables and large shade umbrellas
  • Fireworks, firecrackers
  • Unmanned aerial vehicles
  • Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, skates/rollerblades and Segways
  • Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate by personnel

No, strollers and wheelchairs are not available to rent.

On-site, all-day parking will be available on Fairground Rd., (free, first come-first served), and in pay-to-park lots on either end of the Festival grounds. The East parking lot off Airport Rd., through Gate 8, is General Parking at $15 per vehicle. The golf course lot, off Garden Rd. on the West end of the Festival grounds is Premium Parking at $20 per vehicle. There will also be additional Premium Parking in the Arena, accessed through Gate 6 off Fairground Rd. at $20 per vehicle. VIP Pass and Sponsors’ vehicles will be directed to the West end golf course lot off Garden Rd. Overnight parking is not permitted in the Fairgrounds lots.
A shuttle is available for Festival guests from the East parking lot (Gate 8) to an additional shuttle-only admissions booth at the back of the Festival grounds. Parking gates will open 30 minutes before the event. Parking passes can be purchased online or with cash. Find more info about parking and directions.

No, unfortunately we do not have lockers.

No, but don’t worry there is plenty of food available at our Artichoke Food Court, and from a wide variety of vendors. Food that is medically necessary is allowed.

Guests must be 21 years or older to purchase or taste alcohol at the Artichoke Festival. The paper or digital passes guests receive online can be traded for a wristband at a specially designated ID Check booth, or at the entry to the Wine Tasting Room, where adults 21+ years can have their ID checked for age verification. No persons under 21, including small children, will be allowed into the Wine Tasting Room at any time. Please plan ahead if children are with you.

No, children 5 years old and under get in free.

No. Due to caution and safety protocols around COVID-19, the Festival has cancelled field tours for 2022.

Valid service animals are permitted, but pets are not.

Exit and re-entry is available with a hand stamp at the main gate 3 or 5.

The Artichoke Festival is a smoke free and vapor free event. Smoking of any kind, including the use of pipes, e-cigarettes, vapors or similar devices of any kind is prohibited. Thank you for your consideration of others!

Yes, most vendors do accept cash however debit/credit cards are preferred.

Yes, ATM machines are located on the Festival.