Harvest Season is Here—5 Best Activities to Do on the West Coast

It’s easy to think of the West Coast as an eternal summer. Depending on where you live, the forecast usually predicts warm temperatures, lots of sunshine, and nary a snowflake. But we’re going to let you in on a little secret: Fall is when the region really shines.

From fresh avocado farms, to wineries, to olive groves that would make the Mediterranean jealous, the West Coast is known for its excellent produce. So, once autumn rolls around, it officially becomes harvest season: The opportunity to savor the splendors and celebrate the area’s bounty. 

Want to get in on the festivities? Check out a few fall harvest happenings you can join on the West Coast.

Sangiacomo Harvest Celebration

Courtesy of Sangiacom Family Wines

On October 25, 2026, oenophiles can mosey to Sangiacomo Family Wines’s Home Ranch in Sonoma to honor harvest season. “The Sangiacomo Harvest Celebration is the final act of the season, when we toast the people and the vines for everything they’ve given to produce another exceptional vintage,” says Steve Sangiacomo, the property’s third-generation partner. 

In honor of its 57th harvest, guests will get a chance to pick grapes directly from the vines and see a grape-harvesting machine up close. And, in true wine country fashion, music, good food, and delicious wines are a must.

Gopher Glen Apple Farm

Courtesy of Gopher Glen Apple Farm

The San Luis Obispo-based apple farm lets you pick 25 of its 65 varieties during the fall. And, once you’re done, you can sip apple cider and pick up sundries at the site’s Farm Store. Of course, there’s more to Gopher Glen Apple Farm than beefing up your fruit basket. “It’s about slowing down, tasting varieties you may have never heard of, and experiencing the flavors of the season right where they’re grown,” explains co-owner Raven Lukehart. “We love sharing our farm with families and keeping the tradition of fresh, locally grown food alive for the next generation.”

Dark Hollow Farm 

Travel Medford

Anna Sephton of Dark Hollow Farm says family-run winery and extra virgin olive oil farm in Southern Oregon welcomes a little outside help during harvest season: Four to six volunteers help us harvest an average of 300 pounds each day from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. for two to three weeks. “They work in pairs since picking a million tiny, green olives can drive even the best of us mad, and by the end, a new friendship has formed,” she says. Once outsiders get a glimpse of the grove, they become invested in the entire process. “Many stay on in the afternoon to see how the milling process works and to try the olive oil right as it comes out,” Sephton shares.

McEvoy Ranch

Courtesy of McEvoy Ranch

Now through November 3, join McEvoy Ranch for its Olive Harvest Mill Tour. Follow the journey from orchard to milling, offering a firsthand look at how the ranch’s olives are transformed into extra virgin olive oil. “You start standing among the trees and walk toward the mill as you learn how our fruit is grown, tended, and picked,” Samantha Dorsey, president of McEvoy Ranch in Petaluma. “We then demonstrate how the olives are processed to create our award-winning oils.” Once you’re done, you can enjoy a taste of fresh oil.