While the flowers are the main attraction, there are so many other attractions to check out. That's one of the reasons why I love this festival so much!
Let's have a look at what attractions are on offer for the 2026 season.
Pop-Up Market
The pop-up market is new for 2026. Every week something new will be popping up! From specialty foods to gifts, and seasonal treats, this is going to be something fun that I will definitely check out. This little pop-up is set atop a vintage 1950s red Studebaker farm truck.
Fox Point Farms, Sip-N-Sea, and the Little SugarPlum Bakery, are just a few of the vendors that will be rotating through.
Glass in Flight
Glass in Flight was a new exhibit in 2025 and it was so popular that they brought it back for 2026. If you go, you have to see this. I went last year and it was a beautiful sight on a sunny San Diego afternoon.
It features more than two dozen sculptures of birds and insects expertly made from Dalle de Verre glass and steel. The display designed to work with color, light and flight is the master work of the incredible, acclaimed artist Alex Heveri.
Butterfly Encounter
The Butterfly Encounter was also new last year and is making a return. Hundreds of colorful live butterflies are drawn to nectar sticks, creating a magical, unique experience for guests.
My daughter is a huge butterfly fan, with the Butterfly Jungle experience at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park being one of her absolute favorites, and this one did not disappoint either!
Available from 10:00am – 5:30pm daily, the encounter is $8 per person for adults, and $4 for children ages 3 to 10. Kids under three are free. You can buy these tickets when you get there with credit or debit only.
Themed Gardens
The ranch also houses multiple themed gardens.
These include the Illusion Garden, where you can find some pretty big chairs and even bigger animals! Don't forget about the Artist Garden & Bird Aviaries, where the flowers are the art and the chirping of the birds is the enchanting soundtrack.
The Sculpture Garden features butterfly benches, glass sculptures and of course incredible flowers. The Pothead Garden has more than 15 concrete busts with flowers and greenery and makes a great place for a picture as well.
Demonstration Garden
Master Gardeners of San Diego County worked very hard this year to create the Demonstration Garden. You'll get to see 9 vignettes great for smaller spaces. They feature earth friendly practices and are the picture of sustainability.
Other highlights include a backyard orchard, vegetable bed and incredible miniature display.
Activities for Kids
The ranch really thought about families in 2026 as well!
Family-Friendly Tractor Rides
Carlsbad Ranch offers a wagon tour of the field. You can just sit back as you're towed by a tractor and snap stunning photos. It runs all day, every day, weather permitting.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for kids and can be purchased upon arrival. Kids 3 and under are free. Just a friendly note, they only take credit and debit cards for these tickets.
Maze & Playground
Kids can walk through the Sweet Pea Maze, an old-fashioned adventure that's colorful and fragrant.
There's also a small Santa-themed playground, which is just as fun for kids no matter the season.
A Hands-On Experience
If you really want to entertain your active kids, I suggest you head over to the Carlsbad Mining Company's exhibit to sift for rare gems.
Sluicing for gems with buckets and water is a lot of fun for the kids and just $5 per guest. For kids who turn in a completed passport, they can mine for just $4!