What is a cider festival?

A cider festival is an event where many cider makers pour their ciders, usually by the glass or as tasting samples, so you can compare styles in one place. Some include competitions, food and talks. Related traditions include the orchard wassail in England and the start of the cider-house season in the Basque Country.

Updated 2026-10-02

Key facts

Comparison in one place. At a festival, many makers pour at once, so it is an easy way to taste different styles, regions and sweetness levels side by side.
Older seasonal customs. Cambridge Dictionary defines a wassail as an event around Christmas, in the past, that involved pouring wassail on the trees in an orchard "in order to encourage the trees to produce a good crop the next year". [1]
The Basque cider season opens with a call. In mid-January, "Txotx!" is shouted to announce the start of the cider season in the Basque Country; new cider is served straight from the barrels. [2]
Age rules apply. Festivals that sell alcohol check age. In the UK, selling alcohol to anyone under 18 is against the law. [3]

What happens at a cider festival?

Tokens or a glass. Many festivals sell a tasting glass and tokens or charge per pour.
Small pours. Tasting measures let you try more without drinking a lot. Count your units (see how many units are in cider) and plan how to get home.
Makers behind the bar. Festivals are one of the few places where you can ask the cider maker directly about apples, method and sweetness.
Competitions. Some festivals include judged competitions. Judging bodies such as the BJCP publish cider style guidelines for use in competitions. [4]

Find it on Cider Radar

Cider festivals and events: 9 events listed, 1 of them upcoming (as of 2026-10-02). Always confirm dates with the organiser before travelling.
Cider bars: 89 listed (as of 2026-10-02), for the rest of the year.
Open the map: app.ciderradar.com · iPhone · Android

Dates in this answer were checked on 2 October 2026 and are due for review by December 2026.

Cider, perry, calvados and pommeau are alcoholic drinks. Enjoy responsibly and follow the legal drinking age where you live.

Questions

What is a wassail?

Cambridge Dictionary describes it as an event around Christmas, in the past, that involved pouring wassail (warmed beer or wine with spices) on the trees in an orchard to encourage a good crop the next year. [1]

What does "Txotx!" mean at a Basque cider house?

It is the call made when a cider barrel is opened; guests then go to the barrel to catch the cider in their glass. Tourism Euskadi says the season starts in mid-January. [2]

How do I find cider festivals near me?

Check a cider events list or map, local tourism boards and makers' own pages. Dates change every year, so confirm with the organiser.

Sources

wassail (definition) — Cambridge Dictionary
Cider season 2026 — Tourism Euskadi (Basque Government)
Alcohol and young people — GOV.UK
2025 BJCP Cider Style Guidelines (Introduction) — Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)