San Leandro Cherry Festival
SATURDAY, JUNE 7th, 2025
Parade from 10 AM - 11 AM
Festival from 11 AM - 6 PM
Located on W. Estudillo Ave in
Historic Downtown San Leandro
The San Leandro Cherry Festival is a long-standing San Leandro tradition celebrating our past, present and future! The first Cherry Festival was held in 1909. Many things have changed over the years but one thing that remains the same is the strong sense of community identity and pride the Cherry Festival brings to the San Leandro community!
2025 Cherry Festival Participant Applications
Vendor/Community Booth Application Deadline: March 1st
Community Stage Application Deadline: April 30th
Food vendors, artisan vendors, community organizations, and community performers are invited to apply to be a part of the San Leandro Cherry Festival. For questions about how to be a future vendor or to follow up on a current application, please email cherryfest@downtownsanleandro.com
Artist & Interactive Booth Application
$150-$250
Artisan vendors provide handcrafted or originally designed items for sale, which may include cherry-themed, packaged foods meant for in-home consumption. Only original handcrafted or originally designed articles or artwork will be accepted. Interactive booths include face painting, sand art, wax hands, spin art, and other interactive pieces that the participants can purchase and take home or games such as spin the wheel, ring toss, etc.
Please include these items with your application:
- Your seller's permit
- 4-6 photos of your products and booth setup
- Temporary food facility permit (if selling consumable items)
Food Vendor Application
$405
Food vendors include those preparing food or drinks for consumption onsite. If your food is pre-packaged, please apply for an "Artisan & Interactive Booth" space. All applicants are required to have a cherry item or cherry-themed item on their menu. Approved menus will be strictly enforced. The City of San Leandro attempts to limit the number of similar items.
Please include these items (if applicable) with your application. Some items may be turned in after acceptance.
- Your seller's permit
- 4-6 photos of your products and booth setup
- Temporary food facility permit (if selling consumable items) TFF permit payment receipt due by May 15th.
- 83.30 Fire Code Regulated Activities/Use Application (cooking with an open flame, gas, etc)
- Food Vendor Equipment Form
- Certificate of insurance with the City of San Leandro listed as additionally insured. Proof of insurance is due by March 30th.
All forms listed may be found and downloaded under the "Documents" section of the application.
Community Resource Application
$150 refundable deposit
The City of San Leandro is looking to provide festival participants with a wealth of information about volunteering, health/fitness, academic enrichment, faith-based groups, the arts, and much more. The City strongly encourages you to apply as a community resource for the Cherry Festival and share information about your agency with thousands of community members.
A Cherry Festival Community Resource is an agency that provides important information pertaining to children, families, seniors, or other valuable social services in the San Leandro community. A community resource must be a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Please include these items with your application:
- A document certifying your 501(c)3 nonprofit status or equivalent.
- Photos of your booth setup
Community Entertainment Stage
Community Groups and individuals are invited to perform on our Community Stage. This is an unpaid performance opportunity.
Applications for performers will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Quality of performance demonstrated on provided video files/links
- Duplication
- Returning performer in good standing with the City
- San Leandro based
- Date that the completed entry is received
Please include these items with your application:
- A photo of your group performing
- An audio file of your group performing
2025 Cherry Festival Parade Applications
Application Deadline: April 30th
Join us on Saturday, June 7th, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Downtown San Leandro for our highly anticipated, annual Cherry Festival and Parade!
Pre-Parade Participants Informational Virtual Meeting:
One representative from each entry will be required to attend a Pre-Parade Informational Virtual Meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 6:30 p.m. to receive entry parade position and other important information (link will be sent a week before).
Participant Categories:
Marching Band
Youth & Youth Related Non-Profit
Non-Profit Organization & Community
Animals
Civic/Government Agency
Commercial / Business
Floats
Political Officials
The San Leandro Cherry Festival is BARTable! Plan your day with BARTable's online trip planner at https://www.bart.gov/planner
Cherry Pie Baking Contest
TRADITIONAL PIE CATEGORY
Pie must consist of a pie crust filled with cherries and topped with a lattice crust or regular pie crust top.
NON-TRADITIONAL PIE CATEGORY
Pie MUST consist of a variation of cherry filling and crust. Toppings, fillings, and crusts may vary.
YOUTH PIE CATEGORY
Kids ages 13 and younger are invited to compete with a homemade traditional or non-traditional cherry pie.
- Pie must be homemade, both filling and crust, and in a non-returnable baking dish.
- Bring your pie, pie recipe (on a 3 x 5-inch index card) and complete this entry form.
- Pie must be turned in between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM to the Pie Contest Booth. No late entries are accepted.
Cherry Pie Eating Contest
Do you have what it takes to be crowned the Cherry Pie Eating Champion? Enter our Cherry Pie Eating Contest at the San Leandro Cherry Festival and show off your pie-eating prowess! Whether you're a speed eater or just love the taste of cherry pie, this contest is for you. Sign up for a chance to win bragging rights as the ultimate cherry pie champion!
Photo of Latu Fanaika, who made history on Saturday, June 3rd 2023 as San Leandro's FIRST Pie Eating Champion!