Mead Festival to benefit Alta Vista Botanical Gardens
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2026.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
11th Annual Meading at the Garden is being held on APRIL 4, 2026
Exciting news, mead and beer lovers!
The 11th Annual Meading at the Garden is being held on APRIL 4, 2026 at the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens in Vista, CA. As always, 100% of all proceeds are donated to the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens.
—
Come out and enjoy the 11th Annual Meading at the Garden festival, where you can sample over 25 meads, ciders, beers and spirits from some of SoCal’s finest breweries, all while supporting the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens. Get your tickets now and let’s raise a glass together!
Cheers!
Rusti and Erik Dixon, Event Coordinators, AVBG
The largest mead festival on the west coast, Meading at the Garden features over 25 meaderies, cideries, and breweries. Come join hundreds of mead enthusiasts, homebrewers, aficionados, and local residents to sample modern versions of the world’s oldest fermented beverage — Mead! There will also be plenty of beer on hand from some of SoCal’s finest breweries. Enjoy food from local restaurants and eateries!!
Listen to live music! Win raffle prizes! Check out the mead-making demonstration and honey tasting!
We are the Silk Button Butchers. Our fae folk rock band features Melody Maker on guitar, Chris Hellings on mandolin, Seth Hansen on violin, Luke Davis on Bass and Norm Antonini on drums. We play an eclectic and diverse mix of classic Americana rock, country, bluegrass, folk, popular pub songs and a few original tunes of our own. We always have a great time with an upbeat sound that makes it easy to dance and sing along to.
Dead Feather Moon is a California musical collective who have released several award-winning studio recordings.
Their heartfelt live performances have been featured on television appearances and festival stages alongside musical acts such as Cage The Elephant and Father John Misty.
Occupier is a dynamic rock band led by Ernie Longoria (vocals, drums, songwriting), with Daniel Vega on guitar, Aaron T. Smith on guitar and keyboards, and Ryan Flores (bass). Blending elements of alternative rock, melodic rock, and atmospheric textures, Occupier delivers a raw yet cinematic sound with powerful hooks and evocative lyrics. The band’s music channels intensity and emotion, weaving deep storytelling with immersive soundscapes. With a lineup of seasoned musicians, Occupier is carving its own path with a commanding live presence and a growing catalog of anthemic rock songs.
Ratio is an eclectic group of long time friends that joined up to write some original music. With influences that include, but not limited to: Rush, Oingo Boingo, Tomahawk, Tool, Perfect Circle, Iron Maiden and Frank Zappa. With a combined experience of 80 years in playing, recording, creating and constructing music, Ratio is an ear full of melodic and groovy tunes that can take you on a journey of highs and lows. Welcome to the Movement.
We want to give a huge thank you to all the amazing vendors who participated in the 8th Annual Meading at the Garden event in 2023! Your mead, cider, and beer offerings were outstanding, and the food from local restaurants and eateries was nothing short of delicious. We also appreciate the time and effort put into the mead-making demonstration and honey tasting. We couldn’t have made this event a success without each and every one of you. Thank you for being a part of Meading at the Garden and helping us support the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens.
Meading at the Garden 2026
VIP Admission* begins at 11 AM.
General Admission begins at 1 PM.
Admission Price:
General Admission: $45 early bird (’til March 1), $ 50 (’til April 5), $55 at the door. 1 PM-5 PM
VIP Admission (with 6-course mead pairing): $120 online. 11 AM to 5 PM. (100 available until sold out.)
Included With General Admission: One taster glass and unlimited tasters. Please Drink Responsibly.
Included With VIP Admission: One taster glass, unlimited tasters, general admission from 1-5 pm, and the six-course mead pairing from 11 am-1 pm in the rose garden. Please Drink Responsibly.
General Admission and VIP tickets include enjoying live music on the main stage with talented local bands, experiencing mead-making firsthand, and exploring the renaissance of the Viking Village.
Raffle tickets can be purchased to enter to win valuable merchandise! There are dozens of prizes donated by local breweries, homebrewers, mead-makers, and businesses – there’s something for everyone. Buy a ticket and you could be the lucky winner!
All proceeds from ticket sales will help Alta Vista Botanical Gardens to pay for improvements, maintenance, education, and natural resources like water and power. So your purchase not only gives you a chance to win great prizes but also helps to support the gardens. Get your tickets today!
COME JOIN US ON SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025 AT ALTA VISTA BOTANICAL GARDENS IN VISTA, CA. FOR THE LARGEST MEAD FESTIVAL ON THE WEST COAST!!!
Meading at the Garden 2026
Enjoy a delicious 6-course VIP mead pairing featuring prominent fruit and spice themes in the ceremonial rose garden before the event from 11 am-1 pm! (VIP ticket required).
Primer
Tuscan Bruschetta
Toasted Crostini, Heirloom Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Garlic, Olive Oil, Fresh Basil
Twisted Horn Mead & Cider
Starter
Pink Lady Salad
Mixed Greens, Sliced Pink Lady Apples, Manchego Cheese, Shallots, Pecans, Homemade Apple Cider VinaigretteA fresh mix of crisp greens tossed with sweet-tart Pink Lady apple slices, shaved Manchego cheese, delicate shallots, and toasted pecans, all finished with a bright, house-made apple cider vinaigrette.
Batch Mead
Appetizer
Lemon Sorbet
Prime your palate with our Compressed Fruit Ball featuring a delightful blend of fresh, seasonal fruits artfully compressed into a flavorful sphere. Drizzled with a zesty citrus brine, this dish offers a marriage of sweet and tangy notes that awaken your taste buds.
Hidden Hive
Entrée
Tri Tip of Beef au Jus with Demi Glaze Served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Petite Carrots
A tender, slow-roasted cut of tri-tip beef, sliced and bathed in its rich natural jus, finished with a glossy demi-glace for deep, savory flavor. It’s paired with creamy garlic-infused mashed potatoes and sweet grilled petite carrots, lightly charred to bring out their natural sweetness.
Sabre Springs Wine & Meadery
Dessert
Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry and Mint
A light and velvety chocolate mousse, rich and smooth, topped with fresh raspberries for a bright, tart contrast and finished with a touch of cool, aromatic mint.
Lost Cause
Digestif
Raging Cider & Mead
Meading at the Garden 2026
Enjoy a delicious 6-course VIP mead pairing featuring prominent fruit and spice themes in the ceremonial rose garden before the event from 11 am-1 pm! (VIP ticket required).
Primer
Fruta Boule compressée with Zeste Bruine
Hot Sauce: “Apricot Ginger”
Rose Lemonade (Lemon Rhodomel) ABV: 7%
Sour Apple Balsamique with Jalapeno Honey Apple Piquant
Hot Sauce: “Jalapeno Honey Apple Lime”
“Midas Gold” (Wild Hard Cider) ABV: 13.5%
Shrimp Glase Epice with Tamarind Glacage
Hot Sauce: “Habi Mang” (Habanero / Mango)
“Law and Order” (Tropical Melomel) ABV: 10%
Ahi Poele with Wasabi Croute and Filet Mignon with Wasabi-Infused Pomme de Terre
Hot Sauce: “Soy Good Garlic” (Tamari / Fresno / Habanero)
“Sparkling Traditional” (Traditional Mead) ABV: 10%
Strawberry Kiwi Sables with Fresno Pepper Confit
Hot Sauce: “Kiwi Strawberry” (Fresno / Kiwi / Strawberry)
“Strawberry Feels” (Berry Melomel) ABV: 8%
Fresh Local Honeycomb
“Heart of Drakaina” (Tropical Melomel) ABV: 10%
COME JOIN US ON SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2026 AT ALTA VISTA BOTANICAL GARDENS IN VISTA, CA. FOR THE LARGEST MEAD FESTIVAL ON THE WEST COAST!!!
The Meading at the Garden 2026 Event will be held at the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens located in Vista, CA.
Offering fourteen acres of botanicals, art and sculptures mixed together. Our unique approach to Botanical Gardens features a wide variety of plants, walking trails, and event space. Our walking trails display art and sculptures, throughout the 14 acres, from local talent. Our event space is host to many educational and enriching social activities. One of our goals is the protection, preservation and care of various habitats of beautiful and rare variety of plants of the world.
Meading at the Garden 2026
