Internationally Acclaimed Fruitcake Festival

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The Internationally Acclaimed Fruitcake Festival, also called the Independence Fruitcake Festival, is held every December in Independence, California. Independence is a tiny town of about 600 people, located about 250 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The festival celebrates fruitcake with a mix of humor and seriousness and began in 2005, run by the Independence Civic Club, which still organizes it. Most events take place at the Independence Legion Hall.

Each year has a different theme, and attendees are encouraged to dress for it. Past themes include “Back to the Fruitcake,” “Peace, Love, and Fruitcake,” “When You Wish Upon a Fruitcake,” “Fruitcakes in Space,” and “Food of the Pharaohs.” Highlights often include music, a costume contest, and the crowning of the Fruitcake King. The central event is a fruitcake competition open to anyone, with judges awarding prizes for oldest entry, farthest traveled, best on theme, most solids, a judge’s award, and a people’s choice.

Entry is usually by bringing a fruitcake, a carton of eggnog, or a small cash fee. The festival has drawn coverage from NPR, PBS SoCal, The Washington Times, The Inyo Register, The Monterey County Herald, and Atlas Obscura. Country Living magazine called it a not-to-miss event in 2007, and it was later noted as one of Inyo County’s “wacky” attractions at the California State Fair in 2009.