Held in the hills above Redding in the mountain town of Burney. The impressive volcanic Lassen forests, with small town events like Burney Basin Days draws tourists from near & far.
Parade, fireworks, craft fair, breakfast and lunch, car show, bed races, horseshoe throwing competition and a cornhole tournament. Plenty of great camping all around this location. The few local motels fill up fast during summer months.
Annual event; July
The oldest continually operating rodeo in California. US Highway 101 near the redwoods.
Annual event: June – July
3 weekends long, ending on July 4th
707-459-6330
The Amador County Fair is an annual event held each summer in the Gold Rush Country of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain foothills.
209-245-6921
Annual Event; July
PLYMOUTH CA
Celebrate Freedom and Independence Day lakeside under giant shady oaks with three great musical acts on an afternoon of music, food & drinks! General Admission is free to the music festival. If you want to be closer to the music there is a reserved VIP area and VIP Plus to get into the front row. ?Don’t forget to bring your low back chair or blanket.
Atascadero Lake Park
Annual event: July
One day event, always held on Fourth of July
3-day Waterfront Festival is held in Benicia California
Live musical entertainment, micro brew beers, a wine garden, specialty foods, & open-air marketplace. Benicia celebrates its picturesque waterfront locale with two days of live music, arts & crafts marketplace, craft beers and premium wines, delectable gourmet foods, and kids’ activity area.
Annual event; July
707-745-9791
Cal Expo & State Fair
For over 165 years, the California State Fair has showcased the progress and advancements of agricultural industry. 17-day event with carnival rides & games, numerous exhibits, livestock, plus local wines, cheeses, craft beers, cannabis, olive oils, and fine arts.
1600 Exposition Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95815-5199
916-263-3000
Annual event; July
Sacramento CA
In 1854 the first California State Fair was held in San Francisco.
Travel was a hardship for many in those days so organizers arranged for the Fair to move locations each year. Sacramento, San Jose, Stockton, and Marysville hosted the Fair for the subsequent four years. Pioneer residents quickly recognized tremendous riches in the fertile soil and so California’s number one industry, agriculture, was born. The Fair was the yearly source of entertainment and education for early settlers, drawing huge crowds of as many as 15,000 on a single day.
When the Fair returned to Sacramento in 1859, a decision was made to find a permanent home. Sacramento was a bustling city with more than 2,500 buildings and a newly installed water system using two and a half miles of pipe. Six square blocks between E and H Streets from 20th to 22nd Streets were bought with monies raised through a special election and contributions from local citizens. This site was called Capitol Park. One aspect of those early Fairs that deserves special mention is the significance of the horse.
Flight of the Lasers
(EVENT RENAMED)
50+ year old event. Flight of Newport is a Southern California sail boat race near Newport Beach, CA
Annual event; July
Since 1979, the well-known Gilroy Garlic Festival is one of the biggest events of this agricultural coastal area. Near Monterey Bay ; Not too far from the beaches of Santa Cruz.
Annual event; July
Gilroy Garlic Festival Association
408-842-1625
Northern Gold Country, Grass Valley is the home to this huge event. California WorldFest features several stages of music & dance from around the world; Camping with family & friends, workshops, international food, local crafts, yoga. Celebrate mid-summer under the pine forests of the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Nevada County Fairgrounds
Annual event; July
The Camarillo Fiesta Street Fair is renowned for the wide variety of entertainment and attractions. Big, local event which includes carnival rides, a street fair, petting zoo, concerts, and even an art show.
Annual event; July
Mid summer in Northern Cal & the small town of Gasquet, near Klamath River, is holding its annual rafting celebration.
Race or not. Decorated rafts, floating, paddling the middle fork of the Smith River, all the way from the Horace Gasquet Bridge to Shady Bend Park. July is the time for fun in the sun & the water, with BBQ, local breweries featuring their stuff, craft vendors, plus tons of fun for the families. 52+ years running!
Gasquet Raft Race
707-457-3064
Annual event: July
A summer tour of the California Alps in a High Sierra 129 mile long cycling course. This is one of the premier cycling events – held for more than 30 years!
Climb 15,000+ feet in elevation. Monitor Pass (8314′); Ebbett’s Pass (8730′); Carson Pass (8573′)
Annual event; July
Markleeville CA & Monitor Pass (Hwy 89) are south of Lake Tahoe, connecting US Highway 395 to the upper alpine heights of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Car camping spots and backpacking in this region are located near the aspen groves, lakes, creeks or pine forest.
Summer is prime tourists season here; Grover Hot Springs State Park is nearby, so is a bunch of lakes & creeks inside the Toiyabe National Forest / Carson District.
The NorCal event Lassen County Fair is held in Susanville California. Carnival rides, destruction derby, ranch rodeo, arts & craft vendors, food, & plenty local music too. This whole Northern California region is awesome for summer camping & fishing, so make a week of it & enjoy the natural scenery, outdoor recreation & this annual county fair.
Annual event; July
530-251-8900
The annual Century Bike Ride is held each year in the shadows of Mount Shasta & Mount Lassen. This rural event, located in the volcano lands of California, is limited to 500 riders. Early registration is strongly suggested. Pancake breakfast before the race & a big dinner afterwards.
200K, 100 Mile, 100K, and 25 Mile Rides
Event will showcase local farm products like beer, beef and wild rice. Live music, local artists will have displays.
Annual event; July
July 4th marks the busiest summer week in California. It’s mid Summer for most school kids. The golden state has its biggest increase of visiting tourists during this month too, along with the local residents traveling on seasonal road trips. Plenty of traffic, be warned.
Camping July 4th means EVERYBODY and their GRANDMOTHER will be outside this weekend. The majority of big family camp-outs and social BBQ events take place — on this very summer holiday weekend. Backpackers and serious car campers are on the road well ahead of time – headed for wilderness destinations.
Stay away from the biggest campgrounds and tourist traps, unless you are into that. Head for the back country for optimal seclusion, flowing creeks and coolest lakes.
City Fireworks & Parade Events can be found on various city web sites or chamber of commerce sites, which you can easily access through Total Escape.
Fourth of July is also known as Independence Day, with celebrations in almost every major city & some notable small towns. City parades, firework displays, live music, streets fairs, BBQs, crafts, beach bon fires & in certain beach towns, total utter chaos. Below is only a sampling of popular July 4th events within California. Firework shows are so common that we are not listing most of them.
Street Fairs, Rodeos & Festivals on July 4th –
Music Festivals on July 4th –
Independence Parades –
Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Festival
The very busiest weekend to visit the Downieville – Yuba River canyon region, so consider yourself warned.
Bicycle Expo & Street Fair on Saturday and Sunday. Live music & dancing. Big Air River Jump, plus, race cross country style or the infamous Downieville Downhill. Shuttle service available.
One of the biggest mountain bike events on the west coast. Located deep in the heart of Northern Gold Country, along the Yuba River & historic Highway 49. Camping options available in every direction. The small historic hotels book up well in advance.
Annual event; July
5 years running on the Central Coast. Held in downtown Paso Robles City Park, in north San Luis Obispo County.
Producers from all over California, Olive Oil Tasting, Culinary Row, Wine & Beer Tasting and now with lavender!
Annual event: July
805-238-4103
Huntington Beach host the annual surfing contest. Top surfers from around the world, a mix of action sports superstars of skate, BMX and freestyle motocross, as well as top musical talent – all combined in a festival atmosphere for a week-long youth cultural experience that will thrill and excite hundreds of thousands of spectators in beautiful Huntington Beach.
Annual event; July
San Diego Hillcrest comes alive with festivities & a huge parade. Nearly every hot bod in town can be found walking the streets (shirt-less). Expect the largest crowd; like 300,000 people – all out enjoying the great summer weather in Southern California.
Annual event; July
Salinas is home to the annual California Rodeo. Over 100 years on this event, a very popular family attraction in these parts. One of the top 20 professional rodeos in the United States and the largest rodeo show in California. Parade, concerts, horse show, motocross, carnival rides, games, food.
Annual event; July
