Hot Air Balloon Festival
Northern California
Annual event: May
inter-mountainfair.com
Category Archives: May
Kinetic Sculpture Race
Kinetic Grand Championship
since 1969
Ferndale to Arcata – 50 mile route
Humboldt County, California
Kinetic Sculpture Race is an organized contest of human-powered amphibious all-terrain works of art. The original cross country event, the World Championship Great Arcata To Ferndale Cross Country Kinetic Sculpture Race
Also called the “Triathlon of the Art World” because art and engineering are combined with physical endurance during a three-day cross country race that includes sand, mud, pavement, a bay crossing, a river crossing and major hills.
Annual event: May
Memorial Day weekend
kineticgrandchampionship.com
Borrego Double Century
Borrego Double Century Ride
Anza Borrego desert annual bike event, riding from the desert to the coast and back. North San Diego County
500 rider limit
Total Mileage: 193 miles
Total Elevation: 14,400 feet
start & ends @
Stanlunds Inn
2771 Borrego Springs Rd.
Borrego Springs, California 92004
760-767-5501
Lunch at the beach – Oceanside, CA
Annual event; May
mtnhighcycling.com/Borrego_Double_Century
Asparagus Festival
Stockton Asparagus Festival
San Joaquin Asparagus Fest
A 3-day, multi-event, food, and entertainment festival, which celebrates asparagus. Live music, cooking, wine, beer, crafts. Bring your family and friends and enjoy Asparagus Alley, Deep Fried Asparagus & Asparagus Ice Cream, Craft Beer and a Wine Pavilion, Kids Zone with carnival rides and games, monster truck rides, vendors, and much more.
San Joaquin County Fairgrounds
1658 S Airport Way
Stockton, CA 95206
Annual event; May
916-370-3647
visitstockton.org/events/san-joaquin-asparagus-festival
California Roots Reggae Festival
California Roots Music & Art Festival
Cali Roots: California Roots Fest
Reggae Festival
11 years running, this huge reggae concert festival is 4 days long and held at the coastal bay of Monterey. Featuring the largest amount of top reggae artists in one single event in California.
California Roots Music and Arts Festival has always been rooted in a genuine enthusiasm for an experience that stimulates all senses through a release of creativity that can be heard, felt, seen, and embodied. Camping options.
What started in the early years as an opportunity for painters to create art on stage during the music performances has evolved into interactive art experiences for fans and artists alike scattered throughout the venue via the Art Retreat, Interactive Art Stations, Paint Workshops and a Festival Fashion Zone. Plus yoga sessions every morning!
Monterey County Fairgrounds
2004 Fairground Rd
Monterey, CA 93940
Annual event: May
4 Day event
californiarootsfestival.com
Waterfront Days Old Sacramento
Sacramento Waterfront Days
Sacramento Gold Rush Days in Old Town is now
“Waterfront Days Old Sacramento”
3-day event takes place on Front Street, The Embarcadero, and the 1849 Scene all along the wonderful Sacramento River. The heritage celebration features a wide variety of crowd-favorite entertainment, all free to experience and enjoy.
Annual event: May
oldsacramento.com/event/waterfront-days
Los Angeles County Fair
LA County Fair
Los Angeles County Fair is held several miles from downtown LA; at the Pomona Fairgrounds (off Interstate 10). Concerts, carnival rides & games, exhibits, horse shows, home & garden shows, arts & crafts. Big event for the county of Los Angeles.
NOTE 2022:
The LA Fair has permanently moved to the month of May
Annual event; May
909-623-3111
lacountyfair.com
Valley Flower Festival
Lompoc Valley Flower Festival
60+ years of this local Flower Festival. Parade, carnival, arts & crafts.
Annual event; May
805-735-8511
Lompoc Valley Festival Association (LVFA)
414 W. Ocean Ave
Lompoc, CA 93436
lompocvalleyfestivals.com
Lodi Street Faire
Lodi Street Fair, Central Valley California
This event is held twice a year & sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce. Held in Downtown Lodi, this is a one-day event focusing on food and vendors.
The Street Faire takes up a 14-square block area of Lodi. Over 500 vendors participate in this bi-annual event, selling antiques, arts & crafts and commercial items.
While shopping, visitors can satisfy their appetite with their choice from 25 food vendors offering everything from hamburgers, to hot dogs, sausages, to pizza. Mexican, Chinese and Filipino dishes are also available for those craving a more international fare. And, no faire is complete without sweet treats and cold drinks.
Bi-annual event; May & October
209-367-7840
lodichamber.com/lodi-street-faire
Lilac Festival
Mountain lilac bushes bloom annually in the mountains of Southern California. Over 30 years of local mountain fun and flora in PMC.
Festivities begin on Saturday morning with a Lilac Festival Parade down Mil Potrero Hwy. Helicopter rides, arts & crafts booths, food vendors, golf tournament, horseshoe tournament, live music and entertainment. Located in the Pine Mountain Club Village Center, inside Los Padres National Forest.
Annual event; May
pmclilacfestival.com
Fiesta Hermosa Beach
Fiesta Hermosa
Hermosa Beach Street Fair
This long running beach block party is always held on the extended Memorial Day Weekend – kicking off the summer months. 3 days of live music, art, food & fun.
Annual event; May
fiestahermosa.net
Climate Ride in California
California Climate Ride
This cycling event has now morphed into multiple events at various locations.
Green Fondo, California
Annual charity bike ride where folks ride a few hundred miles over days, learn about clean energy, support a great cause, and have fun cycling. Bike route changes every year.
San Francisco Bay Area / Santa Cruz Mountains
Redwood Glen, Loma Mar, CA
Annual event: May
climateride.org
Mule Days Celebration
Bishop Mule Days
Eastern Sierra tradition dating back to 1969
Bishop California host the infamous Mule Days Celebration. Always Memorial Day weekend . Mules compete in events. Part mule show, part test of skills, and part Wild West. Thursday night concert, featuring Country Music stars, the longest running non-motorized parade on Saturday morning, Steer roping and penning, and the Packer’s Scramble.
Annual event; May
Memorial Day weekend
BISHOP CA
muledays.org
West Coast Brew Fest
West Coast Invitational
a Craft Brew Experience
The name of the event has changed, but the location is still the same.
An annual celebration of the West Coast heritage of the microbrew revolution, featuring tokenless (unlimited) Microbrew Tasting of over 140 different beers from over 70 breweries, along with live music and great food and awesome people! WCBF holds a BCJP-sanctioned Commercial Craft Competition two weeks prior to the event and winning breweries will be displaying their award-winning brews at the festival. A complete list of breweries attending will be available online two weeks prior to the event.
Miller Park, Downtown Sacramento
2790 Marina View Drive
Sacramento, California 95818
Annual event; May
916-924-3836
Woodlake Lions Rodeo
Woodlake Lions Rodeo, Mother’s Day Weekend, near Sequoia National Park. 67 years running!
Woodlake Lions Rodeo Grounds
19400 Avenue 398
Woodlake, California
Annual event; May
559-564-8555
Mountain Cruisers Car Show
Mountain Cruisers Burney Car Show
30 years running, the Mountain Cruisers Car Show is held near Burney California – in the mountains east of Redding. The Lassen National Forest is an awesome place for waterfalls, hiking, camping and fishing. So basically, you can camp out and get some small town entertainment at the same time.
Held at –
Pit River Casino
530-339-6270
559-859-6751
Annual event; May
facebook.com/Mountain-Cruisers
Strawberry Festival Oxnard
30+ tears running. The Annual California Strawberry Festival gets underway mid-May, at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard (3250 South Rose Avenue). Live music, over 300 Arts & Crafts vendors, 50 food booths; Strawberry Promenade, Star Berry Hunt, & Strawberryland.
Annual event; May
castrawberryfestival.org
Great Western Bicycle Rally
Paso Robles Cycling Festival
Central Coast Bike Race / Bike Rally / Bike Ride
This bicycle event has been held 40+ years & is a major Memorial Day weekend event for the Central Coast wine country. Rides from 5 to 100 miles! Vendor Market Place, Bike Swap and BBQ
Annual event: May
866-909-4927
greatwesternbicyclerally.com
Redding Rodeo
Porterville Fair
Porterville Country Fair
Before the heat of summer sets in, this Country Fair featuring livestock, exhibits, carnival rides; Look forward to a Pie Eating Contest, or better – the Greasy Pig Contest. Whooo hoo!
Annual event; May
559-781-6582