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
Mammoth Lakes area has several festivals throughout the year; a few ski and snowboard competitions, as well as mountain bike races. Mammoth is the outdoor recreation hub of the Eastern Sierra.
This summer mountain festival revolves around beer and live music, in the best spot to be in California’s 100+ degree hot weather – at 7000′ elevation, in the cool, pine forest (with refreshing lakes nearby).
Mammoth Blues Brews Fest
Annual event: AUGUST
this festival is now known as the Surf ‘n’ Suds Beer Festival or shorter the Surf Beer Fest
Over 70 craft breweries, ciders, kombucha, seltzers, and wine. Surf ‘n’ Suds includes live music, street fair vendors and food trucks. Surfboards shapers, local non-profits, plenty of shade and free water stations.
San Buenaventura State Beach
901 San Pedro Street
Ventura, California
Annual event; October
One day event
805-323-5691
Napa Valley Chamber Music Festival. Music in the Vineyards is held in Yountville California. Napa wine country.
Annual event; August
707-258-5559
Where the traditions and lifestyles of the vaqueros blend with traditions and lifestyles of cowboys who worked there way west from Texas, Arizona and Nevada. Live music, concerts, great food, wine and beer.
Annual event: November
Monterey, CA
831-649-5080
San Luis Obispo holds the annual classic music event called Festival Mozaic. Five centuries of music on the Central Coast of California.
Festival Orchestra: Mozart in the Mission – Old Mission San Luis Obispo
MOZART…Festival Mozaic features the rich legacy of the enduring universality, creativity and spirit of one of the greatest musicians the world has known. Impeccable and spirited performances by the Festival’s guest artists and musicians, all masters of the classical style, bring Mozart’s timeless masterworks to life.
Experience the best of the world’s musical influences with orchestral performances, chamber music, world music, jazz, and informative and educational musical experiences that will broaden your horizons.
Ongoing events and concert, all year long
Reyes Adobe Days is held in the City of Agoura Hills, California. Carshow, parade & 5k run. The parade starts at Forest Cove Lane and travels along Thousand Oaks Boulevard to the Reyes Adobe Historical Site.
Families can experience California culture, past and present, with free museum tours, a music stage, interactive historical demonstrations, children’s history scavenger hunt, horse competition, pony rides, inflatables and carnival games, Victorian games, beer garden and food vendors.
30400 Rainbow Crest Drive
(next to Reyes Adobe Park)
Agoura Hills, California
Annual event; October
818-597-7361
4 days of live music on the North Coast of California, with 8 Stages and 40 bands. Featuring Dixieland, Blues, Zydeco and so much more. From the Arkley Center to the historic Eureka Theater we invite you to enjoy great music in our extraordinary venues. Free shuttles.
NOTE: event has recently moved from the month of March to September
Annual event; September
707 445-3378
Nevada City’s Constitution Day Parade has been a local tradition since 1967 and is reported to be the oldest and largest Constitution observance in western America.
A parade, Revolutionary War Days Reenactment in Pioneer Park, the Gold Country Duck Race on Deer Creek and a free outdoor big band concert in the downtown historic district of Nevada City, Gold Country California. This place is known for its classic small town spirit and unique events, with a population of 3000, Nevada City swells to 10,000 or more on Constitution Day. Shuttle, Noon to 6pm
Annual event: September
530-265-2692
nevadacitychamber.com/nevada-city-events/constitution-day-parade
Catalina Island & Avalon are known for this event world wide, held at the Avalon Casino Ballroom. 3 weekends long! This music event has been running 35 years & has some big sponsors from Los Angeles Jazz Radio.
Annual event; October
866-872-9849
AVALON CA
Catalina Island
Held along Palmetto Avenue in Pacifica, is a weekend arts and crafts fair with over 190 arts and craft booths, live entertainment, plenty of tasty food and drink to please any appetite. Since 1986!
Annual event; September
650-355-4122
A good ole country style fair in the heart of SoCal. The 40th+ annual event, music and art festival in Silverado Canyon, Orange County. Explore the wonders of canyon history and culture, music, tasty food, handmade arts and crafts, games and silly contests, all nestled under the oak trees below the infamous Saddleback Mountain. Wild West theme! Folk, Country, Bluegrass, and Classic Rock bands will entertain through 2 days.
Annual event: October
714-649-2411
714-649-2820
25+ years of Salsa @ the annual Oxnard Salsa Festival, on the Ventura coastline. Spicy food, hot music & cool ocean breezes welcome you to the regions biggest Latin celebration. Salsa tasting & competition. Live music, dancing & great Mexican foods.
Annual event; July
The Rivertown Jamboree is a music festival on the California Delta Waterway. Boat races, jet ski races, car shows.
Annual event: April
Antioch, CA
925-757-0972
Main Street in Kelseyville comes alive,w/ this family-focused event to showcase the areas history, agritourism, local businesses, craftsmen and community services. This is a fun filled day that starts off with a home town parade. Festivities include three stages with musicians, dancers and cloggers; horse demonstrations; antique car, engine and tractor shows; quilt shows; art shows and an entire pavilion devoted to all things ‘pear.’ Food vendors offer an array of scrumptious selections. Wine and beer tasting along with pear margaritas round out the choices. Pear pies and desserts always sell out.
Annual event; September
(one day only)
707-279 9022
Mendocino Music Festival is a summer festival featuring orchestral and chamber music, opera, jazz and big band.
Annual event; July
707-937-2044
Often misspelled as Cochella; Coachella, California is a small, agriculture desert town just east of Indio, way out past the green lawns of Palm Springs CA. Date palm groves, on the north edge of the Salton Sea. No one had ever heard of this area before the large, commercial, music festival took over. This concert event is a SoCal ritual for Spring, out in the desert east of Los Angeles; it attracts thousands every year with top performers always headlining.
Coachella Valley Music
Annual event; April
www.coachella.com/
50 years running, the Topanga Banjo & Fiddle Contest is one of L.A.’s most unique folk fairs & music festivals.
Topanga Canyon
Annual event: May
818-382-4819