56+ years running, the Borrego Days Desert Festival is held in no other than, Borrego Springs California. Live music, food, arts & craft, car show & parade.
Annual event; October
760-767-5555
Western Sierra. The sleepy foothills town on Hwy 190, Springville California, holds their annual Apple Festival near the Tule River & the Sierra Nevada mountains. Enjoy apple burritos, apple pies, apple tamales and apple cobblers!
Craft and food vendors, costume contest. 5k & 10k runs (Apple Run) Celebrating 40 years on this local event.
Annual event; October
One day event
559-202-6904
Take a scenic drive and see the back roads near Lake Casitas, where numerous avocado orchards grace the hillsides. This coastal Avocado Festival has evolved into one of the largest festivals within California; Three full days of fabulous food, terrific music, & family fun. Held in Carpinteria, just south of Santa Barbara, CA
Annual event; October
805-684-0038
Northern California’s biggest motorcycle event. Live music, food, games and a whole lotta bitchin bikes!
Annual event; October
The Oakland Black Cowboy Association is best known for the Black Cowboy Parade & Festival, the only celebration of its kind in the U.S.A. This parade is held in memory of the black cowboys that helped to settle the American West.
Annual event; October
One day event
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
Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is a lively street fair along Lost Hills Road; Games & Rides at Juan Bautista De Anza Park, 3701 Lost Hills Rd, Calabasas, California
Annual event; October
818-222-5680
30 years running, this Redondo Beach event is a hot hit, especially for beach-goers near Los Angeles, California
3 day event held at the Seaside Lagoon next to King Harbor, just north of the Redondo Beach Pier. Live music, entertainment, lobster recipes, celebrity chefs, craft beer, kids activities and vendor booths.
Annual event; October
310-376-6911
Decades running! California Lobster Festival each Autumn in the Santa Cruz mountains. This Lobster Fest is always held at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, in Felton, CA
Annual event; October
831-335-0782
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
To preserve the Hmong cultural heritage, promote collaboration and understanding among the Hmong people and other ethnic groups, and to build social bridges with the international community.
Originally commissioned as a simple means to fund-raise for and manage the annual Hmong new year festival at the end of the traditional harvest season during late October, HINYF has evolved over the years to become one of the leading contributors to the welfare and progress of the Hmong people in the United States.
Fresno, CA
Annual event: October
One day event. Paso Robles Pioneer Day was established in 1931, providing a day of community friendship and a commemoration of the heritage of the north county San Luis Obispo area.
Annual Event: October
805-238-2038
Sonoma 4H club may have started this event in the wine country town of Cloverdale, but now there are numerous locations holding scare crow related autumn festivals and contests. An amazing amount in fact!
Cannot find the Cloverdale event? Neither can we, so we’ve searched high and low to locate many more – all inside California. Go support the locals and enjoy a fun day of Scarecrows, food, music, games, arts and craft sales.
Annual event; October
Aptos, CA
Scarecrow Contest – aptoschamber.com/event
Arroyo Grande, CA
Harvest Festival – agharvestfestival.com
Auburn, CA
Harvest Festival – auburnrec.com
Benicia, CA
Scarecrow Contest- beniciamainstreet.org
Big Bear Lake, CA
Big Bear Village Scarecrow Festival –
bigbear.com
Cambria, CA
Scarecrow Festival – cambriascarecrows.com
Cost Mesa, CA
Scarecrow Festival – costamesaca.gov/scarecrow
Fallbrook, CA
Harvest Faire & Scarecrow Days fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org
Ripon, CA
Scarecrow Fest – riponchamber.org/scarecrow-fest
Ukiah, CA
Country PumpkinFest – facebook.com/UkiahCountryPumpkinFest
Valley Center, CA
Pumpkin Festival Craft Fair – batesnutfarm.biz
Winsor, CA
Pumpkin Jamboree – windsorfarmersmarket.com/calendar
Winters, CA
Scarecrow Fest – winterschamber.com/chamber-calendar
San Luis Obispo, north county Atascadero holds this annual event called Colony Days every autumn. Parade, vendors, tent city and a cool band festival.
Atascadero CA
Annual event; October
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
Showcases hundreds of films from around the world. Food and wine parties.
Annual event; October
MBFair
Manhattan Beach Fair is every October & a great day to go out to the beaches of Los Angles County. Weekend festivities begins with a 10k race and a parade. Music, vendor booths, art exhibits, food & wine/beer.
This Los Angles county beach destination has been doing this event for 45+ years! Since this is LA and parking is horrible, shuttles are available from Aviation Avenue.
Annual event; October
Lakehead on Lake Shasta is the place for this annual fishing derby.
Annual event; October
800-953-4432
530-238-2170
Near 40 years running, this small town festival in Napa’s wine country is quite a draw for locals and families. One day event!
Annual event; October
707-944-8851
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
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
Arts and crafts, games, shows and Tea with the Queen. This ever popular Gilroy area Ren Fair got so large in recent decades, they had to move it to a new nearby facility.
Located 2 miles east of the junction of Highway 152 & Highway 156 (easily accessible from I-5 or US Hwy 101)
Casa de Fruta
Entertainment Complex @ Gate 6
10031 Pachecho Pass (Hwy 152)
Hollister, CA 95023
Annual event; September & October
408-847-3247
This one is a huge deal in the Los Angeles area. 4×4 extremes – in every direction. Tons of offroad industry vendors, displays, demos, and custom rigs and hot chicks in skimpy shirts for your viewing pleasure. Drool over every suspension, roll cage and locker. Lucas Oils is the big sponsor and this event is held annually, Family Events off road expo, summertime, air conditioning, in gorgeous Pomona.
Annual event: October
Pomona, near Los Angeles, California
Event not held in Silverado Canyon, but close enough. A local, long running tradition for this urban region. Chili cook off & car show, carnival rides & games are just part of the fun this weekend in Buena Park California. The good times can be found at William Peak Park in Buena Park, CA.
Annual event; October
Each Autumn monarch butterflies invade the Pacific Grove region of California. A sanctuary has been established along this coastline.
Annual event: October
831-648-5716
cityofpacificgrove.org/visiting/monarch-butterfly-sanctuary
Amazing autumn colors can be found through OCTOBER and NOVEMBER in California, but you’ll need to leave the city in order to find the very best colors and scenic beauty. Fall season happens quickly (within weeks) in the high country and slower (months) in the lowlands. Plenty canyons and parks in the urban centers have hiking trails thru some nice trees, but nothing compares to the backroads, creeks and rivers of the big mountains.
Elevations, the higher the better, is where you’ll find the real displays of color. Aspen groves can be found along mountain slopes, creek canyons from 5000′-10,000′ in elevation. Cottonwood trees are found in the drier regions, in ranching areas and in desert canyons – up to about 6000′ elevation. Aspen trees start to turn yellow as soon as the chill of nights drop; if the temperature shift is subtle, the aspen leaves become more orange as the days go into the fall season. If an early snow or freeze happens, just one night, the glorious foliage becomes dead brown crispies dangling in the wind.
CAMP FIRE RESTRICTIONS are still be in place from the dry summer, and now comes the autumn winds. Any decent amount of rain can change the fire burn status, so make sure to check with the rangers for up-to-date fire info.
Many of these campgrounds are located in or near aspen groves & are simply spectacular during the fall months. Some may be located near alder groves. Maple trees located along rivers turn golden between September and October.
Higher elevation (7000′-9000′) colors will change faster and earlier in the year (as soon as September), whereas the lower countryside may wait until late October.
Pack warmly, cuz the cooler temps at night (20-30 degrees) is what makes these awesome, little autumn leaves change colors. The change can happen very fast (in days). When the early season snows move in – usually a minimal dusting by October, fall colors can fade fast.
has minimal fall colors.
Big Bear Lake, CA
Lake Arrowhead, CA
Ojai Camping – Wheeler Gorge
Sespe Hot Springs (hike-in access only)
have a few aspen groves and several cottonwood canyons.
Aspen Hollow Campground NFS
Giant Sequoia @ Hume Lake, CA
near Kings Canyon NP
Big Meadows Campground NFS
Stanislaus National Forest
Arnold, CA
Dinkey Creek Campground NFS
Sierra National Forest
Shaver Lake, CA
Ponderosa, CA
Quaking Aspen Campground
Quaking Aspen Cabin
Giant Sequoia National Monument
Wishon Reservoir
Lily Pad Campground
Sierra National Forest
Yosemite National Park
Tuolumne Meadows, Hwy 120
Yosemite Valley Campgrounds
Kirkwood, CA
Blue Lakes Road
Carson Pass CA Highway 88
The North Sierra Nevada Mountains covers the region with Lake Tahoe and Donner Pass, and north Gold Country. River canyons with fall colors include American River, Yuba River, and the Feather River.
Aspen Group Campground
@ Jackson Meadows Reservoir
near Truckee, CA
Berry Creek, CA
Milsap Bar, Middle Fork of the Feather River
Bucks Lake, CA
Haskins Valley & Grizzly Creek Campground
Oro-Quincy Highway – Plumas NF
Downieville, CA
Yuba River Campgrounds
Hope Valley, CA
Hope Valley Campground
The Eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada is the ‘place to be’ for Autumn Colors in California. The dramatic desert meets the tallest granite peaks. Every canyon is a different scene, many lakes lined with aspen groves, some have a creek with aspens.
Aspendell, CA
North Lake Campground
Lake Sabrina Road
Bishop Pass (high country hikes)
Bishop, CA
Bishop Creek, Hwy 168
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest – both Silver Canyon and
Cottonwood Creek have aspen trees. (both are 4×4 roads)
Bridgeport, CA
Green Creek Road w/ signage for
Dunderburg Meadow
Twin Lakes
Hoover Wilderness (high country hikes)
Independence, CA
Onion Valley Campground
Kearsarge Pass (high country hikes)
June Lake, Califonia
June Lake Loop #1S63 / CA Highway 158
Lee Vining, CA
Lee Vining Canyon / Hwy 120
One of the biggest aspen grove canyons in the state of California.
NFS Campgrounds in Lee Vining Canyon: Big Bend, Aspen Grove, Boulder, Moraine, and Cattleguard Campground.
NFS Camps @ Yosemite’s EAST GATE (9000′ elev): Ellery Lake, Junction, Saddlebag Lake, and Sawmill Campground.
Lundy Lake
Virginia Lakes
Trumbull Campground
Lone Pine, CA
Alabama Hills has a few cottonwoods.
Whitney Portal has some alder trees and a few aspens.
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Red’s Meadow Campground
Devils Postpile NM
Laurel Lakes Road (rough dirt road)
Convict Lake
Tom’s Place, CA
McGee Creek Campground
Impressive Rock Creek Road #4S12 in Rock Creek Canyon, one of the very best “Scenic Autumn Drives” in the whole Eastern Sierra. Numerous NFS Campgrounds on this road; many of which close for the season, just about the time then fall colors peak.
Rock Creek Lake Campground @ 9600′ elev
Iris Meadow Campground @ 8600′ elev
The “North State” primarily has the big river canyons, most of which have fall colors. Eel River, Klamath, Yuba River, Feather Rivers.
Blue Lake Campground
South Warner Mountains
Modoc National Forest
South Warner Mountains
Road 64 Modoc NF
Eagle Lake
Aspen Grove Campground (walk-in camp sites)
Susanville, CA
Sundial Bridge, over Sacramento River
River RV Parks
Redding, CA
Mount Shasta, CA
(downtown of Mt. Shasta City)
McBride Springs Campground
(slopes of Mount Shasta)
Lake Siskiyou
Beach Camp Resort & RV Park
4239 W. A. Barr Rd
Mount Shasta CA
530 926-2610
McCloud, CA
McCloud Falls, South of Mount Shasta
Algoma Campground
McCloud Creek, South of Mount Shasta
MacArthur-Burney Falls State Park
Dusty Campground
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen National Forest
Lassen Camping
Lassen Lakes
Susanville, CA
Bizz Johnson Trail
Roxie Peconom Campground
Siskiyou Autumn Colors
(still to come)
An autumn meteor shower peaks in late October & perfect for planning a camping trip, cabin weekend or fishing trip around it. Eastern Sierra Nevada destinations are wonderful at this time of year, as fall colors w/ aspens peak as well. Look in the southeastern part of the nights sky these shootings stars, up to 12 per hour. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.
Annual event; October
How to best view a Meteor Shower
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A small but impressive State Historic Park located in downtown Weaverville, a small Northern California town located near the Trinity Alps Wilderness and the Trinity River. 
This darling park is only open Thursday through Sundays (mid day) and tours can be arranged. A one room museum tells the story of the Chinese miners who came to the Trinity River region in search of gold. The neighboring temple is a historic masterpiece and has been preserved for all to enjoy. The wooden building has withstood deep snow falls and logging trucks rumbling by on the highway a block away. Neighboring museums, outdoor displays and lush creek side parks make for ideal picnic spots.
Moon Festival, Weaverville, CA
Annual “Moon Festival” at this park location in October.
Weaverville Joss House.
Not to be confused w/ the Chinese Josh House in San Francisco.
This Pumpkin Festival is the one in Half Moon Bay, up near San Francisco. Been running nearly 50 years. Traditional, wholesome, family fun outdoor weekend on the coast near the Bay Area. Plenty of Campgrounds and Lodging nearby for visitors.
Annual event; October
The Heritage Days is held at McArthur-Burney Falls State Park. On the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend, the park hosts Heritage Day, featuring demonstrations and recreations of activities and crafts common to people during the late 19th century.
Annual event; October
530-335-2777
