L.A. Marathon
Los Angeles Marathon Race
37 years running on the streets of L.A. Starting at Dodger Stadium and finishing on the Avenue of the Stars in Century City.
Annual event: March
lamarathon.com
Category Archives: Events
National Orange Show
National Orange Show Fair
Since 1911, one of the oldest annual events in California. Celebrating the love of citrus on the West Coast.
Carnival rides, food, vendors,, photography contest, baking contest, home show & local music.
690 S. Arrowhead Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92408
909-888-6788
Annual event; April
San Bernardino CA
nosevents.com
Trinity County Fair
Trinity County Fair
Hayfork Fair
This rural county fair started in 1921 and always held in the small mountain town of Hayfork, which is east of Hwy 299 and up hill from the Trinity River @ Douglas City; Carnival rides, games, exhibits, quilt show, horse show, mule show, rodeo. It’s the biggest thing to look forward to for locals, during the summer.
Annual event; August
530-628-5223
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
Whiskey Flat Days
Parade, Rodeo, Carnival Rides, Frog Jumping Contests, Food & Craft Booths, Epitaph, Costume & Whiskerino Contests, Line Dancing, Gold Panning, Wood Carving, Pet Parade, Blue Grass & Country Western, Art Show, Gunfighters….
Annual event; February
always held on Presidents Day weekend
Kernville Chamber of Commerce
760-376-2629
(866) KERNVILLE
Burning Man
Burning Man
@ Black Rock City, Nevada
for those seeking the wilder side of camping out
Week-long event; Black Rock Desert NV
Everyone (who is anyone) has heard of this massive annual desert party by now. The historic bon fire event that started in Santa Cruz in 1986 and then moved out to the deserts of Nevada. Way north of Reno!
The event is getting bigger by the decades, so expect a mind altering experience with tens of thousands of well-decorated lost souls. Advanced tickets are required.
Art cars, construction, costumes, pyrotechnics, live bands, music DJs, the playa dust & summer desert camping w/ 70,000 other freaks in the temporary set up of Black Rock City.
BRC = Black Rock City
NPR said about Burning Man, “Once considered an underground gathering for bohemians and free spirits of all stripes, Burning Man has since evolved into a destination for social media influencers, celebrities and the Silicon Valley elite.”
Annual event; August
burningman.org
Palos Verdes Street Fair
Palos Verdes Street Fair
& Music Festival
PV Street Fair
The Annual Palos Verdes Street Fair & Music Festival, takes place in June. The seaside fair is the biggest event on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
With more than 200 arts & crafts booths, carnival rides for all ages, continuous live entertainment on 2 stages, an International Food Court & Beer Garden, a children’s petting zoo and kid-friendly activities, the fair promises to be loads of fun for everyone.
Tribute bands bring back the sounds of pop, country, Latin, jazz & rock groups. Sunday Jazz Festival features legendary jazz artists & high school jazz groups. Proceeds from the Fair support the Chamber’s student & educational scholarships, free business success seminars & environmental groups. Free music, free parking, free admission.
Norris Center @ Deep Valley Drive
annual event: June
310-377-8111
palosverdeschamber.com/pv-street-fair
Camarillo Fiesta & Street Fair
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
camarillofiesta.org
Black Cowboy Parade
Black Cowboy Parade
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
blackcowboyassociation.org
Redwood Wild River Run
Wild River Run in the NorCal Redwood
RWRR is the 5k and 15k run in Northern California. All ages run with a nice route that follows the wild Smith River before entering the ancient redwood groves of Jedediah Smith State Park.
Redwood Wild River Run
707-464-3779
Annual event: March
rwrr.org
Wooden Boat Festival
Newport Beach California hosts a Wooden Boat Festival w/ Character Boat Parade in mid summer. More than 60 classic & contemporary wooden pleasure crafts. Model boat building contest, exhibits, lectures, food, entertainment.
POSTPONED to 2023
Annual event; July
714-673-5070
Gasquet Raft Race
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
gasquetraftrace.com
Tulare County Fair
Tulare Fair
Tulare is located in the California Central Valley (the “bread basket”) – so summers can still be quite warm, or should we say HOT, even in September.
Big county fair for this farming region. Agriculture shows, auctions, destruction derby, exhibits, competitions, 4H livestock, parade, rodeo, tractor pull and much more. Don’t miss the delicious Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler Cook-Off and the Tri-Tip Cook-Off. Carnival rides and carnival games too.
Annual event; September
Tulare County Fair Assoc.
620 South K St.
Tulare, CA 93274
559-686-4707
tcfair.org
La Honda Fair
La Honda Fair & Music Festival
Nearly 30 years running the La Honda Fair and Music Festival is located in the Santa Cruz redwoods. Music, arts and crafts.
Annual event: September
8865 La Honda Road (Hwy 84)
La Honda, CA
facebook.com/La-Honda-Fair-Music-Festival
Brea Fest
Brea Fest
Annual food & art festival is one of the most popular events; includes performances by 2 professional bands, dancers, magicians & street performers, as well as an art exhibit and artist demonstrations. A family area features musical performances for kids, hands-on art projects and face painting. Food and beverages are served by 30+ area restaurants.
Brea Civic & Cultural Center
1 Civic Center Circle
Brea, California
Annual event; August
714-990-7771
Brea, CA
ci.brea.ca.us/448/Annual-Events
Lighted Tractor Parade, Calistoga
Calistoga’s Lighted Tractor Parade
Napa Wine Country Holidays
Annual event: December
Calistoga, CA
707-942-6333
visitcalistoga.com
Lighted Tractor Parade is an old-fashioned, small-town Christmas celebration in Napa Valley’s wine country. Family fun for everyone!
Bracebridge Dinner, Yosemite
Bracebridge Dinner
at The Ahwahnee Hotel
Yosemite Valley, California
Celebrated annually since 1927, the Bracebridge Dinner transforms The Ahwahnee Dining Room into a Old English-era hall boasting Christmas cheer, beautiful music and a gourmet seven-course meal. The inspiration for this yuletide ceremony was Washington Irving’s Sketch Book that described Squire Bracebridge and English Christmas traditions of that period.
The Bracebridge Dinner is an elegant and artistic four-hour pageant of classic carols, Renaissance rituals and entertainment of the Middle Ages. More than 100 players create the roles of the Squire and his family, their servants, the Lord of Misrule, minstrels and other performers. The Ahwahnee Dining Room serves as the Great Hall and stage for the festivities and is decked with magnificent wreaths, an elaborate squire’s table, large banners and traditional Yuletide decorations.
Annual event, multiple nights: December
travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/specialty-events/holiday-events
Death Ride
3 Sierra Passes: DeathRide Bike Race
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
deathride.com
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.
Lassen County Fair
Lassen County Fair
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
lassencountyfair.org
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
