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
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
Also known as the Northern California Cherry Blossom Street Fair. Japanese street festival and parade in downtown San Francisco.
Annual event; April
Living History in Downtown Placerville, California
Historic Gold Country. Walking parade, re-enactments, costumes encouraged. Street dance party (5pm). Live music all day, food, drinks, games. Free admission.
Annual event: June
Saturday 2-8 pm, One Day event
530-391-2190
3rd Saturday in March
#MID- MURPHYS IRISH DAY
One of the premier annual events, where thousands of people gather in the historic gold rush town of Murphys Camp to honor its Celtic heritage – and to celebrate as only the Irish can.
Parade, live music, jugglers, antique cars, horses, bagpipes, with village shops and restaurants all open. The picturesque Main Street is filled with booths offering handcrafted items, original art, photographs, tasty food, wine, and beverages.
Sponsored by the
Murphys Business Association
Annual event: March
One day event
#gocalaveras
#visitgoldcountry
Numerous locations hold historic themed street fairs, parades and festivals in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
this list is only a partial list, and more will be added soon
Arnold Independence Day Parade
Grass Valley Cornish Christmas
Murphys Homecoming & Duck Races
Nevada City Constitution Day Parade
NOTE: The Gold Rush Days in Old Town Sacramento is now called “Waterfront Days Old Sacramento”
listed alphabetically
listed from north to south
Plumas National Forest
Tahoe National Forest
Eldorado National Forest
Stanislaus National Forest
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Sierra National Forest
since 1959
also known as the
Castroville Artichoke Festival
Artichoke cooking demonstrations by local celebrity chefs, A bountiful farmer’s market with freshly harvested produce from Monterey County and beyond, An agricultural education exhibit, Live entertainment on two stages, Plenty of family-friendly fun activities
Artichokes prepared in some of your favorite ways, including the fan-favorite — fried baby artichokes! Plus, steamed, grilled, and in unique forms such as lumpia, burritos, sausage, cupcakes and even ice cream.
Artichoke eating and harvest contests, arts and crafts vendors, a family fun run on Sunday, and our ever popular wine tasting event, featuring the wines of small production, boutique wineries from around California.
Monterey County Fair & Event Center
2004 Fairground Rd.
Monterey, CA 93940
Annual event; June
888-808-7707
Parade & Celebration of the Apple
Ives Park
Veterans Memorial Building
282 High Street
Sebastopol, California
Annual event; April
707-823-3032
This community event is always a crowd-pleaser, with everything from parades to pie eating contests. The AG Harvest Festival serves as a tribute to agriculture, Arroyo Grande’s leading industry. This festival focuses on the local non-profit organizations that serve the community. Bring the whole family for all of the weekend festivities.
Annual event: September
Annual rodeo running 65+ years in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Held before the heat of summer, during the spring. Slogan is the “Biggest Little Rodeo in the West”
Annual event; April
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
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
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
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
Annual event: December
Calistoga, CA
707-942-6333
Lighted Tractor Parade is an old-fashioned, small-town Christmas celebration in Napa Valley’s wine country. Family fun for everyone!
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
Auburn is home to the Gold Country Fair every September. 4-day event w/ parade, pony rides, carnival rides & games, entertainment.
1273 High Street
Auburn, CA 95604
Annual event; September
530-823-4533
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 –
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
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
Join old-fashioned fun in the sun all weekend in the Shasta area! McCloud’s Main Street Parade, vendor’s booths, nightly dance w/live music, baseball tournament, children’s events, horseshoe tournament, logging competitions, food, family games.
2022 marks the 75th anniversary for this event!
Annual event; July
530-964-2718
Local farmers and ranchers parade fancifully decorated tractors and tractor-drawn wagons depicting holiday scenes down the Victorian Village’s historic Main Street. Sparkling country Christmas celebrations include the Tallest Living Tree Lighting, shopping and dining downtown. Romantic Christmas destination on the Northern California Redwood Coast!
Annual event: December
Ferndale, CA
707-786-4477
For over 70 years this small town along Interstate 5 has celebrated their olive harvest with an annual festival. Parade, food, bed races & olives. Recently added car show!
Annual event; August
530-824-5550
Eureka, Northern California
BIG RIGS: The 18-wheelers stretching as long as 60 feet, include some with special parade additions that might be tacked on: bandstand platforms, dancing reindeer, flying fish, you name it. Join in this Eureka tradition, and you’ll never think of Jingle Bells in quite the same way again. The parade starts at 6 pm at Redwood Acres and goes to about 8:30 pm.
Presented by Rex and Friends
707-599-4171
Annual parade kicks off the Elks Lodge traditional rodeo – in the agricultural mecca of Santa Maria, on the California Central Coast. 79 years running!
Annual event; June
Hosted by Santa Maria Elks Lodge
805-925-4125
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
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
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
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
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
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
St. Anthony of Lisbon Portuguese Celebration
Pismo has loads of things to do in summer. Saint Anthony’s celebrates the cultural contribution of the area’s Portuguese descendants. Event held at 390 Bello St. Pismo Beach, CA
Annual event; August
805-773-0527
San Diego Parade of Lights
San Diego Bay
San Diego, CA
619-224-2240
www.sdparadeoflights.org
OceansideParade of Lights
Oceanside CA
Oceanside Yacht Club
www.oceansideyc.net
Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights
Dana Point, CA
949-923-2255
www.danapointharbor.com
Cruise of Lights Boat Parade
Huntington Beach, CA
www.cruiseoflights.org
Christmas Boat Parade & Fireworks
Newport Beach, CA
100 years running!
www.christmasboatparade.com
Naples Christmas Boat Parade
Belmont Shores @ Naples Canals
South Long Beach, CA
www.naplesca.com
Long Beach Parade of 1000 Lights
Downtown Shoreline Marina
Shoreline Yacht Club
Long Beach, CA
www.shorelineyachtclub.com/event
LA Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade
Long Beach Area
San Pedro, CA
310-549-8111
www.portoflosangeles.org/community/calendar
Redondo Beach Christmas Boat Parade
Redondo Beach King Harbor @ Los Angeles
Redondo Beach, CA
King Harbor Yacht Club
310-376-2459
www.khyc.org
Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade
West Los Angeles California
Marina del Rey, CA
www.mdrboatparade.org
Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade
West Los Angeles
Venice Beach, CA
310-809-8100
www.venicechristmasboatparade.com
Oxnard Parade of Lights
Marine Emporium Landing
Oxnard, CA
805-985-5828
www.marineemporiumlanding.com
Ventura Parade of Lights Boat Parade & Fireworks
Ventura Harbor Village
Ventura, CA
805-477-0470
www.venturaharborvillage.com
Santa Barbara Parade of Lights
Santa Barbara, CA
805-963-0611
www.santabarbaraca.gov
Morro Bay Christmas Boat Parade
Morro Bay Embarcadero
Morro Bay, CA
805-772-4467
Bethel Island Lighted Boat Parade
San Joaquin Boat Parade @ the California Delta
Bethel Island, CA
San Joaquin Yacht Club
925-684-9985
www.sjyc.org
Fisherman’s Wharf Lights & Sights Boat Parade
Pier 39, Aquatic Park
San Francisco, CA
415-673-3530
www.visitfishermanswharf.com
Oakland Lighted Yacht Parade
Alemeda Estuary
Oakland, CA
925-413-3845
www.lightedyachtparade.com
Petaluma Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
Petaluma River Turning Basin
Petaluma, CA
707-769-0429
www.visitpetaluma.com
Santa Cruz Harbor Boat Parade
Santa Cruz Harbor
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Yacht Club
831-425-0690
www.scyc.org
Sausalito Lighted Yacht Parade
Sausalito Yacht Club
Sausalito, CA
415.332-7400
www.sausalitoyachtclub.org
Delta Reflections Lighted Boat Parade
McCloud Lake @ Downtown Waterfront
Stockton, CA
Marine West Yacht Club
209-477-7653
www.mwyc.org
A ‘continuous motion’ holiday parade that highlights youth groups, sports groups, schools, businesses, first responders and other organizations from Seal Beach and surrounding coastal areas. Seal Beach is located in between Long Beach and Newport Beach on the Los Angeles coastline.
Annual event: December
Seal Beach, CA
sealbeachlions.org/christmas-parade
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
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
For over 100 years Pacific Grove has celebrated its history & culture with a summer festival called the Feast of Lanterns. This Festival has lantern parade to the beach and fireworks over the Monterey Bay; A community event filled with entertainment.
Annual event; July
Over 50 years of summertime celebrations in the Southern Sierra town of Tehachapi CA. Festival includes arts & crafts show, food, entertainment, carnival, 5K & 10K run, parades, car show, rodeo, gem & mineral show, quilt show, VFW dinner and dance, pancake breakfast.
Annual event; August
661-822-4180
Since 1921 Fortuna has hosted a week long rodeo in Northern California.
Annual event; July
FORTUNA CA
San Francisco Gay Pride Parade & Festival
Annual event: June
The Strawberry Festival is always held Memorial Day weekend. A parade highlights Saturday’s festivities as it winds its way to the festival grounds; Garden Grove CA
Annual event; May
