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
For the Funk of It Music Festival
Northern California’s premier all funk music festival; 7 years running. Camping near North Feather River @ Highway 70.
3 days and 3 nights
annual event: August
Lake Concow, CA
Lake Concow Campground
Pacific Islanders of the San Francisco Bay Area offer talents in music & dance during this 2-day festival of arts. Entertainment highlights include Pacific Islander music as well as Polynesian dance. The festival will also feature arts & crafts vendors, island cuisine, educational exhibits and workshops, and games for the kids! Located at the San Mateo County Event Center.
Annual event; August
San Mateo, CA
Three weekends of fun, music and merriment. An authentic re-creation of an English Summer Faire. Visit an exciting, vibrant village where you can experience a joust, strolling entertainers, stage performances, beautiful handcrafts, delicious food and drink, children’s area and the spirit of the days of William Shakespeare and the Renaissance.
Meadow Park
41276 Park Ave.
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
Annual event; August
909-237-0448
If you find yourself traveling through the giant Mojave desert during the day, keep Calico Ghost Town in mind. Whether you are headed to Vegas or Utah, you can always take a “stretch break” from the freeway driving, to see the historic cemetery, grab a bite to eat or browse gift shops. Calico is an old, abandon, mining camp turned into a commercialized theme park – just a few exits after Barstow, on Interstate 15.
Numerous festivals are held annually at this historic silver mining camp in the desert.
FEBRUARY Calico’s California Days
educational displays about California’s history, games and contests for the entire family, live entertainment, a chuck wagon chili cook-off and more.
SEPTEMBER Calico Days
a weekend experience revisiting life in the Old West during the 1800s. We line up gun-fighting shows and musical entertainment along with other festivities, including a miner’s triathlon, burro race, costume contest, pie-eating contest and loads of activities for the kiddos.
OCTOBER Calico Ghost Haunt
trick-or-treating, costume contests, pumpkin carving, kids’ carnival tent, live entertainment stage shows, scare sets and haunted attractions; plus a Campsite Decorating Contest.
DECEMBER Holiday Fest
decorated for the holiday season, this iconic ghost town features dining, shopping and costumed characters, as well as live music
San Bernardino County, California
36600 Ghost Town Road
Yermo, CA 92398
760-254-1123
3-day Waterfront Festival is held in Benicia California
Live musical entertainment, micro brew beers, a wine garden, specialty foods, & open-air marketplace. Benicia celebrates its picturesque waterfront locale with two days of live music, arts & crafts marketplace, craft beers and premium wines, delectable gourmet foods, and kids’ activity area.
Annual event; July
707-745-9791
Fallbrook Avocado Festival, a one day celebration; Fantastic street fair featuring three hundred vendors, three areas with music, farmers market, art village, children’s events, and lots of guacamole!
NO PETS allowed in the festival areas.
Annual event; April
One day event
760-728-5845
![Avocado Festival @ Fallbrook [Apr 2016]-0093](https://live.staticflickr.com/1591/26496966525_08e9457f67.jpg)
Since 1979, the well-known Gilroy Garlic Festival is one of the biggest events of this agricultural coastal area. Near Monterey Bay ; Not too far from the beaches of Santa Cruz.
Annual event; July
Gilroy Garlic Festival Association
408-842-1625
Every August Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol, California provides a beautiful location for an annual celebration of Sonoma County agriculture. The Gravenstein Apple Fair, sponsored by Sonoma County Farm Trails, showcases the best in arts, crafts, food, wines and brews, games, entertainment and farm life activities.
Annual event; August
707-837-8896
Yucaipa’s hidden secret – rural area of OAK GLEN, is a apple orchard canyon near the Inland Empire.
After the harvest is finished and the apples have all been picked from the trees – celebrate the coming winter with a historic festival that traces its roots back to the 16th century.
Los Rios Ranch holds the annual Apple Butter Festival & Apple Butter Hoedown on Thanksgiving weekend.
Annual event: November
Northern Gold Country, Grass Valley is the home to this huge event. California WorldFest features several stages of music & dance from around the world; Camping with family & friends, workshops, international food, local crafts, yoga. Celebrate mid-summer under the pine forests of the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Nevada County Fairgrounds
Annual event; July
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
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 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
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
San Diego hosts a Latin American Festival to celebrate Hispanic culture. People can take in a variety of demonstrations, entertainment, & feast on Mexican cuisine at this free weekend event.
Bazaar del Mundo’s annual festival presents one of the nation’s most extensive collections of authentic Mexican folk art, traditional clothing and textiles, colorful collectibles and dazzling jewelry, plus entertainment and Mexican cuisine.
Annual event; August
619-296-3161
Bazaar del Mundo
Old Town San Diego
Located in the California Central Valley farming region in Lodi, California. Carnival games, rides, entertainment, livestock & animals, wine tasting, square dancing, arts & crafts.
Annual event; September
209-369-2771
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 –
Weaverville Chamber of Commerce & E Clampus Vitus (ECV #62) present NorCal’s summertime CarShow in Weaverville, a highlight of the Trinity River region. This classic auto display is held at a beautiful small town location & it’s been running for years. Event festivities spread out between the SuperMarket parking lot and Lee Fong Park, near downtown Weaverville, California; Camping & fishing are superb in these forests at this time of year. Make a long weekend of it!
Enjoy raffle prizes, Clamper breakfast, raffles, vendors, VFW Tri-Tip Lunch, Music, Shuttle Service to Historic Downtown Weaverville beginning 10 am Saturday.
This auto show event may have been previously referred to as “Car Show in The Park”
Annual event; June
530-623-6101
weavervillecarshow.com
Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Festival
The very busiest weekend to visit the Downieville – Yuba River canyon region, so consider yourself warned.
Bicycle Expo & Street Fair on Saturday and Sunday. Live music & dancing. Big Air River Jump, plus, race cross country style or the infamous Downieville Downhill. Shuttle service available.
One of the biggest mountain bike events on the west coast. Located deep in the heart of Northern Gold Country, along the Yuba River & historic Highway 49. Camping options available in every direction. The small historic hotels book up well in advance.
Annual event; July
A one day event in Fortuna @ Rohner Park. This beer festival is the premier beer festival on the North Coast. Local microbrews from the region – Eel River, Mad River, Six Rivers and Lost Coast brewing companies, along with other Northern California and Oregon breweries.
Annual event; August
Fortuna, 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
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
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
MLFF: Mammoth Lakes Film Festival
#mlfilmfest
A multi-day festival that screens independent features and shorts in the spectacular setting of Mammoth Lakes and the ruggedly beautiful Eastern Sierra. Traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend. There used to be a “Mammoth Mountain Film Festival”, but I guess this event replaces it.
Annual event: May
on Memorial Day weekend
Mammoth Lakes, 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
BIRDERS unite under the Pacific Flyway
20+ years running, the Snow Goose Festival’s mission is to increase public awareness, understanding, appreciation and conservation of the diverse wildlife and unique habitats of the northern Sacramento Valley.
Workshops and field trips; advanced reservations online
Annual event; January
530-592-9092
California’s San Luis Obispo used to have one event called “Sunset Savor the Central Coast” and it was geared around fine food and wine. Now this popular, tourist county has a culinary event every single month, all year in various wine cities and small towns .
Annual event: all year long
San Luis Obispo County, California
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
This is a Greek Festival in the Balboa Park area of San Diego, on Park Blvd @ corner of Cypress. Greek Orthodox church, Saint Spyridon, holds this very popular food & dance festival during “June Gloom”. If it’s sunny, it’s a rare treat. But you’ll be heated up on the dance floor learning all those traditional Greek dances, right?
Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church
3655 Park Boulevard
San Diego, California 92103
Annual event; June
619-297-4165
San Diego’s first mission celebrates the annual Festival of the Bells. Located in Mission Valley @ Mission San Diego de Alcala, 10818 San Diego Mission Road
Annual event; July
619-283-7319
A 2 month long celebration of artists on the Orange County coast. Laguna Beach host the ever popular Sawdust Festival of Arts for over 56 years. Live music on 3 stages, roving musicians & circus acts. Local artists, food & open art galleries.
Annual event; July-August
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
This used to be an annual event, but now it seems Mendo is promoting MUSHROOMS year round with various events, at different locations. Held in the redwoods region, each Autumn on the North Coast of California.
Annual event; November
707-937-4000
FORT BRAGG California
MENDOCINO, California
WILLITS, California
mendocino.com/taste-mendocino.html
MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIF. – Every November, as the flavors of fall arrive in Northern California’s Mendocino County so does the annual crop of coveted candy cap, chanterelle, porcini and morel mushrooms. Straddling historic Highways 1 and 101 with nearly 2,500 sq. miles of live oak, pygmy forests and stately redwood groves, the region is a natural hotspot for some 3,000 mushroom varieties. The annual haul is nothing short of historic, nurturing nirvana for local mycologists, chefs and fungi foragers. Add to the mix a cache of artisan chefs, 95+ wineries, a formidable craft beer and hard cider scene and the annual salute to Mr. Fungi sprouts into action.
Visitors can tap into a variety of adventures from mushroom hunts by horseback, foraging excursions, Pinot and porcini menus, educational seminars, art exhibits. The annual Skunk Train trek and cook-off deep in the depths of the Noyo River forest are always a popular attraction.
Regional hotels and restaurants offer special menus and packages throughout November.
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
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
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
every autumn at Old Mill Park
This Fall Arts Festival is long running and highly competitive art festival that attracts hundreds of artists, many local and some from as far as Hawaii and New York. Thousands of art lovers come from all over the Bay Area to this beloved festival to stroll through the redwood park and discover treasures under the trees: sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, textiles, woodwork – over 15 media categories that are sure to appeal to all artistic tastes. The festival represents the finest collection of arts and crafts in the country to view and purchase.
Annual event: September
415-381-8090
Old Mill Park,
320 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA
Feather River Fish Hatchery, Feather River Nature Center and Riverbend Park
On the Feather River between Historic Downtown Oroville and the Fish Hatchery, the town bursts with fish-flavored activities during the annual Salmon Festival. Friday night starts @ Feather River Nature Center for dinner & dance. Saturday brings on the fun, food, music and vendors on Main Street. Lots of great local info – salmon recipes, water/drought, fishing and environmental issues. Big pancake breakfast, a farmer’s market, live music, a craft fair, clowns, rides for the kids. Hatchery tours. The Bounty of Butte County will be located atop Myers Street, next to the Municipal Auditorium leading into Salmon Court. FREE to attend and tastes sold as desired. There will be food demonstrations, local food vendors, restaurant tastings and so much more.
Annual event; September
530-538-2542
Designed to demonstrate where our food and drinks come from, the Farm-to-Fork Festival has proven to be one of the Sacramento region’s most popular events. The free event, hosted on the city’s iconic Capitol Mall boasts an exciting selection of farm-to-fork offerings that are produced and available in the Sacramento region. Attendees will find food, wine and beer from regional eateries and purveyors, as well as farmers markets, live music, cooking demonstrations, local grocers, farms and ranches, vendor booths and much more.
Annual event: September
916-808-7777
Northern California. Held at the Mendocino Fairgrounds, Boonville in Anderson Valley, California
Apple Tasting, Rodeos, Car Shows, sheep dogs, carnival games and rides, located in between wine country and the redwood coast.
Annual event: September
Boonville, CA
707-895-3011
San Diego holds a couple of Greek Festivals during the year & this one is located in the North County Coastal area of Cardiff. Greek food, live music, dancing and marketplace. Saints Constantine & Helen Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Ave. Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
Annual event; September
760-942-0920
Celebrating 50+ years of traditional Scottish games, music & dancing. Highland dancers, Irish step dancers, pipe band competitions, British food & crafts, Scottish athletic competitions. This Monterey event is held on the beautiful grounds of the Hyatt Regency Monterey.
Celtic Concerts; Monterey County Celtic Week; Monterey Bay School of Piping & Drumming.
Annual event; July
Ukiah holds the Redwood Empire Fair every August at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds. This one is the biggest fair in the region for summer fairs and events.
1055 North State Street
Ukiah, California
Annual Event; August
707-462-3884
Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Scotts Valley Sky Park is the place to be in late summer for a wine festival – with artwork displays.
Annual event; August
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
Annual Santa Barbara French Festival coincides with France’s Bastille Day Weekend. 40 acts on 3 stages. The Largest French Celebration in Western US. A great weekend for fabulous food, dancing, and a celebration of everything French.
Annual event; July
An abundance of tasty citrus, from fresh fruit samples offered by local growers to market products featuring the Sierra foothill’s mandarin oranges. Thousands of filled orange mesh bags await and jams, jellies, infused olive oils, balsamic vinegar, barbecue sauces and body care products are all available for purchase. Visitors are delighted to discover that the food vendors offer everything from mandarin pizza to mandarin glazed wings, mandarin doughnuts and mandarin pulled pork, just to name a few.
1273 High Street, Auburn CA
916-663-1918
Annual Event; November
AUBURN CA
Redwood forests with sweet tunes out-of-doors, at the river.
THIRTY YEARS running – this is an epic NorCal summertime music event. The celebration of reggae music in Northern California, at French’s Camp – right on the Eel River. Glorious surroundings, excellent redwoods camping all over the region!
Annual event; August
707-923 3368
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
40+ years running, this small mountain town fair is a local favorite in Frazier Park, California. Family fun and festivities include a parade, live local bands, carnival & rides, vendors, dances, pet show and maybe even a fishing derby.
Annual event; August
Mountain Memories Association
P.O. Box 858, Frazier Park, CA 93225
661-623-2340
The Yurok Tribe hosts the annual Klamath Salmon Festival. Native American salmon barbeque plus Native American arts and crafts, Indian stick games, warrior contests, parade with Yurok drums and dancers.
Klamath Salmon Festival
Annual event: August
Held @ the Klamath Township,
Hwy 101 S, Klamath CA
707-444-0433
yuroktribe.org
Mendocino Music Festival is a summer festival featuring orchestral and chamber music, opera, jazz and big band.
Annual event; July
707-937-2044
Many old west towns are still in existence in California, but few are as unique as the Randsburg Mining Camp in the Northern Mojave desert, where Hwy 395 meets the 14. The sleepy desert town is a hub of activity ( on weekends) for car clubs, dirt bikers, of-roaders & travelers passing through. Mid week you’ll see the locals and fewer tourists.
This high desert annual event is on the third Saturday in September every year, music street fair is the biggest day of the year for local residents & tourists alike. Historic sights, donkeys, horses, cowboys, live music, food & all the fun you can imagine in the middle of nowhere. One day only!
Sponsored by the Rand Desert Museum
Annual event: September
760-793-3147
