Category Archives: May

Competitions, Cycling Race, May

Kinetic Sculpture Race

Friendly Giraffe

Kinetic Grand Championship

since 1969

Ferndale to Arcata – 50 mile route
Humboldt County, California

Kinetic Sculpture Race is an organized contest of human-powered amphibious all-terrain works of art. The original cross country event, the World Championship Great Arcata To Ferndale Cross Country Kinetic Sculpture Race

Also called the “Triathlon of the Art World” because art and engineering are combined with physical endurance during a three-day cross country race that includes sand, mud, pavement, a bay crossing, a river crossing and major hills.

Annual event: May
Memorial Day weekend

Arcata, CA
Ferndale, CA

kineticgrandchampionship.com

Kinetic Sculpture Race - And They're Off

Cycling Race, Events, May

Borrego Double Century

borrego bike race

Borrego Double Century Ride

Anza Borrego desert annual bike event, riding from the desert to the coast and back. North San Diego County

500 rider limit
Total Mileage: 193 miles
Total Elevation: 14,400 feet

start & ends @
Stanlunds Inn
2771 Borrego Springs Rd.
Borrego Springs, California 92004
760-767-5501

Lunch at the beach – Oceanside, CA

Annual event; May

Borrego Springs CA

mtnhighcycling.com/Borrego_Double_Century

race lunch

Events, Festivals, May, Wine/Beer/Culinary

Asparagus Festival

Deep-fried Asparagus

Stockton Asparagus Festival
San Joaquin Asparagus Fest

A 3-day, multi-event, food, and entertainment festival, which celebrates asparagus. Live music, cooking, wine, beer, crafts. Bring your family and friends and enjoy Asparagus Alley, Deep Fried Asparagus & Asparagus Ice Cream, Craft Beer and a Wine Pavilion, Kids Zone with carnival rides and games, monster truck rides, vendors, and much more.

San Joaquin County Fairgrounds
1658 S Airport Way
Stockton, CA 95206

Annual event;  May
916-370-3647

visitstockton.org/events/san-joaquin-asparagus-festival

DSC04259.JPG

Events, May, Music

California Roots Reggae Festival

California Roots Music & Art Festival
Cali Roots: California Roots Fest
Reggae Festival

11 years running, this huge reggae concert festival is 4 days long and held at the coastal bay of Monterey. Featuring the largest amount of top reggae artists in one single event in California.

California Roots Music and Arts Festival has always been rooted in a genuine enthusiasm for an experience that stimulates all senses through a release of creativity that can be heard, felt, seen, and embodied. Camping options.

What started in the early years as an opportunity for painters to create art on stage during the music performances has evolved into interactive art experiences for fans and artists alike scattered throughout the venue via the Art Retreat, Interactive Art Stations, Paint Workshops and a Festival Fashion Zone. Plus yoga sessions every morning!

Monterey County Fairgrounds
2004 Fairground Rd
Monterey, CA 93940

Annual event: May
4 Day event

Monterey, CA

californiarootsfestival.com

California Rivers, Events, May, Music, Street Fairs

Waterfront Days Old Sacramento

Sacramento Waterfront Days

Sacramento Gold Rush Days in Old Town is now
“Waterfront Days Old Sacramento”

3-day event takes place on Front Street, The Embarcadero, and the 1849 Scene all along the wonderful Sacramento River. The heritage celebration features a wide variety of crowd-favorite entertainment, all free to experience and enjoy.

Annual event: May

oldsacramento.com/event/waterfront-days

 

Old Sac Waterfront Days

Competitions, County Fairs, Events, Horse/Rodeo, May

Los Angeles County Fair

The Fun Starts Here

LA County Fair

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

Los Angeles CA

lacountyfair.com

Events, May, October, Street Fairs

Lodi Street Faire

Sliver Budda

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

LODI, CA

lodichamber.com/lodi-street-faire

 

Adam Messinger & Ramon Villalobos @ The Lodi Street Faire

Lodi Street Faire 2013

Events, Festivals, May, Parade

Lilac Festival

PMCpark

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

Pine Mountain CA

pmclilacfestival.com

 

lilacsPMC

California Coast, Events, May, Music, Street Fairs, Wine/Beer/Culinary

Fiesta Hermosa Beach

CIMG1647

Fiesta Hermosa
Hermosa Beach Street Fair

This long running beach block party is always held on the extended Memorial Day Weekend – kicking off the summer months. 3 days of live music, art, food & fun.

Annual event; May

HERMOSA BEACH CA

fiestahermosa.net

 

IMG_0432

Cycling Race, Events, May

Climate Ride in California

Climate Ride 2012

California Climate Ride

This cycling event has now morphed into multiple events at various locations.

Green Fondo, California

Annual charity bike ride where folks ride a few hundred miles over days, learn about clean energy, support a great cause, and have fun cycling. Bike route changes every year.

San Francisco Bay Area / Santa Cruz Mountains

Redwood Glen, Loma Mar, CA
Annual event: May

climateride.org

Climate Ride 2012

Climate Ride 2012

Climate Ride 2012

Events, Festivals, May, Music, Parade

Mule Days Celebration

Bishop Mule Days 2016-2

Bishop Mule Days

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

muledays.org

Bishop Mule Days 2016-11

Bishop Mule Days 2016-28

Events, May, Wine/Beer/Culinary

West Coast Brew Fest

West Coast Invitational
a Craft Brew Experience

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

SACRAMENTO CA

westcoastinvitational.beer

Auto Show/Race, Events, May

Mountain Cruisers Car Show

Mountain Cruisers Burney Car Show

30 years running, the Mountain Cruisers Car Show is held near Burney California – in the mountains east of Redding. The Lassen National Forest is an awesome place for waterfalls, hiking, camping and fishing. So basically, you can camp out and get some small town entertainment at the same time.

Held at –
Pit River Casino
530-339-6270
559-859-6751

Annual event; May

Burney, California

facebook.com/Mountain-Cruisers

Approaching the town of Burney

April, Events, June, March, May, Nature

California Wildflower Blooms

Lupine Oroville
Wildflowers in California 

Wildflowers bloom all over California – from the desert in winter months, to the High Sierra in mid summer.  Remember that the timing is everything, since most of these precious, delicate beauties only last a week or so. Out there alone, all day in the bright sunshine, whipping in the seasons strongest breezes. Flora!Ocotillo Joshua Tree

The higher the elevation, the later the bloom.
Lower elevation deserts begin to show as early as February and higher elevation peaks thaw in May. Wilderness meadows and flowers can be found in the mountains in summer. Generally in California, Springtime – between MARCH and JUNE is the best viewing time.

Places to find Wildflowers in California

West coast wildflower blooms in relation to elevation; Order of bloom is typically

  • low deserts (FEB)
  • high deserts (APRIL)
  • river canyons
  • central valley
  • mountain foothills (MAY)
  • coastal foothills
  • mountain forests (JUNE)
  • high altitude meadows
  • mountain lakes
  • mountain peaks (JULY)

some recent finds:

Carrizo Plain Super Bloom – W of Taft, CA

Klipstein Canyon, Kern County @ Hwy 166Gorman Post Road

Cottonwood Canyon
W of New Cuyama, CA

School House Canyon
W of New Cuyama, CA

Figueroa Mountain Rd – Los Padres NF @ Santa Ynez, CA

Table Mountain – Cherokee Road, N Oroville, CA

 

Box Canyon @ Mecca, California

Turtle Mountain Road, Needles, CA

Mill Creek, Lassen NF

Lassen Peak Lupine Way HikeNPS
Lassen NP (mid-to-late summer)

Lassen Peak Lupine Summer Hikes

more pages on wildflowers –

California Wildflowers

California Golden Poppies

Poppy Reserve Antelope Valley, LA Co.

Poppy Stompers

popstrollin

Anza Borrego Desert Wildflowers

Mojave Desert

April, Back Roads, California Deserts, Campsites, Campspots, February, Hiking, March, May, Sightseeing, Trailheads, Washes, Wildflowers

Anza Borrego Desert Wildflowers

Borrego Blooms

Barrel Cactus Anza

By far one of the best viewing areas for native California desert flora in the whole state. Autumn rain amounts determine the next year’s Spring bloom. If it rained real good all over SoCal before New Years Eve, chances are better for a favorable showing of color.

Low elevations, washes, badlands, dry lake beds bloom first in February, followed by March for mid altitude canyons and mountains. Highest desert peaks may not bloom until May.

Some of Total Escape favorite spots include:

S-2 Great Stagecoach Route of 1849

Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Anza Ranger 760-767-5311

Coyote Wash Blooms

April is usually the best month for the wildflowers; it is also the prime time for Spring Break camping. Open car camping for free – all over this huge California State Park. The tourists typically head over to the town of Borrego Springs, to Borrego Palm Canyon and the visitors center; but the REAL wildflowers are along remote stretches of highway, and on the DIRT BACK ROADS. Many roads are passenger car accessible, for at least the first mile, so don’t think you must have a 4×4 vehicle for just simple exploring.

Coyote Ocotillo Garden

California Rivers, Events, May, Wildflowers

Memorial Day California

Memorial Day Trips


Late May is a fine time to be in California. Spring is warming up, rains are fading and school is finally out. This 3 day holiday weekend known as Memorial Day weekend, unofficially kicks off the start to the summer season and launches us into warmer weather. Most folks wanna be outside and having fun on their days off. BBQs, family picnics and street fair traditions are quite common. The Sierra snows are melting fast, rivers are raging, wildflowers blooming and all the lakes are full. The coastal areas may have some clouds and fog as the June Gloom announces its presence.

Memorial Day Weekend

Camping in California is one of the most popular things to do over the busy holiday weekend, making any well-known outdoor destination congested and unpleasant. Campgrounds are usually full up and reservations are required. The first come, first serve camp spots are best secured on the Thursday night, before the weekend.

You should try to have a secondary Plan B ready, if your favorite campsite (A) is already taken. Free camp fire permits and primitive camping can often mean more responsibility, but the rewards of peace and tranquility as neighbors are well worth it. Drive a bit further down the road for more secluded spots. This year, a 4×4 might be recommended on snowy dirt back roads in the backcountry. A good snow pack in the High Country means that all rivers, creeks and lakes are maxed out. Use extreme caution around all waterways, wear life vests and make your weekend a pleasant and safe one.

RIVER CAMPING
LAKE CAMPING
GOLD COUNTRY
SEQUOIA CAMPING
CA BACK ROADS
CREEKSIDE CAMPS

Memorial Day California

day trips for the weekend

Stanislaus River

Celestial, Events, May, Nature

Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower

What in the hell is an “Eta Aquarid”? It’s a meteor shower in the Springtime; This annual meteor shower peaks in early May. Look in the northeast part of the nights sky for these shootings stars, up to 20 per hour – if you can handle the chilly nights. Most California deserts are prime star gazing spots. Pre-dawn viewing is always best for meteor showers.

Annual event; May

How to best view a Meteor Shower

Anza Borrego Stargazing
This is one of Jan Alexander’s photos from the Hollywood & Vine of Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Events, Festivals, May

Cinco de Mayo

Mexican celebration of the 5th of May. This seems like another pseudo-holiday that got taken over by the beer manufacturers & their marketing departments. In California you’ll see poster advertisements on every cantina window months in advance. This is not Mexico’s Independence Day, as many so erroneously think. More information on the holiday Cinco de Mayo, see below –

http://www.vivacincodemayo.org/history.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo

Various Cities & Towns in California
Some of the events to mention –

Los Angeles @ Olvera Street; 213-628-1274
http://www.cincodemayolosangeles.com

San Diego Old Town – Fiesta Cinco de Mayo
http://www.fiestacincodemayo.com

Santa Barbara  Festival
http://www.cincodemayosb.com