Tag Archives: live music

Adams Avenue Street Fair

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Adams Avenue Street Fair

One of the largest FREE music street fairs in California. Over 90 live music acts on 7 stages, 4 beer gardens, Giant Carnival rides and 300 craft & food vendors.

Two day Music Festival covers many blocks of Adams Avenue, only a few miles from downtown San Diego. Held in late summer near 35th Street to 32nd Street. Adams Ave Street Fair is Southern California local fun.

Annual event; September

San Diego, CA

adamsavenuebusiness.com/event-info/adams-avenue-street-fair

Adams Avenue Street Fair

Adams Ave San Diego

Jan Alexander took this image in 2007, when he visited San Diego & Jeannie.

Banana Festival

Healthy Banana and Friends!

Sac Banana Fest
Sacramento Banana Festival

Held in Sacramento @ William Land Park

5k run/walk on Saturday and a Kids Banana Split Eating Contest. Enjoy a day filled with fun, food, live entertainment, and exhibits. The event benefits the National Academic Youth Corps, which provides art and educational programs for young people in Sacramento, as well as over a dozen other worthy local charities.

Annual event: August
916-800-3478

Sacramento, CA

facebook.com/BananaFestival

Community Drummers

Kids Banana Split Eating Contest

Atascadero Fourth of July

Atascadero Fourth of July Music Festival returns

Atascadero Fourth of July Music Festival

Celebrate Freedom and Independence Day lakeside under giant shady oaks with three great musical acts on an afternoon of music, food & drinks! General Admission is free to the music festival. If you want to be closer to the music there is a reserved VIP area and VIP Plus to get into the front row. ?Don’t forget to bring your low back chair or blanket.

July 4th @ 4 to 8 pm

Atascadero Lake Park

Annual event: July
One day event,  always held on Fourth of July

Atascadero, CA

atascadero4thofjuly.org

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

Placerville Hangtown Days

hangtowndays
2019 photo by Bill Robinson

Hangtown Wagon Train Days

califrepublic

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

Placerville, CA

hangtowndays.org

 

hangtownparade
2019 photo by Bill Robinson

Murphys Irish Day

gocalaveras.com
photo credit Jim Last

Murphy’s Irish Day

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

Murphys, CA

visitmurphys.com/murphys-irish-day

 

Irish Day parade
photo credit Jim Last

#gocalaveras
#visitgoldcountry

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

Avocado Festival in Carpinteria

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The Avo Fest, Carpinteria

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

CARPINTERIA CA

avofest.com

 

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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

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….

Old Kernville Town
Kernville should have never painted this building white.

Annual event; February
always held on Presidents Day weekend

KERNVILLE CA

Kernville Chamber of Commerce
760-376-2629
(866) KERNVILLE

kernvalley.com/news/whiskey.htm

Burning Man

Burning Man 2013

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.

Sunrise Balloon People, Burning Man 2011

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

Burning Man 2013

The Temple of Transition - Burning Man 2011

Original Lobster Festival

Long Beach Lobster Festival

Long Beach Lobster Festival is now held in a new location, and is renamed:

The Original Lobster Festival

This event has been running over 25 years now. This Original Lobster Festival has become a tradition to over thousands of festival goers annually.

The event combines local popular artists, Swing, Salsa, R&B/Motown, Decades 70s/80s Dance Bands. Plus tons of Fresh Live Maine Lobsters steamed in the World’s Largest Cooker prepared and served by a Master Chef for that mouth watering taste, giant food court, children’s area, dance floor, two stages and beach bars to create the largest Lobster Festival outside of Maine.

Fountain Valley Sports Park
16400 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Annual event: September
562-495-5959

originallobsterfestival.com

 

Long Beach Lobster Festival

Gold Country Fair

Auburn Gold Country Fair - 7 September 2007

Auburn Gold Country Fair

California Gold Country Fair

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

Auburn CA

goldcountryfair.com

20070907 Cowgirl

Russian River Blues Festival

Russian River Summer Festival

Tall Trees Camping
Bull Frog Campground, in all its glory

Russian River Jazz Festival

Russian River Blues Festival

Summertime warms up and being outdoors is THE plan. The Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival is held annually near the redwood forests of Guerneville, California. Located of event is Johnson’s Beach – right on the Russian River. This is a great opportunity to camp out in the inland, North Coast region. Plenty beach parks & campgrounds nearby.

Annual event; June
707-869-1595

Guerneville, California

russianriverfestivals.com

canoe

Russian River Jazz Festival

Lobster Festival Redondo

Redondo Pier

Redondo Beach Lobster Festival

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

REDONDO BEACH California

redondolobsterfestival.com

 

Cracking lobster

Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Festival

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Downieville Classic Race

Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Festival

25th Anniversary in 2023

Downieville Downhill

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

DOWNIEVILLE CA

downievilleclassic.com

 

Festivities on main street

Ross Schnell