The peak of summer has arrived in California, buoyed by July 4th celebrations up and down the state. Beyond Independence Day, July brings plenty of classic fairs and long-running festivals celebrating salsa, art, and cosplay—the latter thanks to the annual return of Comic-Con in San Diego. It’s also a great time for music festivals, whether you prefer country, rock, EDM, or classical. Here are 20-plus ways to build a summer getaway around a ready-made party.
All Month: Evenings on the Colonnade, Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk goes all in on summer fun, with activities that complement the classic boardwalk rides and cuisine. This summer there’s live music on Mondays and Tuesdays, magicians and acrobats on Wednesdays and Thursdays, free movies on Fridays, and a DJ dance party on Saturday and Sunday nights. Runs through Aug. 8.
All month: Afternoon Tea & Chandon Train, Napa
Take this three-hour seasonal excursion through Napa Valley—a collaboration between the Napa Valley Wine Train and nearby Chandon Winery. Board a vintage train festooned with flowers while you sip a Chandon-and-tea-infused Garden Spritz, then enjoy a classic afternoon tea while wine country glides by outside the train window. Runs on weekends through October.
All month: Pick Your Own Bouquet at Park Winters, Winters
Be sure to stop at this farm if you’re in Yolo County this time of year. The pick-your-own-flower scene is in full swing at the estate, which also features a historic inn and restaurant. Explore the fields—teeming with sunflowers, dahlias, snap dragons, and blooming artichokes—and create your own bouquet for $35. Runs on Saturday and Sunday mornings through October.
June 30–July 13: 30th Jazz in the Pines, Idyllwild
Enjoy jazz and explore the delightful mountain town of Idyllwild at this annual summer music fest. Organizers recently announced that this will be the last year that the festival will be sponsored by Idyllwild Arts, the acclaimed creative collective that dates to the 1940s. Headliners include Ruby & the Red Hots and Grammy Award winner John Daversa Big Band.
July 3: An Evening with Marc Shaiman and His Music, San Diego
July is a delightful time to enjoy San Diego’s downtown amphitheater the Rady Shell, a foodie-friendly concert venue set along the bay. This month, check out this one-night-only show in which Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award–winning composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman joins the San Diego Symphony, along with a youth chorus and guest soloists including Tony Award–winner Marissa Jaret Winokur and Jenifer Lewis (also famous from Blackish). The concert, in which Shaiman will play piano and share stories from his Hollywood and Broadway career, will feature his works from a wide range of shows and movies, including When Harry Met Sally, Beaches, Sister Act, and Hairspray.
Begins July 3: Festival of Arts Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Beach
Experience this beloved Orange County event featuring both traditional art exhibits and tableaux vivants—live recreations of famous works of art. The exhibits of the Festival of Arts begin July 3, while the Pageant of the Masters begins July 6.
To streamline your visit, pick up the 2024 Passport to the Arts: You’ll get onetime free admission to the Festival of Arts, Laguna Art-A-Fair, and Sawdust Art Festival, plus onetime free parking. Runs through Sept. 1.
July 3–6: Willits Frontier Days, Willits
Celebrate the July 4th holiday at this classic California rodeo in Mendocino County, an event that began in the 1920s as a fundraiser for a local hospital. Today you can cheer for the CCPRA professional rodeo and junior rodeo stars, then dine on barbecue.
July 4–7: High Sierra Music Festival, Quincy
Primus and Ziggy Marley headline this Plumas County festival where music is just the beginning. This packed weekend includes a Family Village zone (with circus acts), rotating costume themes, and daily mind-body activities including yoga and guided meditation. Depending on what kind of pass you buy, you can camp at the fairgrounds, which has a special area just for families with kids.
July 6: The World’s Largest Salmon BBQ, Fort Bragg
Feast on salmon at this annual Fort Bragg event that includes live music and local beer from North Coast Brewing Co. All proceeds go toward an initiative to improve salmon populations in the region, especially in the streams that flow into the Noyo River.
July 6–21: Festival Napa Valley, Napa
This two-week festival in Napa Valley combines wine tastings with classical music performed at wineries and culinary hot spots. Foodies won’t want to miss the festival’s Taste of Napa event (July 13) where guests can enjoy sips from wineries, breweries, and other craft beverage purveyors, as well as offerings from restaurants and culinary artisans. Upgrade to the Reserve Tasting Salon for exclusive and premium wine tastings.
Begins July 10: Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, Los Angeles
This free annual festival brings its modern interpretations of the Bard to Los Angeles’ epic city park; this year’s featured play is As You Like It. Runs through Sept. 1.
Begins July 12: Summer Nights at Filoli, Woodside
Make the most of longer evenings by experiencing this historic estate in San Mateo County. Not only does its 16-acre garden stay open until 8 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday evenings, but you also have access to food trucks and the estate’s Bluebird Bar. Local and touring acts will play Filoli’s Summer Stage on select evenings too. Runs through Sept. 19.
July 12–14: MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest, Salinas
Monterey County’s Laguna Seca Recreation Area hosts this event where 190 mph superbikes speed down the track’s “Corkscrew”—which drops almost six stories in just 450 feet of track. To experience the 11-turn, 2.2-mile course yourself, join one of the Twilight Cycling Nights, including one on July 25.
July 12–28: California State Fair, Sacramento
While this classic fair boasts plenty of blue-ribbon livestock and crafts, it also showcases a wide range of Golden State delights: a California’s Kitchen with cooking demos, a Best of California Brewfest, and Taste of the Fair days, where each vendor will offer a small plate for just $4. This year’s musical acts include Wilson Phillips, Patti LaBelle, Flo Rida, and the Beach Boys.
July 13: Bigfoot Daze, Willow Creek
Sponsored by the local history museum, this party in Humboldt County salutes not just the elusive hominid but also the area’s deep logging heritage. The day includes a parade, an ice cream social, and a festival in Heritage Park. To keep looking for Sasquatch yourself, take this Bigfoot Scenic Byway Road Trip.
July 13: San Jose Obon Festival, San Jose
The Silicon Valley hub has one of the few Japantowns left in the nation, and during this weekend it celebrates a Buddhist Japanese holiday similar to the Day of the Dead. The joyful remembrance includes dancers, game booths, food booths, and taiko performances.
July 13–21: San Diego Pride, San Diego
San Diego always throws its LGBTQ+ party in July, and this year’s Pride includes a mix of events, starting with a She Fest (July 13), a parade (July 20), and then a two-day festival (July 20–21) in Balboa Park.
July 13: Santa Rita Hills Lavender Festival, Lompoc
July is prime season for lavender and this Lompoc farm in Santa Barbara County is hosting its first-ever festival. Browse the pop-ups of local artisans as well as food vendors offering lunch, baked goods, and lots of lavender lemonade. Free admission.
Begins July 13: Summer Concerts at Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys
This winery in the Calaveras County town includes a lovely amphitheater and its concert lineup offers several excuses to spend a weekend in the area. July concerts—where you can also enjoy the house wines and cuisine—include Cake (July 13) and Brad Paisley (July 21) while August brings big acts such as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (Aug. 21) and Switchfoot with Matt Nathanson (Aug. 29). Check its calendar for other events: The winery also hosts a July 5th celebration with fireworks and a variety of Movies on the Lawn.
July 13–14: California Capital Airshow, Rancho Cordova
Watch the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, stunt performers, and the Italian jet team, Frecce Tricolori, perform in the sky at this annual air show in Rancho Cordova, near Sacramento. This year’s shows include evening shows too—pyrotechnics, a drone show, and fireworks. On the ground, get up-close looks at vintage warbird planes, look around inside workhorse UPS and FedEx planes, and check out unique aircraft such as the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft the U-2 Dragon Lady. Check out Rancho Cordova’s hotel deal that bundles your stay with a gift card or 20 percent discount on admission.
July 14: Summer Sundays at Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, Palm Springs
Bring the family for hands-on activities at this downtown Palm Springs museum that focuses primarily on the art and history of the Agua Caliente Band of Indians. Come between 11 a.m.–3 p.m. to play popular games from Agua Caliente and Cahuilla culture; other Summer Sundays will take place on June 30 and August 4. While you’re there, check out the special exhibit featuring the work of Horace Poolaw, an acclaimed Native American photographer who documented Kiowa tribal life in the early 20th century.
July 14: Petaluma Art & Garden Festival, Petaluma
This free event in the Sonoma County town showcases unique items and garden decor by more than 100 local makers. Tasting packages are available to sample local wine, craft beer, cider, and cocktails, and restaurants and fine food purveyors will also be in attendance. An expert will be available to answer any of your burning gardening questions, and kids are welcome to take part in hands-on craft projects and face painting.
July 17–28: California Mid-State Fair, Paso Robles
This much-loved fair dates back to 1946 and is held in the San Luis Obispo County town of Paso Robles. Along with the rides, exhibits, and fair food, this year’s headliners include Miranda Lambert, Nate Bargatze, Brad Paisley, and Cheap Trick.
Begins July 19: Bear Valley Music Festival, Bear Valley
This decades-old music festival, located halfway between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, is the ultimate crowd-pleaser: You’ll hear classical performances by the Bear Valley Orchestra as well as plenty of pop and rock. This year features a Disco Inferno night, a Bagpipes in Scotland Night including Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3, andLee Johnson’s “Dead Symphony No. 6,” an orchestral tribute to The Grateful Dead. Runs through Aug. 4.
July 20: Del Mar Racetrack Opening Day, Del Mar
Come watch the ponies race at this track near the beach in Del Mar. This 85th Opening Day offers serious people-watching thanks to the many women donning fabulous hats, but the whole season offers a variety of events, including a beer festival on July 21. Runs through Sept. 8.
July 20: Palisades Tahoe Mountain Run, Olympic Valley
Enjoy both a challenge and stunning Lake Tahoe and mountain views on this run that starts at the base of Palisades USA, then climbs 3.6 miles up to High Camp (8,200 feet elevation) where your efforts will be rewarded with a raffle, music, refreshments, and beer from Truckee’s Fiftyfifty Brewery.
For lower-key exertion, check out Palisades Tahoe’s Great Bingo Revival, in which a different local restaurant will host a creative bingo night every Thursday through July 27.
July 25–28: Comic-Con International, San Diego
The cultural touchstone returns to downtown San Diego with panels, cosplay, and star sightings. Badges are currently sold out, but anyone can soak up the energy downtown or visit the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park.
Or, broaden your love of geek culture by taking this Comic Book and Science Fiction Tour of California.
July 26–28: Lumberjack Fiesta Days, McCloud
For more than 75 years, both lumberjacks and aspiring lumberjacks have tested their skills during this weekend in the Shasta Cascade. Compete in logging events (including a Lil’ Logger contest) or go head-to-head by way of horseshoes, watermelon-eating, or dancing. The Siskiyou County event also includes a parade on Saturday.
July 27: Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival, Long Beach
This competition of traditional Chinese dragon boats at Long Beach’s Marine Stadium is one of the largest in California. Watch teams row the long, colorfully decorated canoes, then check out the Chinese dance, acrobats, and martial arts performances.
July 27: Farms, Fish, & Flowers, Half Moon Bay
Farm country meets fresh seafood at this annual event in Half Moon Bay. Get a behind-the-scenes look at spots around the town that are not always open to the public—from historic sites to farms to a working harbor.
Participants include Blue House Farm, which grows certified organic produce and cut flowers (and offers u-pick strawberries this time of year) and Pillar Point Harbor, where you can buy fresh fish from the docks.
July 27: Gilroy Great Garlic Pasta Party, Gilroy
This year’s version of the garlicky lovefest in Gilroy will feature an all-you-can-eat pasta feast with a choice of sauces and lots of garlic-soaked bread. Proceeds of the fundraiser benefit local nonprofits and charities.
July 27–28: Oxnard Salsa Festival, Oxnard
The two-day party in the Ventura County town was first celebrated in 1993 to honor its cultural and agricultural roots. Today the festival celebrates the many forms of salsa in historic downtown Oxnard: live bands, dance lessons, and plenty of chances to taste salsas and hot sauces.
July 29–Aug. 4: Eureka Street Art Festival, Eureka
This little North Coast town is a hotbed for public murals, and this weeklong festival invites you to witness new ones being created. Watch a range of international painters at work each day, take city mural tours, or try your hand at creating one during a street-painting workshop. On the last day, a party celebrates the new murals’ official debuts. Any time of year, do your own tour of the town’s local murals.
July 29–Aug. 5: Lazy Bear Week, Guerneville
Summer’s LGBTQ+ pride parties continue at this annual event and fundraiser in Sonoma County. This year’s festivities include pool parties, hikes, and mini golf paired with wine tastings. Book online to get your bear tag—a donation receipt that grants you free admission to the activities. If you don’t want to camp, consider nearby hotels such as The R3 Hotel, which has been gay-owned and operated for nearly 40 years,
July 31-Aug. 4: International Surf Festival, Redondo Beach
Embrace surfing’s high season in this Los Angeles County town that hosts an amateur surfing competition, a pier-to-pier swim, and paddleboard races. Don’t miss the swim races and fitness contests for xarea lifeguards.