It’s easy to plan a classic summer vacation in California, whether that means visiting beaches, discovering national parks, or exploring theme parks.
This June also offers a wealth of unique events, including California State Parks Week (June 11–15), which features special activities all over the state.
Experience early summer harvest season in California from the sunflowers in bloom in Yolo County to the peach-and-berry stands along the Fresno County Fruit Trail.California’s Pride Month means plenty of parties and parades too, from Los Angeles (June 8) to Sacramento (June 14–15) to San Francisco (June 28–29).
Here’s a guide to an action-packed month, which this year really starts on the last weekend of May.
May 29–June 1: Mendocino Film Festival, Mendocino
Choose from more than 60 feature-length and short film screenings, along with panel discussions and meet-and-greet coffees, at this annual Mendocino festival. This year’s selection includes the new documentary Neil Young: Coastal and the Oscar-winning doc No Other Land, which has had only limited screenings in the U.S.
Most of the festival screenings will be in Mendocino Village, while one theater is located in nearby Fort Bragg.
May 30–June 1: Monsterpalooza, Pasadena
While July’s Comic-Con in San Diego celebrates comic book heroes, this weekend at Pasadena’s convention center honors the creepiest creatures of movies, TV, and the “haunt industry.” Check out exhibits, watch makeup demos, and meet a long list of famous actors who also have horror-film street cred, including Jason Patric (Lost Boys) and Scream series alums Selma Blair, David Arquette, and Rose McGowan.
May 30–June 1: Sonoma County Pride, Sonoma County
Sonoma County kicks off its Pride festivities, including a parade of colorful floats and marching bands through downtown Santa Rosa on May 31. That will be followed by the Sonoma County Pride's "Ruby Ripple" Pool Party—the largest gay pool party in Northern California—at the Graton Resort & Casino pool on June 1.
May 30–June 7: Carmel Culinary Week, Carmel-by-the–Sea
The Monterey County town of Carmel-by-the-Sea celebrates its rich food-and-wine scene with an extended week of specials and offerings at more than 30 participating restaurants, as well as outdoor movie nights and an organized pub crawl. Check out specific events like an aperitivo class and a pizza-making workshop.
May 30–June 8: San Mateo County Fair, San Mateo
Admire the huge floral creations, livestock, and all the classic activities at this San Francisco Peninsula fair that has been running for nearly a century. Plan your visit around events such as Asian Culture Day (June 1), Family Pride Day (June 6), and Dia de la Feria (June 8), and check out the fair’s Domini Hoskins Black History Museum. Concert headliners include Better than Ezra and Everclear.
May 30–June 8: Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week, various locations
Dine your way around the desert hub’s nine towns during this extended week of prix fixe menus and exclusive offers. The 100-plus options include Copley’s on Palm Canyon, Kestrel, A Richard Blais Kitchen and Lounge at Indian Wells Golf Resort, and Peaks Restaurant at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
Book your table on the Restaurant Week page and $1 per reservation will be donated to the local FIND Food Bank.
May 31–June 1: Outloud Music Festival, West Hollywood
Enjoy West Hollywood’s pride festivities at this two-day music festival that features Lizzo, Remi Wolf, and Paris Hilton. Choose from a variety of passes, from one-day admission to full-weekend passes.
May 31–June 1: Downtown Burbank Arts Festival, Burbank
Burbank may be best known as the place to attend tapings of TV shows, but this weekend offers a classic street fair with art, jewelry, fashions, and home decor. The free, dog-friendly event on San Fernando Blvd. is also a nice excuse to explore this bustling downtown, lined with restaurants and vivid murals.
May 31–June 1: L.A. WineFest, Long Beach
Los Angeles County is home to a passionate wine scene, and this annual event showcases some great ones from Sonoma County and Paso Robles—like Opolo and La Crema—alongside bottles from elsewhere in California and around the globe. Pair the wines with food-truck cuisine at Harry Bridges Memorial Park, while strolling Long Beach’s scenic waterfront, home of the Queen Mary and Aquarium of the Pacific.
More of a beer lover? Come back to Long Beach on June 14, when the Los Angeles Independent Beer Festival showcases more than 60 L.A.-based craft brewers. Bring your own blanket or lawn chairs for the event at ShoreLine Aquatic Park, also neighboring the Queen Mary, and pair your beer with cuisine from a dozen food trucks.
May 31–June 1: Bay Area Book Festival, Berkeley
This international book festival is known for focusing on social justice, a diverse array of writers, and plenty of award winners: This year’s speaker list includes Roxane Gay and Pulitzer Prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Admission is free to most events, including Saturday’s Family Day, with book stalls and kid-friendly activities at Berkeley’s public library.
June 1: Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off, Tustin
This Orange County town south of Anaheim boasts the world’s largest one-day chili cook-off. The annual festivities play out on the streets of Tustin’s Old Town with live bands, a family fun zone, and beer and wine gardens, all against the backdrop of the chili-fueled showdown.
Begins June 6: Barnsdall Park Friday Night Wine Tastings, Los Angeles
This summer Friday series returns to the lawn of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Los Angeles. Sip wines from nearby Silverlake Wine, paired with dinner and snacks from onsite food trucks, and listen to a DJ or check out art exhibits before the sunset.
Buy a separate ticket for some limited-number tours of the main interior of Hollyhock House. All proceeds support programs at this park. Runs every Friday (except July 4) through Sept. 26.
June 6–8: American Graffiti Festival and Car Show, Modesto
Embrace vintage car culture through “park-and-shine” events and a parade through downtown Modesto. This Central Valley town has serious street cred too: it inspired former resident George Lucas to create the 1973 film American Graffiti.
June 7: Big Time Logging Jamboree, Chester
Participate in Native culture in Plumas County as the Maidu Summit Consortium hosts this annual logging competition at Collins Park.
The afternoon begins with a Maidu song and prayer, then features 13 competitive events with cash prizes—such as an axe-throw contest for local businesses—as well as a lineup of local food and craft vendors. Admission is free.
June 7–8: Watermelon Festival, Lakeview Terrace
Nothing says summer quite like watermelon and this weekend festival at Hansen Dam Recreation Area in Los Angeles County.
Your admission includes access to all-you-can-eat watermelon as well as creative dishes such as watermelon ice cream, watermelon-accented fish tacos, and (of course) deep-fried watermelon. The beer tent, meanwhile, features craft brews and a Jack Daniel’s Watermelon Punch.
June 7–8: Fishin' For $50K Trout Tournament, Big Bear Lake
Spring and early summer are prime time for rainbow trout at Big Bear Lake, and this tournament adds another layer of incentive: Thirty of the trout are tagged for prizes, with five of them worth $10,000 each.
Adults need a California fishing license to compete, but kids 16 and under won’t need one.
June 9–17: WSL Lexus Trestles Pro, San Onofre
Watch the experts navigate the famed waves of Trestles, just south of San Clemente, at this stop on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour. Admission is free, and you can park near the action at San Onofre State Beach.
June 12–15: National Shopping Day, various locations
Scoop up the best deals in retail and enjoy festivities at CamarilloPremium Outlets in Ventura County, as well as other great outlet malls across California. Look for freebies, photo ops, and fun local vendors. These malls also tend to be near major highways, with plenty of services, so make nice stretch-your-legs stops on any road trip.
June 12–15: SoulPlay Festival, Cobb
“Come as you are, leave a little more sparkly” is the invitation for this adults-only weekend at the Mandala Wellness Center in Lake County that includes workshops and freeform activities that focus on yoga, somatic healing, and dance parties.
June 13–22: Healdsburg Jazz Festival, Healdsburg
Who says Sonoma County’s Healdsburg is just about food and wine? Now in its third decade, this jazz fest will be headlined by acts such as Dianne Reeves, Jason Moran, Kenny Barron, and Terri Lyne Carrington. Performances are held at various locations around town, including Bacchus Landing and the pub Elephant in the Room.
June 14: San Diego Brew Festival, San Diego
Immerse yourself in San Diego’s craft beer scene during this afternoon festival at Liberty Station’s NTC Park. Admission grants you unlimited tastes from more than 70 breweries while you enjoy live music and browse the food trucks. Participating San Diego breweries include Mike Hess Brewing, Societe Brewing Co., and Carlsbad Brewing Co.
Later in the month, the San Diego Beer Weekend (June 27–29), hosted by the San Diego Brewers Guild, will showcase “sip-local” events at various San Diego breweries, beer bars, and shops.
June 14: Lost & Found Gravel Grinder, Portola
Mountain bikers will love both the challenge and scenery of this Plumas County event that offers a variety of mostly-dirt courses between 35 and 96 miles through this rugged area of the northeastern Sierra Nevada Mountains known as the Lost Sierra. All routes start and end in Portola and wind through mountains and alpine valleys. The finish line area offers the incentives of food, beer, live music, and dancing.
June 14–15: Crawdad Festival, Sacramento
Get your fill of crawfish, BBQ, local beer, and beignets at this Sacramento festival that celebrates the area’s connection to Cajun culture. Nearby Isleton, along the Sacramento River Delta, is the sister city of Beaux Bridge, La., which is known as the Crawfish Capital of the World. The weekend also includes live bands, a carnival, and a car show.
June 14: Big Blue Adventures Half Marathon & 8-Miler, Palisades Tahoe
Choose from two distances in this race that starts in the Village at Palisades Tahoe and features a mainly paved trail through the valley and along the Truckee River. While pausing at refreshment stations along the route, keep an eye out for local bald eagles and mule deer.
June 16–20: Native American Arts Festival Week, Idyllwild
Explore the visual and literary work of different Native American artists at this festival at Idyllwild Arts, the acclaimed creative collective in Idyllwild that dates to the 1940s. Walk through an exhibition showcasing four artists’ murals and mixed media, listen to talks, and don’t miss the reading by Joy Harjo, the Muscogee Nation writer who has served three terms as the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States.
Begins June 18: Solvang Music in the Park, Solvang
Feel like a local in Solvang during this Wednesday night music series set in Solvang Park. While the Central Coast town has a rich Danish heritage, the musical acts can vary from jazz to funk to cowboy rock.
Bring a picnic blanket or chair and pick up food, wine, or beer from downtown Solvang, where bars and tasting rooms typically serve closed containers of alcoholic beverages that are allowed in the park. Runs on select dates through Aug. 27.
June 19–29: Conejo Valley Days, Thousand Oaks
This classic fair in Ventura County’s Thousand Oaks started in the 1940s as a “community circus” and has grown over the years to include carnival rides, games, live music, and lots of fair cuisine.
June 19–22: Petaluma Fair, Petaluma
This annual event at Petaluma’s Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds celebrates both classic livestock and local makers of wine, cheese, and chocolate. This year’s festivities—with the theme “Country Nights & Carnival Light”—will include dances from the Sonoma County Pomo Indians, a demolition derby, and classic rides.
June 19–22: Woodies on the Wharf, Santa Cruz
Enjoy a unique car show and soak up Santa Cruz’s historic surf culture at this display of more than 200 “woodies,” mostly pre-1950s cars that featured wood-paneled bodies. Stroll past the cars along the Santa Cruz Wharf, stopping to enjoy the shops, restaurants, and ocean views.
June 20–22: Summer Solstice Parade & Festival, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara enjoys its own version of the midnight sun at this annual festival with a Mardi Gras vibe. Take part in the live music, food, wine, and kids’ activities in Alameda Park during the whole weekend, and see the colorful parade down Santa Barbara St. on June 21.
June 20–22: Old Santa Ynez Days, Santa Ynez
Watch a massive line dance in the streets, see authentic stagecoaches, and wear your best cowboy fashions to celebrate this 19th-century Central Coast town that has an Old West spirit and great wine. The event also features music, carriage rides, and Indian fry-bread tacos.
June 20–22: Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival, Temecula
This three-day festival in the Inland Empire celebrates two of the classic charms of this Inland Empire hub. Watch 50 hot-air balloons lift off at once, explore Old Town Temecula, and sample the acclaimed Temecula Valley wine scene. The weekend culminates in the ethereal, nighttime Balloon Glow Experience and also includes concerts including headliners Walker Hayes, Cody Jinks, and Alabama.
June 21: Blues & Brews, Pacifica
Taste local beer and listen to live music during this festive afternoon in Pacifica in San Mateo County. Raising your glass is for a good cause, too: Proceeds from beer sales will benefit local nonprofits.
June 21: Taste of Sonoma, Sonoma
Chat with winemakers and sip your way through a series of Grand Tasting AVA Tents at this one-day event produced by Sonoma County Vintners.
Your general admission ticket includes the Grand Tasting—with its focus on limited production, reserve, and award-winning wines—as well as complimentary food truck cuisine, a beer garden, and themed lounges. Upgrade to a VIP ticket for earlier entry and access to the VIP Club Reserve.
June 21–22, 28–29: Lavender Blue Harvest Days, Placerville
A certain red fruit abounds during autumn in the Apple Hill area of El Dorado County, but during summer the scene here is all about lavender, berries, and cherries.
On the last two weekends of June, come see how local farms and wineries offer their own takes on this season, with lavender-infused drinks or creative berry treats. Or try your hand at lavender wreath-making at Bluestone Meadow Farm.
June 24–30: Palm Springs International Short Fest, Palm Springs
Watch short films and panel discussions at Greater Palm Springs’ acclaimed festival, with screenings at Festival Theaters, forums at the Renaissance Palm Springs, and parties and karaoke nights at more hotels around Palm Springs. Top films win either cash prizes or five qualification spots for next year’s Academy Awards.
June 27–29: Santa Rosa Country Summer, Sonoma County
First launched in 2014, this country music festival at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds has a Southern-fried spirit: The lineup features Sam Hunt, Kane Brown, and Dustin Lynch. Choose from a variety of passes and consider booking an onsite RV camping spot.
Love showtunes? Nearby in the Sonoma Valley, the Transcendence Theatre Company kicks off its Broadway in Sonoma summer season of pop- and showtune-filled shows on June 12. Bring your picnic blanket to the shows at Jack London State Historic Park and purchase food and local wine from onsite vendors.
June 27–29: Relish: A Food, Wine & Spirits Experience, Newport Beach
Celebrity chef Jamie Gwen will be joined by other star chefs including Tyler Florence, Scott Conant, and Gale Gand at this foodie festival affiliated with the prestigious James Beard Foundation.
Held at the resort VEA Newport Beach, the three-day lineup of activities includes cooking demonstrations, exclusive master classes, winemaker seminars, and curated tasting experiences. Buy tickets for individual events or purchase a VIP package that includes a full weekend of experiences; either way you can enjoy a special rate for staying onsite at the hotel.
June 28: Black Miners Bar Juneteenth Festival, Folsom
Join in commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation at this party on the lakeside beach known as Black Miners Bar, a historic part of the Folsom Lake Recreation Area. Festivities include live music as well as a kids' zone, a petting zoo, horseback riding, and a beer and wine garden.
Beyond the $10 day-use fee to enter the state park, admission is free.
June 28: Truckee Dirt Fondo, Truckee
Bring your bike or at least cheer on the competitors at this off-road cycling race and family festival in Tahoe National Forest near Truckee. The three routes—best traversed with gravel bikes or hardtail mountain bikes—range from 30 to more than 100 miles, and all begin at Riverview Sports Park.
June 28–29: Pier 360 Beach Festival, Santa Monica
Embrace summer in Santa Monica at this event that is part contest, part beach party. From the Santa Monica Pier, watch competitors in paddleboard races, ocean swimming, beach volleyball, and skateboard tricks. On the sidelines, enjoy hula dancers and a beer garden.