Autumn and winter cross paths every November in California: Culinary festivals are still celebrating the season’s harvest, while several ski resorts hold their opening days this month. Of course, in many parts of California the temperature is still warm enough to enjoy public art, music festivals, or wine tasting outside—or to start exploring the holiday lights at theme parks and other attractions.
Here are 20-plus festive events that are worthy of a November getaway in Northern, Central, and Southern California.
Around the State
Begins Nov. 7: Holiday season at the theme parks
Theme parks start decking their halls and putting out the holiday treats this month. Save these dates and get the latest details on this year’s holiday events at California theme parks:
- Nov. 7–Jan. 3: A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place San Diego
- Nov. 13–Jan. 6: Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
- Nov. 13–Jan. 3: SeaWorld Christmas Celebration, San Diego
- Nov. 20–Jan. 3: Knott's Merry Farm, Buena Park
- Nov. 21–Dec. 31: North Pole Nights at Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy
- Nov. 27–Jan. 4: Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Holiday in the Park, Santa Clarita
- Nov. 27–Jan. 3: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom WinterFest, Vallejo
- Dates TBD: Holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles
- Dates TBD: Holidays at LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad
Begins Nov. 13: Opening days at California ski resorts
Many of the Golden State’s ski resorts open this month, often accompanied by first-day live music and other festivities. Dates are tentative, but check ski resort websites for updates and any early-bird deals you can score:
- Nov. 13: Mammoth Mountain
- Nov. 20: Northstar
- Nov. 20: Heavenly
- Nov. 25: Palisades Tahoe
- Dec. 4: Kirkwood
- Date TBD: Big Bear Mountain Resort
Thanksgiving week: Turkey Trots
Pair your California Thanksgiving feast with a local turkey trot—most are on Thanksgiving itself (Nov. 26):
- Davis Turkey Trot (Sat., Nov. 21)
- Napa Valley Turkey Chase
- Healdsburg Turkey Trot
- Santa Rosa Turkey Trot
- San Francisco Turkey Trot in Golden Gate Park
- Big Bear Lake Turkey Trot
- Turkey Trot Los Angeles in DTLA
- Torrance Turkey Trot
- Dana Point Turkey Trot,
- Palm Springs Wild Turkey Trot
- O’side Turkey Trot in Oceanside
Northern California
Nov. 1: Día de los Muertos, Calistoga
Raise a glass to your ancestors at Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga. The Day of the Dead event features mariachi music, an ancestor-honoring activity, and food- and wine-tasting stations scattered around this winery that focuses on Cabernets and single-vineyard wines.
Nov. 6–8: Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival, Lodi
Bear witness to thousands of the large but graceful sandhill cranes migrating through the California Delta. Take part in guided viewing tours in nearby habitats, expert talks, interactive exhibits, and even a crane-welcoming banquet at downtown Lodi’s Hutchins Street Square.
Nov. 6–8, 13–15: Annual Placer Artists Tour, Placer County
Explore local art at galleries and studios in Gold Country towns Colfax and Auburn. Follow the map to the various open houses, where you can meet artists, buy art, and enjoy live music, with plenty of stops at local wineries and cheese shops along the way.
Nov. 7: Wild West Film Festival, Vacaville
First launched in 2019, this wide-ranging festival in Vacaville features films, visual art, live music, and poetry, all exploring the legends and different cultures that shaped the American Wild West. Between screenings of mostly short films (40 minutes or less), the weekend also includes cowboy reenactors, food and drink vendors, and all-ages activities.
Nov. 7–8: Hot Rods at the Beach and Sea Glass and Ocean Art Festival, Santa Cruz
Autumn along Santa Cruz’s Beach Boardwalk brings two big events in one weekend. Hot Rods at the Beach (Nov. 7) incorporates vintage cars lined up along the old-school amusement park; on both days of the weekend, the Sea Glass Festival offers dozens of sea-glass and ocean-art vendors along the free-admission boardwalk.
Begins Nov. 8: Vintner's Holidays at Yosemite, Yosemite National Park
Savor wine and great cuisine at Yosemite’s landmark lodge The Ahwahnee. Each three-day session features an array of wine tastings, meet-and-greets with vintners, and a five-course dinner with wine pairings. Book your spot at one of the sessions (beginning Nov. 8, 11, 15, and 18) and bundle in a stay at either the Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, or Curry Village.
Nov. 13–14: Goat Hill Fair, Watsonville
Kick off your holiday shopping at this unique fair in the Santa Cruz area featuring more than 100 juried vendors offering antiques, vintage pieces, and “clever, upcycled junk.” The secondhand specialties are all paired with artisan food at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds. Only 20 percent of any vendor’s merchandise can be new or non-upcycled crafts, making this gathering a treasure trove for artfully repurposed pieces.
Begins Nov 14: Holiday Lights at Filoli, Woodside
Explore the 54,000-square-foot home on this 1917 country estate, decked out with 14 Christmas trees and thousands of ornaments while the 16-acre garden twinkles with 28 miles’ worth of lights. Runs through Jan. 10.
Nov. 14: Anniversary Party at The Hive, Woodland
Sample honey and mead the way you would wine or olive oil at this Yolo County tasting room at Z Specialty Food. The longtime family business in Woodland makes its own honey but also distributes honey and mead from all over the nation. The annual party promises live music, tours of the honey-making operation, holiday shopping opportunities, and a “spelling bee” with prizes testing your honey, bee, and mead vocabulary.
Select dates in November: Mushroom Festivities in Mendocino
In Mendocino County, autumn harvest season means lots of mushrooms—ideally paired with local wine and beer. Take mushroom-identifying walks at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens (Nov. 16–Dec. 21), take a mushroom-themed excursion on the Skunk Train (Nov. 7), or learn about foraging at the Mendocino Mushroom Club’s Fungi Festival (Nov. 14–15).
Begins Nov. 20: Redding Garden of Lights, Redding
Ten acres of pathways and nature-themed displays are illuminated at the McConnell Botanical Gardens within the famed Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Stop along the route for hot cocoa stands and firepits for s’mores. Open select days, typically Wednesday through Sunday, through Jan. 3.
Nov. 20–22: Mountain Mandarin Festival, Roseville
Kick off citrus season in Placer County, an area rich with Satsuma Mountain mandarin trees. Besides buying bags of the oranges at the festival, you can enjoy plenty of mandarin-infused cuisine and see who wins the recipe contests.
Begins Nov. 21: The Great Dickens Christmas Fair, Daly City
Turn your holiday shopping into a party at this annual event in the San Francisco Peninsula town of Daly City. During five weekends, the Cow Palace venue is filled with music and strolling costumed performers as well as pubs, dance floors, and shops offering handmade gifts. Runs through Dec. 20.
Begins Nov. 27: Festival of Lights, Fort Bragg
The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens celebrates the holiday season by festooning its pathways with twinkling lights. Sip hot cocoa and cider, enjoy the music, and sample locally made sweets. Runs in Fort Bragg through Dec. 20.
Begins Nov. 27: Illuminate SF Festival of Light, San Francisco
For superfans of holiday lights, it’s hard to beat this collection of 40-plus light installations across San Francisco, stretching from the Castro to Yerba Buena. Some of the installations are just for the holiday season (running through Jan. 31), but most run year-round.
Central California
Nov. 1–2: Día de los Muertos, Oxnard
The Central Coast town of Oxnard hosts a wide-ranging Día de los Muertos observance. Visit the giant altar—adorned with marigolds, sugar skulls, and candles—on the steps of the town’s Carnegie Arts Museum and at The Collection at Riverpark. On Nov. 2, soak up the decor, music, and Mexican and Filipino cuisine at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.
Nov. 5–7: Big Sur Food & Wine Festival, Big Sur
Feast on local food and wine against the backdrop of Monterey County’s breathtaking scenery at this weekend event in Big Sur. Buy individual tickets for festivities such as the Wine Walkabout at the Post Ranch Inn; Bubbles & Brushes at Big Sur Lodge; and a Magical Mystery Tour to locations that most Big Sur visitors don’t usually get to see.
Nov. 7: Madera Pomegranate, Fruit, and Nut Festival, Madera
Winter’s pomegranates are ripening in farm-rich Madera County, and this annual festival near Yosemite National Park also highlights local almonds, pistachios, and walnuts. Taste fruits and nuts, watch cooking demos, and check out the weekend’s other diversions such as the cosplay-welcome Ohana Comic Con and Valley Stealz Streetwear & Thrift Expo.
Nov. 7–8: Spartan Trifecta Weekend, San Luis Obispo
Challenge yourself to a Spartan Race—which boasts of being the world's largest obstacle-course race—at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch in San Luis Obispo. Choose from different lengths (up to a 50K) and different amounts of obstacles: they all involve plenty of grapevine scenery and 3,000 ft. in elevation gain. Since this event is a Trifecta Weekend, you have a chance to complete three races (Sprint 5K, Super 10K, and Beast 21K) and qualify for the 2025 Trifecta World Championship in Sparta, Greece.
Nov. 14: Autumn Soirée: The SLO Way, San Luis Obispo
Join this party at Hotel San Luis Obispo that shines a spotlight on local winemakers, chefs, and produce. Check out the wine wall, fire dancing, and live music, as well as the silent auction and an art installation curated by the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. Make it a weekend by booking the hotel’s Autumn Soirée overnight package.
Southern California
Through Nov. 2: Día de los Muertos Festival, Los Angeles
The annual Day of the Dead remembrance for departed ancestors—rooted in pre-Columbian Mayan and Aztec traditions—gets several nights’ observance along Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Come each evening (festivities begin Oct. 25) for the processions, blessings, dances, treats, and face-painting.
Nov. 1: San Juan Mission Capistrano Turns 250 Birthday Celebration, San Juan Capistrano
Come to the birthday party for the famed mission in San Juan Capistrano: Enjoy a cupcake and check out its Day of the Dead altar, an exhibit of photographs, and the Artifact of the Month, a rotating exhibition that includes fascinating pieces from the mission’s archives.
Oct. 31–Nov. 2: Día de Los Muertos, San Diego
Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Old Town San Diego: the state historic park is dotted with community altars and the park’s museums showcase more altars created by local artists. While strolling the park, listen to live music, shop local arts and crafts, and take part in hands-on activities. On Nov. 1 watch the costumed Catrina contest then on Nov. 2 join the candlelit procession after sundown.
Nov. 1–8: San Diego Food+Wine Festival, San Diego
The annual food festival set on the San Diego waterfront highlights Golden State chefs and sommeliers as well as regional ingredients. The lineup of activities includes a star-studded tasting called Icon & Legends (Nov. 6) and a Grand Tasting (Nov. 7) that showcases more than 200 domestic and international wines and food from 80-plus West Coast and Baja chefs. The weekend culminates at the Grand Fiesta (Nov. 8) that celebrates Latin American influences on SoCal cuisine.
Nov. 6–8: Palm Springs Pride, Greater Palm Springs
While most cities hold their annual pride events in the summer, the Palm Springs area celebrates in November, just as the desert’s high season begins. This year’s festivities include a parade, a street festival, a 5K fun run, and live music.
Nov. 6–8: Exposure 2026, Encinitas
Watch some of the best skateboarders in the world—including both pros and Olympians—at this free event in Encinitas that’s the largest and longest-running women-focused skateboarding competition around. Explore the scene at “Poods” Park that also has food trucks, vendors, interactive games, and all-ages skate lessons.
Nov. 7–8: West Coast Hoop Dance Championship, Ridgecrest
The high desert town of Ridgecrest will participate in Native American Heritage Month with this competition showcasing the heritage, artistry, and athleticism of Native American hoop dance. Watch the experts compete—both for cash prizes and a spot at the national championship—then take some hoop dance lessons yourself and browse the vendors, which include plenty of artisan crafts and Indian tacos.
Nov. 8: De Portola Wine Trail Harvest Festival, Temecula Valley
Experience Temecula Valley’s wine region by sipping your way along the 5-mile De Portola Wine Trail. Your ticket to this one-day festival grants you tastings paired with winery cuisine at a selection of 11 wineries including Robert Renzoni Winery, Somerset Vineyard & Winery, and Leoness Cellars.
Nov. 18–22: LA Skins Fest, Hollywood
The largest Native American film festival in the U.S. screens Indigenous films at Hollywood’s landmark TCL Chinese Theatre. Watch feature films, documentaries, short films, animation, TV projects, and emerging media, all created by Native storytellers.
Begins Nov. 20: Lightscape at San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas
Take an evening walk through Encinitas’ 37-acre garden, adorned with more than 1 million lights for the holiday season. The 1-mile path winds through different twinkling areas, including 20 brand-new installations from international artists and a few returning favorites. The trail spotlights stops for treats and hot cocoa. Runs through Jan. 3.
Begins Nov. 20: Sawdust Winter Fantasy Art Festival, Laguna Beach
When this Laguna Beach arts festival started in the 1960s, organizers scattered sawdust at its location along the Pacific Coast Highway to keep dust from kicking up on the art.
Today, the twice-yearly festival has moved off the PCH but the name and plucky spirit remain. The winter session is a great time to pick up cool holiday pieces, see marionette shows, take free art and pottery classes, and greet Santa. Runs through Dec. 21.
Begins Nov. 21: Mission Inn Festival of Lights, Riverside
Riverside’s grand dame Mission Inn Hotel & Spa will flip the switch for its annual holiday extravaganza the week before Thanksgiving. Be sure to stroll the grounds to see 5 million lights, along with 200 animated figures, decorated trees, and the world’s largest mistletoe. Runs through Jan. 3.
