While many people observe Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial beginning of summer, one could argue that the Golden State spends the whole month of May gearing up for fun in the sun. Food, wine, and beer festivals are slated for nearly every weekend, and some only-in-California events also happen this month, including a frog-themed fair in Gold Country and a tribute to mules in the Eastern Sierra. Use one of these 30-plus events as an excuse to start your summer now.
May 2, 5: Philharmonic Society Presents, Costa Mesa
See why the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa is such a world-class venue: stunning architecture, big-name performers, and easy access in Orange County. On May 2, Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson—who has been called “the new superstar of classical piano”—makes his Orange County debut performing Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Then, on May 5, soprano Larisa Martinez joins husband and Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell for Voice and the Violin, an evening of romantic arias and modern classics.
Begins May 3: Concerts in the Park, Sacramento
This Friday concert series returns to downtown Sacramento’s Cesar Chavez Plaza, with a variety of national and local acts taking the stage each week. The series also features art, local food trucks, and a wine garden. Each week features an afterparty starting at 9 p.m. at select downtown bars. Runs through July 26.
May 3–4: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp, Chico
Hosted by the renowned craft brewery in Chico, this weekend “day camp” features grown-up versions of summer camp–style games, such as human foosball, hungry human hippos, and keg bowling, as well as karaoke with a live band. All this goes with beer of course—canned Sierra Nevada beers paired with onsite food-truck cuisine.
May 3–4: Shabang Live Music & Arts Festival 2024, San Luis Obispo
An intimate 2014 concert, held on the top of Cuesta Ridge, has morphed over the years into a full-fledged weekend festival at the Dairy Creek Golf Course in San Luis Obispo. The lineup includes more than 50 musical acts, such as Thundercat and Peach Pit, but there are also yoga sessions and interactive art installations, as well as local food and beverage vendors.
Stick around through Sunday for the San Luis Obispo Sip 'n' Saunter (May 5), where your ticket gets you a glass and a wristband to enjoy samples from local wineries, beverage providers, and restaurants at over 50 downtown locations (for ages 21 and over only).
May 3–5: SoCal BeachLife Festival, Redondo Beach
This music-and-culinary weekend in the L.A. County beach town returns with headliners Sting, Incubus, and My Morning Jacket, along with high-profile supporting acts including Seal, Devo, and Sugar Ray. Check out the festival’s DAOU Side Stage, a 50-seat, sit-down restaurant with a prime view of the main stage and curated meals paired with wine from DAOU Vineyards.
May 4: Boonville Beer Festival, Boonville
“May the Froth Be With You” is the theme of this year’s Mendocino County festival held at the Anderson Valley Brewing Company. Sample beers from among 80-plus breweries and pick up a few words of Boontling—the local language that goes back to the early 1900s and is comprised of about 1,600 very useful words (such as “hairymouth,” which means dog).
May 4: California Honey Festival, Woodland
Yolo County and the town of Woodland produce a lot of honey, and this one-day festival promotes all of the sweet results. (It also educates visitors about the profound agricultural and ecological importance of bees.) Watch cooking demos, browse the vendors and exhibits set up downtown, and broaden your palate by tasting a variety of local honeys, created by bees pollinating different kinds of plants.
May 4: 4th Annual World Goth Day Festival, Alameda Island
Celebrate goth culture at this all-day party at Alameda Island’s USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum. Check out the music, art, and roving “curious creatures,” then add to your own collection by browsing the fashions, jewelry, and ephemera at the Infamous Goth & Oddities Market. The event includes free parking, food trucks, and full bars.
May 4–5: Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo, San Diego
As the city’s original Spanish-speaking settlement, Old Town San Diego offers a perfect place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, with two days of live music, a display of colorful lowrider cars, and a stage dedicated to lucha libre wrestling.
There are a few more ways to extend the party in San Diego. Take one of the evening Cinco de Mayo Sunset Tours (May 4–5) on San Diego Bay, hosted by theMaritime Museum of San Diego. The evening sails include custom cocktails, food, and Spanish guitar music onboard the San Salvador, a replica of the Spanish galleon sailed by explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, the first European to reach America’s West Coast.
Or take the whole family to Viva La Música at SeaWorld San Diego (May 3–19), where every day at the theme park brings Latin music and cuisine, with two stages for local live acts. Concerts are included with park admission.
May 5: Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off, Ventura County
Taste your way through this Conejo Valley festival with a long stretch of chili booths plus a car show, live music, and craft beer to cleanse the palate. Tasting tickets start as low as $20, and kids can enjoy a free play zone with a bounce house and other activities.
May 9–12: Dixon May Fair Parade, Dixon
This Solano County town celebrates its annual Dixon May Fair over a four-day weekend, but the showstopper is its May 11 parade—the oldest state-affiliated parade in California. This year’s parade through downtown Dixon marks the 147th year of the procession, with school bands, floats, horse-mounted units, and classic cars.
May 11–12: Mill Valley Music Festival, Mill Valley
Enjoy diverse music, cuisine, and art, all set against Mount Tamalpais, at this all-ages-friendly weekend festival in Marin County. This year’s top acts include Fleet Foxes, Greensky Bluegrass, and San Diego band Thee Sacred Souls, recently featured on the California Now Podcast.
May 15–18: Redding Rodeo, Redding
Redding hosts this long-running classic rodeo, featuring PRCA rodeo events, chuck wagon races, mutton bustin’, and more. Come on the first night for the Steak Feed, a cowboy-style barbecue feast.
May 16–19: Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee, Angels Camp
This old-school fair of rides, a rodeo, and livestock exhibits embraces its Gold Country roots. It dates back to 1893, was inspired by Mark Twain’s short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” and still includes its namesake competition of leaping amphibians.
May 16–19: Paso Wine Fest, Paso Robles
Experience the acclaimed wine and agricultural scene in Paso Robles this month. First, check out the Paso Robles Olive and Lavender Festival (May 11) in the town’s City Park, and enjoy samples of oils, tapenades, and even olive oil ice cream. Then head to the Paso Robles Events Center for the Paso Wine Fest featuring live music, winemaker dinners, seminars, and tastings from 100-plus wineries.
May 16–19: Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, Sonoma County
Combine great cuisine, wine, and stunning settings at this epic weekend of tastings, dinners, and concerts, located in Healdsburg and at Sonoma County wineries and restaurants. The extended weekend features local growers, winemakers, and chefs, and events such as an outdoor concert at Rodney Strong Vineyard, a Bollywood Culinary Dance Celebration at La Crema Winery, and a pool party at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Guest chefs include Stephanie Izard, Guy Fieri, Dustin Valette, and James Beard Award nominee Tu David Phu. Choose from tickets that range from individual events to bundled VIP packages.
May 16–19: Joshua Tree Music Festival, Joshua Tree
The global and eclectic music theme feels right at home at this camping-friendly, twice-a-year festival just outside the desert national park. Intriguing acts this spring include Fantastic Negrito, Moon Hooch, and Funk You. The fall version happens in October.
May 17–19: L.A. County Yarn Crawl, Los Angeles
Knitters, this is your weekend. The annual festival stitches together a dozen specialty yarn shops and women-owned small businesses located in every corner of Los Angeles County. Visit and browse as many stores as you can, getting your festival “passport” stamped and picking up free knit and crochet patterns along the way. At the end, you could win one of the prize gift baskets.
May 17–19: California Mermaid Convention, Rancho Cordova
Sacramento County has been a hotbed for mermaid cosplay for years, thanks in part to the mermaid-themed Dive Bar in Sacramento. Choose from a variety of free or separate-ticket events at this weekend festival that takes place in both Rancho Cordovaand Sacramento: Events include an underwater photography seminar, the mermaid promenade in Old Town Sacramento, and an all-ages-welcome Bubble Ball. Don’t miss the convention hall at Hagan Community Parkoffering plenty of mermaid costumes and merch.
May 18: Surf Shop Day, various locations
California’s surf shops have long been an integral part of the Golden State’s surfing scene, offering gear as well as fashion, knowledgeable staffers, and cool local history. Support these small businesses by shopping and soaking up their good energy. Get some ideas for where to start at these classic surf shops.
May 18: Luther Burbank Rose Parade, Santa Rosa
Rose parades aren’t just for New Year’s Day. This annual parade in Santa Rosa features marching bands, community groups, and rose petal–adorned floats. After the 10 a.m. parade along 4th St., stick around for the festival of live music, games for kids, and local food and drink.
May 18–19: Red and White Fleet Benicia Historic Sightseeing Cruises, Benicia
Ride the historic Harbor Queen boat along the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline—the same route taken by explorers and settlers over the centuries—on this limited-run cruise, during which a local guide shares stories about the fascinating history of this North Bay town (for one thing, Benicia was briefly the state capital). Each cruise lasts an hour and includes food and drink for purchase. The Red and White Fleet also offers day and evening cruises around the Bay Area, including floating movie cruises.
May 18–19: California Strawberry Festival, Ventura
See—and taste—why Ventura is one of the top strawberry producers in the country. Sample your way through 40 vendors at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, ranging from strawberry shortcake to deep-fried strawberries to strawberry beer. In between bites and sips, listen to live music and take part in activities such as strawberry relays, tart tosses, and an obstacle course.
Want more? Head to Garden Grove over Memorial Day weekend for its Strawberry Festival (May 24–27) or to San Diego County for the Vista Strawberry Festival (May 26).
May 18–19: Tequila & Taco Music Festival, Santa Clarita
Sample top-shelf tequilas paired with gourmet tacos at this festival held in Santa Clarita’s Central Park. Browse the food vendors and shopping kiosks while listening to live music; beer fans will find plenty of local craft brews to try too.
May 18–19: Art, Wine, & Music Festival, Pleasant Hill
Stroll the downtown of the East Bay’s Pleasant Hill and browse the art and artisan vendors at this annual festival. The family-friendly event also features a Kids Zone and live music, as well as a beer garden and a VIP wine tent.
May 19: Bay to Breakers, San Francisco
This quirky 12K race first started in 1912, and still follows a hilly path from the Embarcadero (the Bay) to Ocean Beach (the Breakers) in San Francisco. The challenges are balanced with the fun distractions of costumed participants—often linked up with bungee cords as “centipedes”—and lots of live music at stops along the way.
May 19–21: Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
This three-day festival in the Inland Empire celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. 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 by Stone Temple Pilots, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and George Thorogood.
Begins May 22: West Hollywood’s 40th Anniversary and WeHo Pride, West Hollywood
West Hollywood kicks off its pride season early this year, in order to celebrate its 40th birthday (it became a city in 1984). The 40 Days of Pride begins on Harvey Milk Day (May 22) and runs through June 30 with events such as the WeHo Pride Weekend Parade, the Dyke March, the WeHo Pride Arts Festival, and more.
May 22–27: LA Fleet Week, Los Angeles
Celebrate our nation’s sea services at this free public event at the Port of Los Angeles during an extended Memorial Day weekend. Take a tour of an active-duty ship, watch aircraft flyovers, and listen to live music, including military band performances. Don’t miss the Galley Wars, a culinary competition among Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army teams.
May 22–27: Mule Days, Bishop
Mules have a long history in California, from transporting precious metals during the Gold Rush to hauling borax from Death Valley. Celebrate the indefatigable equine at this longtime festival in Bishop that includes mule shows along with equestrian disciplines such as English riding and chariot racing. Tour the barns, check out the vendors, and enjoy lots of fair food.
May 22–27: Strawberry Music Festival, Grass Valley
This annual festival in Grass Valley is more about music than berries: Many fans come and car-camp (a site is included with admission) and bring their own musical instruments for all-are-welcome camp jams. Get inspired by listening to Grammy winner Molly Tuttle talk about the Grass Valley music scene on the California Now Podcast.
Begins May 24: Dimensions at Sensorio, Paso Robles
Sensorio, the “field of light” display that spreads across a few acres of Paso Robles, is marking its fifth anniversary with a new immersive art exhibit. Dimensions, created by the artists’ collective HYBYCOZO, is comprised of large-scale geometric metal sculptures that you can stroll through, accompanied by a 33-minute show of lights and music. You can visit the new exhibit on its own, separate from the main Field of Light, or purchase bundled admission to experience both at a discount. Scheduled to run until at least early 2025.
May 24–26: California Roots Music & Arts Festival, Monterey
Enjoy this large reggae festival in Monterey, hosted by a mom-and-pop team of promoters who have also created a green-certified event that utilizes composting, reusable cups, and recycling. Headliners this year include Ziggy Marley, Rebelution, and Ice Cube.
May 24–26: BottleRock Napa Valley, Napa
This year’s Napa Valley festival—blending wine, local cuisine, and rock ‘n’ roll— welcomes headliners Stevie Nicks, Megan Thee Stallion, Pearl Jam, and Ed Sheeran.
May 25–26: McCloud Mushroom Festival, McCloud
Learn about mushroom-foraging during peak season in Siskiyou County. This annual festival features food vendors, foraging outings, and booths manned by mushroom experts.
May 25–27: Kinetic Grand Championship, Eureka
This extraordinary 50-mile race features utterly unique contenders: handmade, people-powered vehicles that are works of art as much as they are feats of engineering. Each day starts in a different North Coast locale—Arcata, Eureka, and Ferndale—and crosses over land, water, sand, and mud around scenic Humboldt County.
The North Coast offers more chances to see eye-popping vehicles over Memorial Day weekend, too. The Willits Car & Bike Show (May 26) in the Mendocino County town of Willits features classic cars, motorcycles, and low-riders, as well as a big pancake breakfast.
May 26: Glorious Junk Days, Clovis
Expand your idea of vintage and antique at this bazaar in Old Town Clovis, the Fresno County town that’s known for its wealth of antique shops. At this twice-a-year event (the next one is in October) more than 150 dealers along Pollasky Ave. offer antiques and vintage items as well as architectural salvage, “rusty junk,” painted furniture, DIY projects, and more.
May 28–June 2: Firestone Walker Beerfest, Paso Robles
The acclaimed Paso Robles brewery celebrates for nearly a week at this event that includes organized pub crawls (May 28–30), a brewery block party (May 31), and an open-air festival and brunch (June 1–2). The beers on tap aren’t just from Firestone, either: The dozens of participating breweries and eateries from around the U.S. include Sonoma County’s Russian River Brewing Co. and Sugar Lips Mini Donuts from San Luis Obispo.
