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Courtesy of Monterey Jazz Festival
Ultimate Music Festivals
From High Sierra mountains to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park; from wine country splendour to dramatic deserts, California’s music festivals take place in wow-worthy places. And the music gets a thumbs-up too. Whether you’re into electronica, vintage jazz, boot-stompin’ country, indie tunes, or good ole rock ‘n’ roll, it’s here. Plus, many events jazz it up with food trucks, pop-up restaurants, and serve quality California wines and craft beers. In between sets, peruse art exhibits, or just people watch for serious festival styles—sometimes even better than what’s on stage.
Apr 12 - Apr 21
April
Beyond the musical acts, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, held in April at Empire Polo Club in Indio, has morphed into...
Lucas Himovitz
August
It makes sense that the 1960s' home of flower power, historic rock concerts and the Summer of Love is also home to Outside Lands, a...
jareed/Flickr
September
Enjoy three days of world-class jazz at the lauded Monterey Jazz Festival, which has been called 'the grandaddy of jazz events' (...
Courtesy of Monterey Jazz Festival
July - August
With a pine-and-peak alpine setting and a relaxed and friendly ambiance, this appealing event in Bear Valley, roughly halfway between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, includes performances by outstanding...
Courtesy of Bear Valley Music Festival
October
Pack a blanket, some snacks and your dancing shoes for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, a massive, free, three-day...
David McSpadde/Flickr
May
Saddle up for Stagecoach, the country cousin held in the same venue—the Indio Polo Grounds south of Palm Springs—as the ...
Courtesy of Stagecoach
September
“Mountains. Magic. Music.' The tagline of the Strawberry Music Festival, a lively, four-day event in May, says it all. Held at the...
Courtesy of Strawberry Music Festival
May
Rock rolls into the wine country again this summer with this three-day event in Napa that features headliners Florence + the Machine, Stevie Wonder, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. With more than 80...
Jessica S./Flickr
June
Fall gets its groove on in San Francisco with this 11-day festival, showcasing a broad phenomenal array of jazz artists—from classic sounds to edgy avant-garde. Hear these unique brands of this...
_jar/Flickr
July
Yoga meets music and alpine wow at Wanderlust Squaw Valley, an om-filled, 4-day July event in...
Christen Vidanoviv/Wanderlust Festival
California: Culinary
During the Prohibition era, secret bars, or speakeasies, popped up in hidden places; those who dared to seek out these illegal establishments—and had the...
California: Family
With nonstop parades, festivals, parties, performances, and activities, it’s fair to say that California’s theme parks turn almost every day into a holiday...
Spotlight: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
At sunset and sunrise, the Borrego Badlands’ creased and wrinkled ridges cast bold shadows across a maze of golden hills and sand-colored arroyos. As you look across this...