Who says summer is almost over? There’s still plenty of time—and many compelling reasons—for a getaway to California this month.
The late-summer season offers a wealth of ongoing festivities, including weekly free concerts and even an early start to Halloween season. Here are 20-plus events made for a summer escape in Northern, Central, and Southern California.
Northern California
Aug. 1: World Dog Surfing Championship 2026, Pacifica
See canine surf enthusiasts—from amateurs to veteran competitors—hang 10 on the waves at Linda Mar Beach in this seaside town on the San Francisco Peninsula. See who wins the "Golden Surfie Medal" at this free event and browse the Surf Dog Village for pooch-friendly merch.
Aug. 1: Stuck in Lodi Classic Car Show, Lodi
Walk the streets of historic downtown Lodi—perhaps while humming the Creedence Clearwater Revival song that inspired the festival’s name—at this car festival that has been running for nearly 30 years. Check out 300 classic cars and chat with gearheads while enjoying the food, drink, and merch from local vendors. If you have a car older than 1979, bring it along to show it off.
Aug. 1: The Tevis Cup, Palisades Tahoe
This 100-mile, one-day horse endurance ride ranks among the most challenging in the world. Qualified competitors will cross through KT-22 and High Camp between Lake Tahoe and Auburn along a rugged stretch of the Western States Trail.
Check the event website for spots where spectators can see the rides along the trail near Palisades Tahoe.
Aug. 1–2: Summer Harvest Days at Apple Hill, Placerville
Make the most of the summer berry season at this fruit fest hosted by various farms in the Apple Hill area of El Dorado County. Harris Family Farm, for instance, will offer u-pick flowers, marionberries, and blackberries along with live music, gem mining, and a scavenger hunt for kids. Don’t miss the bake shop stocked with pies, jams, and summer fruit slushies.
Aug. 1, 16: Summer Series at Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco
The Presidio Tunnel Tops in San Francisco hosts family-friendly events during the summer, including two extra-special ones in August. August 1 brings the Fiesta en el Parque, a celebration of Latin culture; on Aug. 16, the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival, sponsored by Urban Jazz Dance Company, will feature both deaf and hearing dancers. All events are free admission.
Aug. 2–23: Music in the Vineyards, Napa
Choose from more than three weeks’ worth of chamber-music concerts—featuring works by Beethoven, Bach, Schumann, and more—paired with lush Napa Valley scenery. Check the schedule for performances combined with wine tastings, play-along concerts, and opportunities to mingle with musicians.
Many events take place at wineries, including Domaine Carneros, Frog’s Leap Winery, and Silverado Vineyards. This year’s series includes a focus on America’s 250th anniversary, and how diverse composers have shaped the American musical landscape.
Thursdays in August: Vallejo August Summer Nights Music Series, Vallejo
Feel like a local in the Bay Area town of Vallejo at this weekly series of concerts complemented with food, drink, and merch from local businesses. Check the event’s website for updates on weekly themes and musical acts.
Aug. 7–9: Outside Lands Music and Arts Fest, San Francisco
This weekend in Golden Gate Park mixes live music with delicious Bay Area food and drink—like caviar-topped hot dogs from The Caviar Co. and ice cream from Humphry Slocombe, and a bevy of beverages at the Wine Lands and Beer Lands areas. This year’s lineup includes Charli XCX, The Strokes, Rüfüs Du Sol, and Death Cab for Cutie. Passes are technically sold out but you can get on the waitlist through the event website.
Aug. 7–9: San Jose Jazz Summerfest, San Jose
Enjoy jazz in its many forms at this San Jose festival that focuses on everything from big band to Latin to standards. The headliners include Patti LaBelle, Cory Wong, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.
Aug. 8: Benicia Peddlers Fair, Benicia
Since 1963, the Solano County town has hosted this fair of antiques and collectibles that draws vendors from around the nation. Stroll 11 blocks of First Street in the historic downtown district of Benicia to browse period furniture, vintage textiles, blue Depression glass, clocks, and more. A bonus: The fair also offers a nice view of the Carquinez Strait.
Aug. 8: Brews, Jazz, & Funk Fest, Palisades Tahoe
This popular music-meets-beer event in the Palisades Tahoe Village features lovely scenery, live music, and beers from a long list of breweries including FiftyFifty Brewing Co., Truckee Brewing Co., and Anderson Valley Brewing Company. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe—and yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome too. Get 15 percent off your lodging in the Village by using promo code JAZZ26 when you book.
While you’re in the area this time of year, enjoy live music in the Village on Tuesdays (Bluesdays Series) and Fridays (the SunSets Live Music Series).
Aug. 8–9: Gravenstein Apple Fair, Sebastopol
Apple season comes early in this Sonoma County town, thanks to the local Gravenstein apples that ripen in late summer. Come to Ragle Ranch Regional Park for a festival of hands-on demonstrations, live music, and kids’ activities. And of course there are lots of opportunities to taste your way through the apple-inspired treats and beverages in the Artisan Tasting Grove.
Aug. 8–9: Pistahan Parade & Festival, San Francisco
Celebrate the Bay Area’s rich Filipino heritage during this free, two-day event at Yerba Buena Gardens, a part of San Francisco that has long been associated with the Filipino American community.
Come for the parade on Saturday at 11 a.m. and spend the rest of the weekend enjoying dancers, food vendors, and local artisans in the Sari Sari Marketplace.
August 8, 22: Pier Party at the Wharf, San Francisco
Enjoy this summer tradition at San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf—free concerts held on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Watch local acts play on Wharf’s Crab Wheel Plaza while sitting at bistro tables or get up and dance; order a craft cocktail from the Pier Party bar on the Plaza or pick up a bite from one of the many Fisherman’s Wharf restaurants. Runs through September.
Aug. 15: Salmon Festival, Klamath
Take part in a fun run, parade, and then an epic salmon feast at this annual event in the North Coast town of Klamath on Yurok tribal lands. August is prime season for chinook salmon in the area, so it’s easy to extend your stay by fishing the Klamath River too.
Aug. 22–23: Oakland Chinatown StreetFest, Oakland
Oakland’s Chinatown dates back to the 1850s, when immigrants who came for the Gold Rush established roots here. Celebrate their heritage at this annual party (more than 35 years and running) that spans eight blocks of live entertainment, cultural performances, and local cuisine.
Aug. 27–30: Butte County Fair, Gridley
Come to this long-running country fair in Butte County for livestock exhibits, carnival rides, crafts, and plenty of decadent fair cuisine. Check out classic fair competitions for foods such as sourdough breads throughout the four-day event.
Aug. 29: Barbera Festival, Folsom
Taste full-bodied Barbera wines during this afternoon and evening in Folsom—just one part of Gold Country where this Italian varietal thrives. The event at Folsom Community Center includes tastings of Barberas from both California and Italy as well as gourmet food pairings and live music.
Central California
Aug. 5–9: Old Spanish Fiesta Days, Santa Barbara
This annual event has been a Santa Barbara tradition since 1925 and includes a parade, a livestock show, rodeo, and flamenco dancing. Be sure to peruse the market across from City Hall for Mexican American cuisine as well as arts and crafts.
Aug. 7–16: Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Monterey & Pebble Beach
Check out auto shows, auctions, and memorabilia during this week of car love in Monterey. The celebration starts on Aug. 7 with a showing of historic race cars along Alvarado St. in downtown Monterey, and the rest of the week includes events for Porsche enthusiasts, Ferrari lovers, and even fans of so-dubbed “crappy cars,” in an event known as the Concours d’Lemons.
The week concludes with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, with its display of fabulous vehicles on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. If you just want to gape at the vehicles, check out the selection of free “on a shoestring” festivities.
Aug. 15: Surf ’n’ Suds Craft Beer & Music Fest, Carpinteria
This one-day festival at Carpinteria State Beach in Santa Barbara County features food trucks, music, and more than 75 craft breweries, wineries, and makers of kombucha and hard seltzer. The beverage lineup includes California makers such as Rincon Brewery, Beachwood Brewing, and Cali Squeeze Seltzer.
Aug. 21–22: Cruisin’ Weekend, Atascadero
Even if you don’t own a radical ride, you can enjoy cruising culture at this San Luis Obispo County party, which is free for spectators. On Friday night, about 400 cars from the 1950s and 1960s take a cruise through Atascadero; Saturday features a car show and followed by a dance party with food trucks in the streets outside City Hall.
Aug. 24–29: International PAL Boxing Championships, Oxnard
The Ventura County town of Oxnard has long been renowned as a training ground for great boxers, such as Fernando Vargas and Hugo Centeno Jr. For the second year, “Boxnard” will host this international boxing tournament, typically featuring 300 boxers ages 9–40.
Aug. 29: Shell Beach Food & Wine, Pismo Beach
Sample your way through an array of Central Coast wineries, breweries, and distilleries while listening to live music at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, which sits along the bluffs in Pismo Beach. Your admission to the one-day event includes bites from local chefs and unlimited tastings from makers such as Laetitia Winery, Firestone Brewery, and Mezo Mezcal Drinks.
Southern California
July 29–Aug. 2: International Surf Festival, Redondo Beach
Los Angeles County’s Redondo Beach hosts this annual amateur surfing competition that also includes a pier-to-pier swim and paddleboard races, as well as swim races and fitness contests featuring area lifeguards.
July 25–Aug. 2: Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach
Catch the final days of this epic Huntington Beach event, which qualifies as the largest action-sports festival in the world, thanks to its inclusion of surfing, skateboarding, and BMX competitions. Head to Huntington Beach Pier to check out concerts, surf clinics, and public BMX and skate sessions. Bonus: Admission is free.
July 31–Aug. 2: Tour de Big Bear, Snow Summit
Challenge yourself with a wide range of distances and difficulty levels at this annual cycling event near Big Bear Lake. There’s a family-friendly 5K in addition to 25-, 50-, 70-, and 100-mile courses on the main event day (Aug. 1). There are also 25- and 50-mile gravel rides, plus a 50K mountain-bike ride. Get in a warm-up on July 31 during the illuminated Glow Ride, then cool down on the Aug. 2 recovery ride.
All month: The Laguna Art-A-Fair, Laguna Beach
August is prime time to experience the Festival of Arts, Pageant of the Masters, but it’s not the only way to experience Laguna Beach’s artsy summer fun. Admire the array of paintings, photography, woodcraft, sculpture, gourds, and more by award-winning fine artists and artisans at the Art-A-Fair, held down the street from the Pageant of the Masters.
The event also includes live music, meet-and-greets with artists, and hands-on workshops. Admission is affordable ($10)—or free if you have same-day tickets to see the living-art displays of Pageant of the Masters.
Aug. 1–2: Hard Summer, Los Angeles
Get your rave on at this three-day festival devoted to EDM and hip-hop at Hollywood Park next to SoFi Stadium. Zedd, Kali Uchis, and DJ Snake top the deep lineup.
Aug. 1, 8, 15, and 22: Film Series: On Route 66, Pasadena
Celebrate the centennial of Route 66 by watching movies that played a part in immortalizing it. This film series at the Norton Simon in Pasadena includes Easy Rider, Hollywood or Bust, The Grapes of Wrath, and Cars. Films are screened in the Museum’s theater and are free with general admission; no reservations are necessary. Held on select Saturdays in August.
Aug. 7–9: 41st Annual Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club Contest, Oceanside
Watch both pro and amateur longboard surfers compete in this old-school version of the sport over three days in Oceanside.
An extra-fascinating part of the weekend: The California Surf Museum in Oceanside is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an exhibit about the Hawaiian princes who introduced surfing to California. See exact replicas of those 19th-century surfboards—some more than 14 feet long—then watch as the museum stages an in-water demonstration, which is only the second time these replicas have ever been surfed.
Aug. 7–9, 14–16: Splash House Music Festival, Greater Palm Springs
Live music, DJ acts, and fabulous pool parties are the big draws of this house, disco, and electronica festival that spreads across three Greater Palm Springs resorts: The Saguaro Palm Springs, Renaissance Palm Springs, and the Hilton Palm Springs. Buy a pass to attend festivities on one of the weekends or book a hotel package that bundles in stays at a host or nearby resort.
Aug. 8: 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 Societe Brewing Co. and Carlsbad Brewing Co.
Aug. 15: Lemon Festival, Chula Vista
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Chula Vista in San Diego County was one of the most prolific lemon-growing regions in the world. These days, you mostly see lemon trees outside homes, but this annual event brings that citrus magic to downtown’s Third Avenue Village, with plenty of lemonade as well as a wine and beer garden, live music on the “Zesty” and “Juicy” stages, a lemon cook-off competition, and costume contests.
Begins Aug. 21: Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
Start celebrating the Halloween season at the Anaheim resort, where not-too-frightening attractions and events include the Main Street Pumpkin festival, seasonally decorated rides, the Plaza de la Familia (runs through Nov. 2), and the separate-ticket Oogie Boogie Bash (select nights through October).
Aug. 23: Dana Point Classic Car Show, Dana Point
Whales are a familiar sight in Orange County’s Dana Point, but for one day in the Lantern District, classic cars steal the spotlight—think hot rods, woodies, European sports cars, and impeccably restored American muscle cars.
Stroll down Del Prado Avenue and make the most of food trucks, adult beverage stands, and live music. Admission is free and there are also free public lots downtown for parking your own car.
Aug. 29: Daisy Chain Fields Festival, Irvine
Superstar Olivia Rodrigo is launching this new one-day festival at the recently expanded Great Park in Irvine. The all-woman lineup, performing on two stages, includes Chappell Roan, Garbage, Bikini Kill, and Rachel Chinouriri, plus special guests Stevie Nicks, Karen O, and Sarah McLachlan.
The festival grounds will also feature food and drink vendors, art installations, and handcrafted goods by women-led businesses. Net proceeds will go to non-profit organizations that advocate for women and girls.
