The peak of summer has arrived in California, buoyed by July 4th celebrations and America 250 festivities across the state. Beyond Independence Day, July brings plenty of classic fairs and rodeos, as well as long-running festivals celebrating salsa, art, and cosplay—the last thanks to the annual return of Comic-Con in San Diego.
Here are 20-plus ways to build a summer getaway around a ready-made party in Northern, Central, and Southern California.
Northern California
All Month: Friday Night Flights, Sonoma County
Select Sonoma Valley wineries are extending their hours for special tastings on Friday nights this summer: Come for wine tastings paired with bites from local restaurants, and many local restaurants are also offering reduced corkage fees. The long list of participating wineries and restaurants includes Gehricke Winery, Three Sticks Wines, and Poppy Glen Ellen, as well as Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Hopmonk Tavern. Runs through August.
All month: Pick Your Own Bouquet at Park Winters, Winters
Be sure to stop at this farm if you’re in Yolo County this time of year. The pick-your-own-flower scene is in full swing at the estate, which also features a historic inn and restaurant. Explore the fields—teeming with sunflowers, dahlias, snapdragons, and blooming artichokes—and create your own bouquet for $38. Runs on Saturdays and Sundays. Throughout the year you can also do seasonal wreathmaking.
July 2–5: High Sierra Music Festival, Quincy
Music is just the beginning at this Plumas County festival. The packed weekend includes a family camp zone and rotating costume themes, options to camp or glamp, and performances by Don Was & the Pan Detroit Ensemble and the Sly Stone tribute band Dumpstaphunk.
July 3: The Art of Taste, Napa
Enjoy this monthly five-course wine and culinary experience at Napa winery Lewis Cellars. The prix-fixe menus, created by the winery’s Michelin-starred chef, celebrate each season’s harvest and include exclusive library wines. Plus, you can expect guest appearances from the Lewis winemaking team. Check the winery’s website for future dates too.
July 3–5: Willits Frontier Days, Willits
Extend your July 4th holiday at this classic California rodeo in Mendocino County, an event that began in the 1920s as a fundraiser for a local hospital. Today you can cheer for the CCPRA professional rodeo and junior rodeo stars, watch a parade, eat local barbecue, and compete in the horseshoe competition.
July 4–19: Festival Napa Valley, Napa
Soak up Napa Valley culture at the 20th summer season of music, wine, and more at venues including Charles Krug Winery and CIA at Copia. Come for evening performances, free-admission daily concerts, and stand-alone events including the Taste of Napa festival (July 11) at Meritage Resort.
Plan around the festival’s banner evenings: “Uytengsu Family Opening Night: From Beethoven to Getty to Dylan,” “Renée Fleming: Voice of Nature,” and “Maria Manetti Celebrates La Dolce Vita! Honoring Luciano Pavarotti.” The whole family will love the screening of The Wizard of Oz with a live orchestra.
July 5: The World’s Largest Salmon BBQ, Fort Bragg
Feast on salmon at this annual Fort Bragg event that includes live music and local beer from North Coast Brewing Co. All proceeds go toward an initiative to improve salmon populations in the region, especially in the streams that flow into the Noyo River.
All month: Summer Nights at Filoli, Woodside
Make the most of longer evenings by experiencing this historic estate in San Mateo County. Not only does its 16-acre garden stay open until 8 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday, but you also have access to guided sunset hikes, live music, and food trucks. Runs through Sept. 17.
All month: Evenings on the Colonnade, Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk goes all in on summer fun, with activities that complement classic boardwalk rides and cuisine. Check out magicians and acrobats on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, live music on Thursdays, free movies on Fridays, and a DJ dance party on Saturday and Sunday nights. Runs through Aug. 6.
July 11: San Jose Obon Festival, San Jose
The Silicon Valley hub has one of the few Japantowns left in the nation, which celebrates a Buddhist Japanese holiday similar to the Day of the Dead. The joyful celebration includes dancers, game booths, food booths, and taiko performances.
July 12: Petaluma Art & Garden Festival, Petaluma
Stroll this free event in historic downtown Petaluma: Browse more than 100 exhibitors—from artisan jewelry and fine art to home and garden decor—while listening to live music and enjoying the local wineries, breweries, distilleries, and food vendors. Check out the demos and tips from gardening experts while the kids play in a dedicated zone with bounce houses, face painting, and arts and crafts.
July 17–Aug. 2: Bear Valley Music Festival, Bear Valley
This decades-old music festival, located halfway between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, is the ultimate crowd-pleaser: You’ll hear classical performances by the Bear Valley Orchestra as well as plenty of pop and rock. This year features David Bowie and ELO tribute nights and an America 250 concert of Gershwin, Copland, and Bernstein.
July 17–Aug. 2: California State Fair, Sacramento
While this classic fair in the state capital boasts plenty of blue-ribbon livestock and crafts, it also showcases a wide range of Golden State delights such as the Save Mart California’s Kitchen exhibit with cooking demos and a Best of California Brewfest. This year’s musical acts include Wyclef Jean, Trace Adkins, and Boyz II Men.
July 18: Summer Concerts at Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys
This winery in Calaveras County features a lovely amphitheater made for summer concerts. Enjoy house wines and food at one of the July shows: Gene Simmons Band, Sebastian Bach, Lita Ford, and Quiet Riot (July 18) and Willie Nelson & Family (July 19). August brings Air Supply (Aug. 7) and Allison Krauss and Union Station (Aug. 28).
July 24–26: Lumberjack Fiesta Days, McCloud
For more than 75 years, both lumberjacks and aspiring lumberjacks have tested their skills during this weekend in Siskiyou County. Compete in logging events (including a Lil’ Logger contest) or go head-to-head by way of horseshoes, watermelon-eating, or dancing.
July 25: Farms, Fish, & Flowers, Half Moon Bay
Farm country meets fresh seafood at this annual event in Half Moon Bay. Get a behind-the-scenes look at farms that aren’t always open to the public. Participants include Pillar Point Harbor, where you can buy fresh fish from the docks, and Harley Farms, where you can meet the goats behind the housemade cheese.
July 27–Aug. 3: Lazy Bear Week, Guerneville
Summer’s LGBTQ+ pride parties continue at this annual event and fundraiser in Sonoma County’s Guerneville. Festivities typically include pool parties, hikes, and miniature golf paired with wine tastings. Book online to get your bear tag, a donation receipt that grants you free admission to the activities.
If you don’t want to camp, consider nearby hotels such as The R3 Hotel, which has been gay-owned and operated for nearly 40 years.
Central California Events
July 10–12: MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest, Salinas
Come to Monterey County’s Laguna Seca Recreation Area to watch superbikes speed down the “Corkscrew,” which drops almost six stories in just 450 feet of track. To experience the 11-turn, 2.2-mile course yourself, join one of the Twilight Cycling Nights, which happen on select nights during the year.
July 11–12: The West Coast Cub and Antique Aircraft Fly-In, Lompoc
Explore antique, vintage, and experimental planes, then watch pilots compete in fun “flight proficiency games” at this air show in Santa Barbara County. Stay in town for the great local wine and tri-tip barbecue.
July 11, 18, 25: Santa Rita Hills Lavender Festival, Lompoc
July is prime season for harvesting lavender, and this Lompoc farm hosts a fabulously aromatic festival on three consecutive Saturdays. Browse the pop-ups of local artisans, learn to make a wreath and enjoy offerings from food vendors and lots of lavender lemonade. Free admission.
July 15–26: California Mid-State Fair, Paso Robles
This much-loved Paso Robles fair dates back to 1946: Along with the rides, exhibits, and fair food, this year’s headliners include Ice Cube, Megadeth, and Three Dog Night.
July 24–26: Gilroy Garlic Festival, Gilroy
This legendary weekend in Gilroy, held next door to the Gilroy Gardens theme park, will include cooking demos, live music, and plenty of garlicky dishes, from french fries to (yes, really) ice cream. Tickets go on sale May 25 and will likely sell out fast.
Southern California Events
Select July dates: Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, Los Angeles
This free annual festival brings its modern interpretations of the Bard and his contemporaries to Los Angeles’ epic city park. This year’s featured plays are Coriolanus (Wednesdays through Sundays in July) and Comedy of Errors (Aug. 5–Sept. 6.)
Begins July 7: Festival of Arts Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Beach
Experience this iconic Laguna Beach event featuring both traditional art exhibits and tableaux vivants—live recreations of famous works of art. The exhibits of the Festival of Arts start July 7, while the Pageant of the Masters begins July 9.
To streamline your visit, pick up the 2026 Passport to the Arts: You’ll get a full round of perks for one visit: free admission to the Festival of Arts, Laguna Art-A-Fair, and Sawdust Art Festival, plus free parking. Runs through Sept. 6.
July 11: Pechanga’s Whiskey and Wings Festival, Temecula
Temecula is a hotbed for great wine, but this whiskey-themed festival at the Pechanga Resort Casino was such a hit when it debuted in 2025 that it’s returning this year. Pechanga chefs will create their best flavor-forward wings—savory, sweet, and spicy—and pair them with all-American cocktails such as the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and whiskey sour.
The one-day event, which benefits Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley, will also feature a silent auction of vacation packages, golf excursions, jewelry, and more.
July 11: Two Harbors Brew Fest, Catalina
Listen to live music on the beach on Catalina Island while sampling beers from more than 20 breweries. Your admission ticket to the event—which also includes live music and a silent auction—includes beer tastings, a keepsake glass, plus appetizers.
July 11–19: San Diego Pride, San Diego
San Diego always throws its LGBTQ+ party in July, and this year’s Pride features a mix of events, including a parade (July 18) and then a two-day festival (July 18–19) in Balboa Park.
July 17: Del Mar Racetrack Opening Day, Del Mar
Cheer for the ponies at this track near the beach in Del Mar. The annual Opening Day offers serious people-watching, too—thanks to the tradition of female fans wearing fabulous hats—but the whole season offers a variety of festivities, including the Tacos and Tequila festival on July 18 and Family Fun day on July 26. Runs through Sept. 7.
July 22–26: Comic-Con International, San Diego
The cultural touchstone returns to downtown San Diego with panels, cosplay, and star sightings. Badges are currently sold out, but anyone can soak up the energy downtown or visit the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park. July 22 is the preview night.
More: Comic Book and Science Fiction Tour of California
July 25: Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival, Long Beach
This competition of traditional Chinese dragon boats at Long Beach’s Marine Stadium is one of the largest in California. Watch teams row the long, colorfully decorated canoes, then check out the Chinese dance, acrobats, and martial arts performances.
July 25–Aug. 2: Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach
With surfing, skateboarding, and BMX competitions, this Huntington Beach event qualifies as the largest action-sports festival in the world. Huntington Beach Pier acts as the nerve center of the event festivities, such as concerts, surf clinics, sustainability panels, art installations, and public skate and BMX sessions. Best of all, admission is free.
July 29–Aug. 2: International Surf Festival, Redondo Beach
Embrace surfing’s high season in this Los Angeles County town that hosts an amateur surfing competition, a pier-to-pier swim, and paddleboard races. Don’t miss the swim races and fitness contests for area lifeguards.
July 31–Aug. 2: Dancing with the Stars Con, Palm Springs
Superfans of the long-running reality series will love this convention plus show at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs. The weekend will feature live performances by both pro dancers and celebs from the series, plus opportunities for fans to meet and potentially even dance with pros and compete for a Mirrorball Trophy. The long list of pros and stars who will appear include pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Witney Carson and stars JoJo Siwa and Xochitl Gomez.
