What Music Festivals Are in California in 2026?

Healdsburg Jazz Winter Festival

Late January · Healdsburg · Jazz

Wine country gets a jazz infusion in the dead of winter, with serious players in intimate Healdsburg rooms. A low-key getaway if you like your jazz close-up and your evenings paired with a good glass of red.

Past performers include: Charles Lloyd, Fred Hersch, Julian Lage

Noise Pop

Late February · San Francisco · Indie/Alternative

San Francisco’s indie tastemaker fest, spread across clubs all over the city for over a week. It’s where you catch the band everyone’s going to be obsessed with next year, in a room small enough to actually see them.

Past performers include: The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes, Death Cab for Cutie, Phoebe Bridgers

Boots in the Park (Norco)

Early March · Norco · Country

Boots in the Park kicks off its California year in Norco. The format is a touring country day-festival — one day, big-name lineup, no camping, line dancing and cold beer in heavy rotation. Norco is the first of several California stops.

Past performers include: Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn

CRSSD Festival

Mid-March · San Diego · EDM

House and techno right on San Diego Bay, skyline on one side and water on the other. CRSSD skips the EDM-circus stuff — no carnival rides, just sharp curation across three stages in one of the prettiest settings in the state. It’s 21+, so it runs a little older and a lot smoother.

Past performers include: Chris Lake, John Summit, Empire of the Sun, Eric Prydz

Sonoma County Bluegrass & Folk Festival

Mid-March · Sebastopol · Bluegrass/Folk

A friendly day of pickin’ and harmonizing out in Sebastopol, put on by the California Bluegrass Association. Family-friendly, low-key, and the kind of regional folk gathering that flies under the radar.

Past performers include: Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, Nina Gerber

Beyond Wonderland SoCal

Late March · San Bernardino · EDM

Insomniac’s fairytale-themed rave takes over the NOS Event Center for two nights of trance, house, and bass under wildly elaborate stages. It’s Wonderland gone full neon — costumes encouraged, sleep optional, and one of SoCal’s biggest spring EDM weekends.

Past performers include: Tiësto, Zedd, deadmau5, Steve Aoki, ILLENIUM

Holo Holo (Avila Beach)

Early April · Avila Beach · Reggae/Island

Island vibes and Hawaiian and Polynesian artists roll into Avila Beach for this stop on the Holo Holo tour. Beach-town setting, slack-key-to-reggae lineup, and the most laid-back crowd you’ll find anywhere.

Past performers include: J Boog, Katchafire, Collie Buddz, The Green, Common Kings

Coachella

Mid-April (two weekends) · Indio · Various

The one that needs no introduction. Two identical weekends in the Indio desert — an art-meets-fashion-meets-everything spectacle that sets the tone for the entire global festival year. Pop, hip-hop, indie, electronic, and whatever’s about to blow up, all on stages that double as landmarks. It’s expensive, it’s hot, it’s enormous, and going once is a genuine bucket-list thing. Book lodging the second you commit, because the whole valley sells out.

Past performers include: Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean, Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, The Weeknd, Eminem, Tame Impala

Boots in the Park (Bakersfield)

Second week of April · Bakersfield · Country

The touring country day-fest drops into Bakersfield — fitting, given the town basically invented its own country sound. One day, big lineup, cold drinks, no camping.

Past performers include: Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn

Boots in the Park (San Diego)

Second week of April · San Diego · Country

The country day-party hits San Diego the same weekend. Bring your boots and a designated driver — it’s a one-and-done good time with no tent in sight.

Past performers include: Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn

Round Up Country Music Festival

Mid-April · Simi Valley · Country

Simi Valley’s hometown country throwdown — a friendly day of country acts, BBQ, and a beer garden. Smaller and more neighborly than the big desert fests, which is exactly the appeal.

Past performers include: Lee Brice, John Michael Montgomery, David Nail

Holo Holo (Irvine)

Mid-April · Irvine · Reggae/Island

The island-music tour swings through Irvine with the same reggae-and-aloha formula and big amphitheater energy. Leave the slippers on.

Past performers include: J Boog, Katchafire, Collie Buddz, The Green, Common Kings

Boots in the Park (Fresno)

Mid-April · Fresno · Country

The Central Valley gets its country day when Boots in the Park rolls through Fresno. Easy logistics and a lineup that punches above the ticket price.

Past performers include: Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn

Stagecoach

Late April · Indio · Country

Coachella’s country cousin, same Indio polo fields one week later. Three days of the biggest names in country plus Americana, bluegrass, and a late-night honky-tonk that runs into the early hours. It’s the biggest country festival in the world, yet it still feels like a giant backyard party in cowboy boots. Camping’s on-site and sells out, so plan early.

Past performers include: Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert

Holo Holo (San Jose)

Late April · San Jose · Reggae/Island

The reggae-and-island tour lands in San Jose to close out April. Big Bay Area crowd, mellow vibes, and a lineup that brings the islands to NorCal.

Past performers include: J Boog, Katchafire, Collie Buddz, The Green, Common Kings

BeachLife

First weekend of May · Redondo Beach · Rock

Three days of rock, reggae, and indie right on the sand in Redondo Beach. The festival leans nostalgic without feeling stale — recent years have featured 80s legends, 90s alt-rock kings, and current bands all sharing the bill. The ocean view from the main stage doesn’t hurt either.

Past performers include: Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, Duran Duran, Sheryl Crow, The Offspring

The Untz Festival

Early May · Browns Valley · Bass/EDM · Camping

A four-day bass music camp festival up in Yuba County. Heavy bass, niche electronic sounds, and the kind of tight-knit camping community where everyone knows the regulars. Smaller scale, dedicated following.

Past performers include: Liquid Stranger, Yheti, Caspa

Whole Earth Festival

Early May · Davis · Various · Free

UC Davis’s beloved Mother’s Day weekend tradition since 1969 — a free, student-run festival with live music, drum circles, and sustainability baked into every corner. Family-friendly and definitively old-school NorCal.

Country in the Park

Early May · Sacramento · Country

Sacramento’s annual country day at Cal Expo with multiple country acts, a beer garden, and that mid-tier festival energy that makes locals call out of work. Solid lineup at an accessible price point.

Berkeley Bluegrass Festival

Early May · Berkeley · Bluegrass

Berkeley’s annual bluegrass gathering — workshops, jams, and performances across downtown venues. Smaller scale and community-driven, run by people who genuinely love the music.

Parkfield Bluegrass Festival

Early May · Parkfield · Bluegrass · Camping

A four-day bluegrass campout in the tiny earthquake-prone town of Parkfield (yes, really — it sits right on the San Andreas Fault). Real bluegrass with serious pickers, plus camping at the V6 Ranch. The remoteness is the whole point.

Shabang

Early May · San Luis Obispo · Indie

Cal Poly’s student-run indie festival in San Luis Obispo. Eclectic lineup of indie, electronic, and rising acts in a beautiful Central Coast setting. Affordable, friendly, and has launched a lot of careers.

Yucaipa Music and Arts Festival

Early May · Yucaipa · Various

A community music and arts festival in the foothills town of Yucaipa. Small, friendly, the kind of weekend that’s more about the local scene than the destination.

Gator by the Bay

Early May · San Diego · Zydeco/Blues/Cajun

Four days of zydeco, blues, and Cajun music on San Diego Bay. Crawfish boils, dance lessons, and a sound that feels transported straight from Louisiana. The most unexpected San Diego festival you’ll attend.

Boots in the Park (Santa Clarita)

Early-mid May · Santa Clarita · Country

The traveling country party rolls into Santa Clarita with the same crowd-pleasing formula. Day-fest, big lineup, no camping required.

Past performers include: Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn

Brea Bonanza Days Country Music Festival

Mid-May · Brea · Country

Brea’s annual country music weekend, part of the city’s broader Bonanza Days celebration. The street fair, vendors, and most of the weekend’s programming are free — but the headlining country concerts on the main stage are ticketed separately.

Joshua Tree Music Festival (Spring)

Mid-May · Joshua Tree · Various · Camping

Five days of music in the high desert near Joshua Tree National Park. Eclectic, family-friendly, and one of California’s most beloved boutique festivals — the kind of place where lineups feel curated by someone who actually loves the music. Camping is the way to do it.

Past performers include: Trampled by Turtles, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Trombone Shorty, Greensky Bluegrass

Analog Reunion

Mid-May · Healdsburg · Various

An intimate, boutique music and lifestyle festival in Sonoma County wine country (formerly known as Cosmico Fest, now operating as Analog Reunion). The weekend blends live music, local wine, wellness, and nature — capped at around 700-1,000 attendees, deliberately small-scale as an alternative to California’s bigger festivals. Limited capacity, sells out fast.

The Golden Road Gathering

Mid-May · Placerville · Jam

A Grateful Dead-spirited gathering in the Sierra foothills. Multi-day, jam-band-heavy, camping included. Built for people who name their kids Jerry.

Past performers include: Thievery Corporation, Leftover Salmon, Dirtwire, STS9, Leftover Salmon, Lettuce, The Hip Abduction, BoomBox, Cimafunk

Lightning in a Bottle

Late May (Memorial Day week) · Buena Vista Lake · EDM · Camping

California’s transformational festival, set on the shores of Buena Vista Lake. Electronic music meets art installations, yoga, workshops, and the kind of attendees who treat the festival as a spiritual reset. Memorial Day weekend, full immersion, dress to impress (or undress to the same effect). One of the most photographed festivals in the world.

Past performers include: Empire of the Sun, Rüfüs Du Sol, Moby, Zeds Dead, Maceo Plex

BottleRock Napa Valley

Memorial Day weekend · Napa · Various

Three days of music in the heart of wine country — rock, pop, hip-hop, and indie all sharing stages with celebrity chef demos and the Napa Valley wineries you’d otherwise need a reservation to taste. The Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage is genuinely worth the trip on its own. This is the festival that taught the rest of the country wine and music belong together.

Past performers include: Foo Fighters, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Pearl Jam, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Imagine Dragons, Metallica

California Roots

Memorial Day weekend · Monterey · Reggae

The biggest reggae festival on the West Coast, three days at the Monterey County Fairgrounds — the same grounds where Jimi Hendrix burned his guitar in 1967. The lineup has expanded from pure reggae into hip-hop, world music, and rock-adjacent, but the soul of the festival is still rooted in island-and-Jamaica sound. Tight-knit community, beautiful coastal setting, sells out.

Past performers include: Damian Marley, Ziggy Marley, Wu-Tang Clan, Ice Cube, Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Stick Figure

Newport Beach Jazz Festival

Late May · Newport Beach · Jazz

A long-running smooth-jazz festival on the Newport Beach waterfront. Big names in contemporary jazz, ocean views, the kind of evening that feels like vacation even if you live nearby.

Maybe It Was The Roses

Late May · Ventura · Jam

A Grateful Dead tribute festival in Ventura. Multiple Dead tribute acts, jam-band community, and the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop.

Past performers include: Daniel Donato, Don Was, Stu Allen

Fiesta Del Sol

Late May · Solana Beach · Various

Solana Beach’s beloved community festival with live music, food, and family activities right on the beach at Fletcher Cove. Free to attend, kid-friendly, and a great low-key option if you’re already in San Diego County. VIP packages with reserved seating, elevated views, and perks are available if you want to upgrade.

Redwood Mountain Faire

Late May · Felton · Various

A small, family-friendly music festival in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Community-focused, multi-day, and exactly the kind of low-key NorCal gathering that doesn’t get big-fest attention but consistently delivers.

YAYA Music Fest

Late May · Fresno · Various

A scrappy, youth-driven Fresno fest spotlighting local and up-and-coming acts. Small, community-run, and worth a look if you’re in the Valley.

Past performers include:

OUTLOUD Music Festival

First weekend of June · West Hollywood · Pop/LGBTQ

West Hollywood’s anchor Pride festival, three days at West Hollywood Park during WeHo Pride weekend. Pop-forward lineups loaded with major LGBTQ+ artists and allies, plus the city’s entire Pride weekend wrapped around it.

Past performers include: Kylie Minogue, Lizzo, Janelle Monáe, Kesha, Adam Lambert

The Ramble

First weekend of June · Healdsburg · Various

A small music-and-art gathering in Healdsburg wine country. Eclectic acoustic lineup, intimate, and a great excuse to spend a weekend in Sonoma County.

Sonoma Wild

Early June · Rohnert Park · Jam/Folk

An outdoor music gathering in Rohnert Park leaning jam-and-folk. Multi-day, mellow, with that classic NorCal feel where everyone’s there for the music and the community.

North Park Music Fest

Early June · San Diego · Various

San Diego’s North Park neighborhood throws its annual block-party music festival. Walkable, neighborhood-driven, and one of SD’s most beloved community events.

Sam Hinton Folk Festival

Early June · Poway · Folk · Free

A traditional folk music festival in Poway, named for legendary California folk musician Sam Hinton. Workshops, jam sessions, and the kind of acoustic gathering where instruments outnumber attendees.

Mountain Folk Festival

Early June · Leggett · Folk · Free

A small folk and acoustic gathering up in Leggett, deep in the redwoods. Intimate camping fest with a workshop-heavy schedule and a community that comes back every year

Dead On The Creek

Second week of June · Laytonville · Jam · Camping

A Grateful Dead-themed multi-day gathering in Laytonville. Dead tribute bands, jam acts, camping along the creek. Built specifically for Deadheads who want a weekend of nothing but the music they love.

Past performers include: The Terrapin Family Band

Country Summer Music Festival

Mid-June · Santa Rosa · Country

Northern California’s biggest country music festival, three days at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. Major country headliners, wine country setting, family-friendly vibe with all the festival energy you’d expect. Camping option on-site.

Past performers include: Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown, Sam Hunt

Woollystar Music Festival

Mid-June · Markleeville · Americana

A tiny mountain festival in Markleeville with Americana, folk, and roots music. The High Sierra setting and small-fest atmosphere are the whole appeal.

Mountain Vibe Music Festival

Mid-June · Jackson · Jam/Various

A jam-band-flavored mountain festival up in Jackson, CA. Small-scale, family-friendly, and perfect if you’re chasing wide-open Sierra Nevada scenery with your music.

Blue Note Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl

Mid-June · Hollywood · Jazz

Two nights of jazz, soul, funk, and R&B at the most iconic outdoor venue in LA. The festival reimagines the legendary Playboy Jazz Festival that lived at the Bowl for decades — same setting, same world-class curation, with a wider lens that pulls in hip-hop and R&B alongside straight-ahead jazz.

Past performers include: Patti LaBelle, Wyclef Jean, Gregory Porter, Charles Lloyd, The Isley Brothers

Fairfax Festival & Ecofest

Mid-June · Fairfax · Various · Free

A free community festival in Marin County’s quirky Fairfax. Live music, eco-vendors, kids’ activities, and the small-town hippie energy that Fairfax has perfected over decades.

Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival

Father’s Day weekend · Grass Valley · Bluegrass · Camping

California’s longest-running bluegrass festival, four days at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. Camping, jamming, square-dancing, workshops, and headline performances from the genre’s most respected artists. The kind of festival where multiple generations of the same family camp in the same spots year after year

Past performers include: Del McCoury Band, The Devil Makes Three, Sierra Hull

Zombie Apocalypse

Third weekend of June · Long Beach · EDM

A Long Beach EDM festival that fully embraces its name — costumes, undead aesthetic, late-night dance party energy. Niche but loyal following.

Live Oak Music Festival

Father’s Day weekend · San Luis Obispo · Various · Camping

KCBX Public Radio’s annual Father’s Day weekend benefit at Live Oak Camp near San Luis Obispo. Multi-genre lineup, camping included, and one of the Central Coast’s most beloved community festivals — they’ve been running it for over 35 years.

Davis Music Fest

Mid-to-late June · Davis · Various

A multi-day, multi-venue music festival across downtown Davis. Bands play in restaurants, bars, and outdoor stages — a walking festival format that turns the whole downtown into the venue.

Trails End Music Festival

Mid-to-late June · Etna · Various

A small mountain music festival in tiny Etna, way up in the remote Klamath National Forest. Multi-genre and intimate, the kind of fest where everyone knows the bartender.

Truckee Reggae Fest

Mid-to-late June · Truckee · Reggae

A reggae festival in Sierra Nevada mountain town Truckee. Outdoor setting, family-friendly, and a great escape from valley heat in late June.

Ten Mile Creek Revival

Last weekend of June · Laytonville · Americana · Camping

An Americana camping festival in Laytonville on Ten Mile Creek. Roots, folk, and Americana lineup, camping along the water, and the kind of small-fest community where you make friends for the rest of summer. Worth knowing: hotels are scarce in this area — if camping isn’t your thing, look for vacation rentals in Willits or Ukiah (the nearest towns with options) and drive in.

Into the Horizon

Last weekend of June · San Diego · EDM

An EDM festival in San Diego with a focus on melodic house and progressive sounds. Smaller scale than the big Insomniac events, but the people who go are loyal.

Day Trip Festival

Last weekend of June · Long Beach · House/EDM

Insomniac’s house-and-techno day festival on the Long Beach waterfront. Two days, palm trees, golden-hour DJ sets at the Queen Mary, and a roster of the genre’s biggest current names. The 2026 edition adds the new Long Beach Amphitheater as a third stage.

Past performers include: John Summit, Dom Dolla, Duke Dumont, Green Velvet

High Sierra Music Festival

Fourth of July weekend · Grass Valley · Jam · Camping

California’s quintessential 4th of July weekend jam festival, four days of music, camping, workshops, and community in the Sierra foothills. The lineup leans jam-and-Americana but stretches to funk, bluegrass, and folk — and the discovery acts that play smaller stages here have a habit of becoming next year’s headliners. After 25+ years in Quincy, the festival moved to Grass Valley in 2026. Worth knowing: hotels are limited in Grass Valley itself — most attendees camp on-site (it’s the festival’s whole vibe), or grab vacation rentals in Nevada City or Auburn and drive in.

Past performers include: The Lumineers, Primus, Ziggy Marley, Greensky Bluegrass, Grace Potter

Om Getaway

Fourth of July weekend · Tuolumne · House/EDM · Camping

A four-day house and electronic music camping festival in Tuolumne. Small-scale, tight community, focused on melodic house and dance-floor culture in a Sierra-foothills setting.

Giddyup Country Music Festival

Fourth of July weekend · Mammoth Lakes · Country · Free

A country festival up in Mammoth Lakes, riding the wave of mountain-town country fests. High-altitude setting, casual vibe, and a good excuse to combine country music with a Sierra weekend.

Idyllwild Blues Fest

Fourth of July weekend · Idyllwild · Blues

A small mountain blues festival in the artsy alpine village of Idyllwild. Local and regional blues acts, mountain-town summer energy, and a setting that smells like pine.

Fillmore Jazz Festival

Fourth of July weekend · San Francisco · Jazz · Free

The country’s largest free outdoor jazz festival, spanning the Fillmore neighborhood in San Francisco. Multi-block, multi-stage, with food vendors and craft booths. A free 4th of July weekend gift to the city.

Inglewood Music Festival

Fourth of July weekend · Inglewood · Various · Free

A free 4th of July weekend music festival in Inglewood. Community-driven, multi-genre, family-friendly. Easy 4th of July plan if you’re already in LA.

Mammoth JAZZfest

Second weekend of July · Mammoth Lakes · Jazz

A jazz festival up at Mammoth Lakes, second-weekend-of-July energy. Smaller and more intimate than the big jazz weekends, with the bonus of a Sierra setting.

Paul Bunyan Mountain & Blues Festival

Second weekend of July · Westwood · Blues

A mountain blues festival up in tiny Westwood, near Lake Almanor. Small, devoted, the kind of fest where the crowd outnumbers the town’s population. Old-school in the best way: walk-up tickets at the gate (no online sales), remarkably affordable admission (less than dinner), kids get in for half, and the Friday Night Street Dance that kicks off the weekend is free for everyone.

BBQ Music Fest

Second weekend of July · Huntington Beach · Various

A weekend of music plus BBQ in Huntington Beach. Hosted by local breweries and pitmasters, with a casual lineup that pairs well with smoked meats.

Lost in Dreams

Second weekend of July · Los Angeles · EDM

Insomniac’s melodic bass and future bass festival in Los Angeles. Heavy on ILLENIUM-adjacent sounds and the kind of emotional dubstep that draws a passionate fanbase.

Long Beach Bluegrass Festival

Second weekend of July · Long Beach · Bluegrass · Free

A bluegrass festival in Long Beach — yes, even SoCal beach towns get their bluegrass moment. Smaller scale, with traditional and modern bluegrass acts.

San Francisco Free Folk Festival

Second weekend of July · San Francisco · Folk · Free

Exactly what it sounds like — a free, two-day folk music festival in San Francisco. Workshops, performances, instrument circles, and the kind of community-driven folk gathering that’s been running for decades.

Belicofest Los Angeles

Second weekend of July · Los Angeles · Regional Mexican

A regional Mexican music festival at BMO Stadium spotlighting the corridos-tumbados scene that’s taken over Latin music. Big production, big names, and the kind of cultural celebration the LA Latino community has been waiting for in a festival format.

Past performers include: Junior H, Gerardo Ortiz, Snow Tha Product

Redwood Ramble

Mid-July · Navarro · Bluegrass/Jam · Camping

A bluegrass and jam camping festival in the redwoods near Navarro. Small, mellow, and exactly the kind of NorCal weekend that makes you forget your phone exists. Tickets sell out every year, so grab them when they drop.

Dirtybird Campout × Northern Nights

Mid-July · Piercy · EDM · Camping

Two beloved festival brands joined forces — Claude VonStroke’s Dirtybird Campout (camp games meet house music) and Humboldt’s Northern Nights. The result is a weekend of house and techno in the redwoods with summer-camp activities mixed in. Properly weird in the best way.

Mammoth Reggae Festival

Mid-July · Mammoth Lakes · Reggae · Free

A reggae festival up at Mammoth Lakes. High-altitude reggae is a niche worth experiencing — chill vibes hit different at 8,000 feet.

Sierra Bigfoot Music Festival

Mid-July · Twain Harte · Various

A small mountain music festival in tiny Twain Harte, deep in Sierra Nevada Gold Country. Eclectic lineup, mountain-town casual, and yes, the name is exactly what you think it is.

Holo Holo (San Diego)

Mid-July · San Diego · Reggae/Island

The island-music tour rolls through San Diego with the same reggae-and-aloha formula. Bayside venue, mellow crowd, peak summer vibes.

Past performers include: J Boog, Katchafire, Collie Buddz, The Green, Common Kings

Mosswood Meltdown

Mid-July · Oakland · Punk/Rock

Oakland’s annual punk and garage rock festival at Mosswood Park (previously known as Burger Boogaloo). John Waters has hosted in past years — yes, that John Waters — and the booking philosophy leans cult, weirdo, and authentically punk. Free-spirited Bay Area energy.

Vans Warped Tour

Late July · Long Beach · Rock/Punk

The legendary touring punk-and-emo festival is back after a years-long hiatus, with Long Beach as one of the few 2026 stops. If you came up on Hot Topic, eyeliner, and pit-tested earplugs, this is your nostalgia weekend. New generation of bands plus reunions of the bands that defined a decade.

Past performers include: Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, My Chemical Romance, Bad Religion

Petaluma Music Festival

Late July · Petaluma · Various

A nonprofit music festival in Sonoma County’s Petaluma, with proceeds supporting school music programs. Eclectic lineup, friendly small-town energy, and a feel-good cause underneath it all.

Reggae on the Mountain

Late July · Topanga · Reggae

A reggae festival up in Topanga Canyon. Mellow vibes, mountain setting, and the kind of LA-adjacent weekend that feels miles from the city.

Humboldt Folklife Festival

Late July · Arcata · Folk

A folk music festival in Arcata, way up in Humboldt County. Multi-day, community-run, with workshops, performances, and the kind of acoustic-music gathering that flies under the radar but has been running for decades.

Surf Guitar 101 Festival

End of July · Long Beach · Surf Rock

A surf rock festival celebrating the wet-reverb instrumental sound that California basically invented. Niche, devoted following, and exactly the kind of festival that proves there’s a community for every genre.

HARD Summer

First weekend of August · Inglewood · EDM

Insomniac’s hip-hop and EDM crossover festival in Inglewood. Two days that pull from both lanes equally — recent years have stacked huge hip-hop headliners alongside bass and house heavyweights. One of LA’s biggest summer dance fests.

Past performers include: Travis Scott, Future, Skrillex, Diplo, Doja Cat

Jerry Day

Early August · San Francisco · Jam · Free

A free annual Grateful Dead-themed afternoon in San Francisco’s McLaren Park honoring Jerry Garcia. Tribute bands, family-friendly vibes, and the kind of community gathering only the Dead community can pull together.

Jerry Bash

Early August · Nevada City · Jam

Nevada City’s annual Jerry Garcia tribute weekend. Multi-day, jam-and-Dead-flavored, with the Sierra foothills as backdrop. Expect a sellout — the Deadhead faithful book early, so don’t sleep on tickets.

Brewgrass Festival

Early August · Felton · Bluegrass

A bluegrass and craft beer festival in Felton. Music + beer + Santa Cruz mountain redwoods = exactly the weekend you’d hope for.

Cohasset Bazaar & Music Festival

Early August · Cohasset · Various

A small community music festival up in Cohasset, the tiny mountain town near Chico. Local, friendly, with a music-meets-craft-bazaar format. Old-school in the best way: walk-up tickets at the gate (no online sales), adult admission for less than parking at most festivals, and kids under 10 get in free.

Truckee Music Fest

First weekend of August · Truckee · Various

Truckee’s annual community music festival. Multi-day, multi-stage, with Sierra mountain views and the mellow vibe that makes Truckee summer different from valley summer.

Outside Lands

Early August · San Francisco · Various

San Francisco’s marquee festival, three days in Golden Gate Park with massive headliners across rock, pop, hip-hop, indie, and electronic. The food and wine programming is legitimately world-class — this is the rare festival where the eating rivals the music. Eucalyptus trees, fog, and a lineup that consistently goes hard. Tickets sell out, hotels go fast.

Past performers include: Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Kanye West, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Metallica

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest

Early August · San Jose · Jazz

Three days of jazz across multiple stages in downtown San Jose. The festival pulls major national jazz acts plus genre-stretching choices that nod to Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban, and modern fusion. The South Bay’s biggest jazz weekend.

Head In The Clouds Los Angeles

Early August · Pasadena · Pop

88rising’s pop and hip-hop festival celebrating Asian and Asian-American artists. Pasadena Rose Bowl setting, with K-pop, J-pop, Pinoy pop, and Asian-American hip-hop sharing stages. A cultural moment as much as a music festival.

Past performers include: NIKI, Joji, Rich Brian, Atarashii Gakko!, BIBI

Long Beach Jazz Festival

Early August · Long Beach · Jazz

A long-running jazz festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach. Three days of smooth jazz, jazz fusion, and contemporary jazz on the waterfront. Classic LB summer.

The Festival Abides

Early August · Los Angeles · Various

A Big Lebowski-themed festival in LA. Music, White Russians, bowling, and the kind of dedicated cult crowd that only Lebowski-fest culture produces. Costumes encouraged.

Laurel StreetFair World Music Festival

Early August · Oakland · World · Free

A free world music festival on Laurel Street in Oakland’s Laurel District. Multi-genre, multi-cultural, family-friendly, and a great Bay Area summer Saturday.

Brews, Jazz & Funk Festival

Early August · Olympic Valley · Jazz/Funk

A craft beer, jazz, and funk festival at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley. Sierra-resort setting, mid-summer mountain weather, and a genre combo that just works.

San Clemente Fiesta Music Festival

Early August · San Clemente · Various · Free

San Clemente’s annual community festival with live music as a key piece. Beach town summer, family-friendly, and that SoCal small-town energy that beach communities do best.

Cory Wong’s Syncopated Summer Camp

Mid-August · San Francisco · Funk/Jam

Funk guitarist Cory Wong (of Vulfpeck) curates a funk-and-jam weekend in San Francisco. Niche but devoted following, with the kind of musicianship that turns guitar nerds into believers and casual listeners into superfans.

KCON LA

Mid-August · Los Angeles · K-pop

The world’s largest K-pop convention and music festival, three days at the LA Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena. Multi-stage performances, fan meet-and-greets, K-beauty and K-food pop-ups — basically a complete immersion in Korean pop culture. Tickets sell out fast.

Past performers include: Stray Kids, ATEEZ, ENHYPEN, NCT 127, TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Reggae on the River

Mid-August · Piercy · Reggae · Camping

One of America’s longest-running reggae festivals, three days along the Eel River in Piercy, Humboldt County. Run as a non-profit by the Mateel Community Center since 1984, the festival has hosted reggae royalty for 40+ years. Riverside camping, redwood setting, Northern California cannabis culture — every bit as authentic as it sounds.

Past performers include: Ziggy Marley, Steel Pulse, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Shaggy

Summergrass

Mid-August · San Diego · Bluegrass

A bluegrass festival at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista (San Diego County). Three days of pickin’, workshops, and family-friendly bluegrass community.

The OC Smoke Show

Mid-August · San Juan Capistrano · Country

A country and BBQ festival in San Juan Capistrano. Country music meets smoked meats — pretty much the perfect SoCal summer Saturday.

Sound and Fury Festival

Mid-August · Los Angeles · Hardcore/Punk

LA’s premier hardcore and punk festival. Heavy lineups, mosh-pit energy, and the kind of community that travels from across the country to be there. Properly intense.

Buddy Brown Blues Fest

Mid-August · Blue Lake · Blues

A small blues festival in Blue Lake, Humboldt County. Local and regional blues acts, redwoods setting, the kind of small-town summer event that locals plan their year around.

Rhymefest

Mid-August · Los Angeles · Hip-Hop

A hip-hop festival in LA highlighting underground and emerging hip-hop talent. Smaller scale, locally rooted, and a great way to discover artists before they blow up.

Dry Diggings Festival

Third weekend of August · Auburn · Bass/EDM

A bass and EDM festival up in Auburn in the Sierra foothills. Heavy bass lineups, mountain-foothills setting, and a loyal crowd.

Wobbleland San Jose

Third weekend of August · San Jose · Bass/EDM

A bass-and-dubstep-focused EDM festival in San Jose. Wobbly basslines, heavy drops, and exactly what you’d expect from a fest named Wobbleland.

Camp Redwoods

Third weekend of August · Navarro · Reggae/Island · Camping

A reggae and island camping festival in the redwoods near Navarro, from the team behind Holo Holo. Camping under tall trees with reggae as the soundtrack — peak NorCal in late summer. Worth knowing: camping sells out fast — grab your spot the day passes drop.

Mammoth Rocks

Third weekend of August · Mammoth Lakes · Various · Free

A late-summer rock festival up in Mammoth Lakes. High-altitude rock, mountain setting, and the kind of laid-back mountain-town festival energy that’s hard to find at lower elevations.

Just Like Heaven

Third weekend of August · Pasadena · Indie/Alternative

Goldenvoice’s indie-rock nostalgia festival at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The festival is built specifically for millennials who came up on indie sleaze and 2000s-2010s alternative — the lineup reads like a Pitchfork archive from your high school years. Sells out fast, draws fans from across the country.

Past performers include: LCD Soundsystem, MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Modest Mouse

LA Jazz Festival (Jazz on the Beach)

Third weekend of August · Playa Del Rey · Jazz

A jazz festival at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa Del Rey. Smooth jazz, jazz fusion, and contemporary jazz right on the sand.

Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival

Third weekend of August · Felton · Various

A community music festival in Felton, in the Santa Cruz mountains. Mellow, multi-genre, redwoods setting.

City of Gardena Jazz Festival

Third weekend of August · Gardena · Jazz

Gardena’s annual community jazz festival. Local and regional jazz acts, friendly small-city summer energy.

Cali-Country Cruise

Labor Day weekend · Long Beach · Country

A country music festival at the Queen Mary in Long Beach over Labor Day weekend. Country music with a harbor backdrop and the historic Queen Mary looming behind the stage — the kind of view country fans don’t usually get.

KBCZ Music Fest

Last weekend of August · Boulder Creek · Various

KBCZ Community Radio’s annual music festival in Boulder Creek. Multi-day, multi-genre, community-driven, with the redwoods as the venue’s main feature.

Leimert Park Jazz Festival

Last weekend of August · Los Angeles · Jazz · Free

A jazz festival in the historic Leimert Park neighborhood of LA — the heart of Black LA culture and a longtime jazz hub. Community-driven, culturally rich, and exactly the kind of festival that honors its setting.

Stone Soup Music Festival

Last weekend of August · Grover Beach · Various · Free

A small music festival in Grover Beach on the Central Coast. Multi-genre, community-driven, beachside late-summer energy.

New Blues Festival

Labor Day weekend · Long Beach · Blues

A Labor Day weekend blues festival in Long Beach. Blues legends meet emerging acts, with the harbor as the backdrop. A solid send-off to summer.

Brownsville Blues Festival

Last weekend of August · Brownsville · Blues

A small blues festival in tiny Brownsville (Yuba County). The kind of mountain-town festival where the music feels louder because the surroundings are quieter.

Basscon Wasteland

Labor Day weekend · San Bernardino · Hard Dance/EDM

Insomniac’s annual hard dance and hardstyle festival at the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino. Two nights of heavy bass, distorted kicks, and the kind of intensity hardstyle fans live for. The genre’s pre-eminent US festival.

Past performers include: Headhunterz, Coone, Sub Zero Project

Mare Island Dock of Bay Music Festival

Early September · Vallejo · Various

A small music festival on Mare Island in Vallejo. Historic naval shipyard setting, multi-genre lineup, community-focused vibe with one of the most unusual venues in the Bay Area.

Oakchella Family Music Festival

Early September · Oakhurst · Various

A family-friendly music festival in Oakhurst (the gateway to Yosemite). Multi-genre, kid-friendly, perfect if you’re combining festival weekend with a Yosemite trip.

Mt. Shasta Blackberry Music Festival

Early September · Mt. Shasta · Various · Free

A small mountain music festival up at Mt. Shasta. Multi-day, multi-genre, with one of the most striking volcanic mountains in the country as the backdrop. Worth attending just for the setting.

Tejano Conjunto Festival

Early September · Sacramento · Tejano/Latin

Sacramento’s Tejano music festival, celebrating the genre that mixes traditional Mexican folk with German accordion-driven polka. Cultural celebration as much as music festival.

June Lake Jam Fest

Second weekend of September · June Lake · Jam

A jam-band festival up in tiny June Lake (Eastern Sierra). Mountain-town intimate, with high-altitude lakes and incredible scenery making the festival weekend feel like a vacation.

Cannifest

Second weekend of September · Arcata · Reggae/Jam

A reggae and jam festival in Arcata, Humboldt County. Cannabis culture meets reggae meets NorCal redwoods — exactly what the name implies.

Ain’t Necessarily Dead Fest

Second weekend of September · Auburn · Jam

A Grateful Dead tribute festival in Auburn. Multiple Dead tribute bands, jam-heavy lineup, and the kind of multi-day community gathering only Deadheads can pull off.

Sound Summit

Second weekend of September · Mill Valley · Various

A music festival at the historic Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre on Mt. Tamalpais — one of the most stunning natural amphitheaters in California. The lineup typically mixes jam, indie, and Americana with that wide-open Marin sunset as the main event.

Bear Music Fest

Mid-September · Pinecrest · Jam/Various · Camping

A jam and multi-genre camping festival at Bear Valley (Pinecrest). Mountain setting, multi-day camping, and the kind of high-altitude Sierra fest that scratches the post-Labor-Day itch.

Millpond Music Festival

Mid-September · Bishop · Folk/World

A folk and world music festival in Bishop, way up in the Eastern Sierra. Smaller scale, beautiful setting under the towering Sierras, and a folk-festival vibe that’s been running for decades.

Old Town Music Festival

Mid-September · Murrieta · Various

A music festival in the Old Town section of Murrieta. Walkable downtown setting, multi-genre lineup, and a great mid-September Saturday in Riverside County.

Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival

Mid-September · Templeton · Various · Camping

A camping music and arts festival in Templeton, Central Coast wine country. Multi-day, family-friendly, with the vineyards as backdrop and a uniquely Central Coast vibe.

Boots In The Park (Fresno) – Fall

Mid-September · Fresno · Country

The traveling country day-party makes its second California stop of the year in Fresno. Same Boots formula — big lineup, day-fest format, no camping — just running in cooler weather.

Past performers include: Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn

Nocturnal Wonderland

Mid-September · San Bernardino · EDM · Camping

Insomniac’s oldest festival (since 1995 — the original SoCal rave) at Glen Helen Regional Park. Two nights of EDM across multiple stages, with on-site camping that’s half the experience. Old-school rave culture meets current festival production. The campground vibes here are unmatched.

Past performers include: deadmau5, Eric Prydz, Seven Lions, Subtronics, Alison Wonderland

Blues & Roots Festival

Mid-September · Hanford · Blues · Free

A free two-day blues and roots festival on Hanford’s historic Main Street in Kings County. Regional acts, friendly small-town energy, and no ticket booth in sight — the kind of hidden-gem Central Valley festival worth a detour.

Lawndale Blues Festival

Mid-September · Lawndale · Blues · Free

A community blues festival in Lawndale. Local blues acts, community-driven energy, and a great low-key way to spend a September Saturday in the South Bay.

Lake Elsinore Mariachi Fest

Mid-September · Lake Elsinore · Mariachi/Latin

A mariachi festival in Lake Elsinore celebrating traditional Mexican folk music. Cultural celebration with music, food, and community, with the lake as the backdrop.

Cebu Music Festival

Mid-September · Roseville · Various

The Cebu Music Festival (sometimes called the Cebu Jam Music Festival) is a Filipino cultural music festival in Roseville. Music, food, and the kind of community celebration that the Bay Area’s Filipino community has been building for years.

Railroad Square Music Festival

Mid-September · Santa Rosa · Various · Free

A music festival in Santa Rosa’s historic Railroad Square. Walkable, multi-venue, with the downtown turning into the festival.

Orange County Blues Festival

Mid-September · Santa Ana · Blues

A blues festival in Santa Ana. Local and regional blues acts, accessible setting, and the kind of small-fest community that keeps blues alive in SoCal.

Good Vibez (San Jose)

Mid-September · San Jose · Reggae

A reggae festival in San Jose from the Good Vibez Presents team (same folks behind Holo Holo and Cali Roots). Reggae-and-island vibes in the South Bay.

Camp Deep End

Late September · Navarro · Jam · Camping

A jam-band camping festival in Navarro. Small-scale, redwoods setting, the kind of post-summer NorCal fest that wraps the year’s outdoor festival season.

Same Same But Different

Late September · Perris · EDM · Camping

A bass and EDM camping festival in Perris. Multi-day, niche, with that small-fest community bass music tends to build. Camping is half the experience.

Ohana Festival

Late September · Dana Point · Rock

Eddie Vedder’s annual three-day festival at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point. The lineup is curated by Pearl Jam’s frontman himself, which means it’s basically a who’s-who of rock royalty plus carefully chosen indie and alt-rock artists. Pacific Ocean as backdrop, mature crowd, world-class lineup. Tickets sell out — this is one of California’s best-kept festival secrets that isn’t really a secret anymore.

Past performers include: Pearl Jam, The Strokes, Foo Fighters, Stevie Nicks, The Killers

Monterey Jazz Festival

Late September · Monterey · Jazz

One of the longest-running jazz festivals in the world, three days at the Monterey County Fairgrounds — running since 1958. The festival has hosted every major name in jazz history. Multiple stages, a serious educational mission, and the kind of programming where you can hear jazz legends and tomorrow’s stars on the same day.

Past performers include: Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding

Redding Roots Revival

Late September · Redding · Roots/Americana

A roots and Americana festival in Redding (Far North California). Multi-day, family-friendly, with the kind of community feel that small festivals do best.

Holo Holo (Sacramento)

Late September · Sacramento · Reggae/Island

The reggae-and-island tour wraps the California year in Sacramento. Same Holo Holo formula — multiple Hawaiian and reggae headliners across a single day, mellow crowd, peak summer feel even in September.

Past performers include: J Boog, Katchafire, Collie Buddz, The Green, Common Kings

Hayward Mariachi Festival

Late September · Hayward · Mariachi/Latin

A mariachi music festival in Hayward. Cultural celebration, community-rooted, and a great showcase for traditional Mexican music in the East Bay.

Riverside Art & Music Festival

Late September · Riverside · Various · Free

A music and arts festival in downtown Riverside. Multi-venue, walkable, mixing art galleries with live music for one of the Inland Empire’s better small-fest weekends.

TASC Fall Music Festival

Late September · Santa Clarita · Various

The fall edition of the Santa Clarita music festival series. Multi-genre, community-focused, with that Santa Clarita Valley energy.

Portola

Late September · San Francisco · Electronic

Goldenvoice’s electronic music festival at Pier 80 on the San Francisco waterfront. Two days of curated electronic music — house, techno, indie-electronic, hip-hop crossover — with the bay and city skyline as the most photogenic festival setting in California.

Past performers include: Disclosure, Flume, Skrillex, The Chemical Brothers, Fred again..

CRSSD Festival (Fall)

Late September · San Diego · EDM

The fall edition of CRSSD at Waterfront Park in San Diego. Same waterfront setting, same three-stage format, with a fall lineup that often differs from spring. The festival’s fall edition has its own loyal following — autumn light off the bay and the city skyline behind the stage.

Past performers include: John Summit, Claude VonStroke, Cloonee, Boys Noize, Mochakk

Kern River Rock N Blues Fest

Late September · Kernville · Blues

A blues festival on the Kern River in Kernville. Sierra foothills setting, river running close enough to hear, and the kind of mountain-blues weekend that wraps the festival year on a soulful note.

Aftershock Festival

First weekend of October · Sacramento · Rock/Metal

California’s biggest rock and metal festival, four days at Discovery Park in Sacramento. The lineup reads like a who’s-who of metal and hard rock — recent years have brought every major name in the genre. If you like your music loud, your crowd in black, and your weekend over by Monday with a sore neck, this is your festival.

Past performers include: Metallica, Slipknot, Tool, Korn, System of a Down

Redwood Coast Music Festival

First weekend of October · Eureka · Trad Jazz

A traditional jazz festival in Eureka, way up on the North Coast. Multi-day, multi-venue, with the kind of trad-jazz programming that draws devotees from across the country. Bonus: Humboldt redwoods nearby.

Palm Tree Music Festival (Montecito)

First weekend of October · Carpinteria · Dance/Pop

Kygo’s traveling boutique festival lands at the Santa Barbara Polo Fields in Carpinteria. Pop, dance, and tropical house artists with the kind of upscale festival production that makes regular festivals feel rough. Wine country adjacent, ocean nearby, peak SoCal autumn vibes.

Past performers include: Kygo, The Chainsmokers, Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Zedd

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

First weekend of October · San Francisco · Bluegrass · Free

San Francisco’s beloved free bluegrass and roots festival in Golden Gate Park. Three days, multiple stages, 0% admission cost. The lineup leans bluegrass-folk-Americana but stretches into roots-rock and beyond. The festival was founded by a billionaire who loved the music and decided to give SF a permanent gift — and it has remained free ever since.

Past performers include: Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith, Steve Earle, The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show

Huck Finn Jubilee

First weekend of October · San Dimas · Bluegrass · Camping

A long-running bluegrass and Americana camping festival in San Dimas (Inland Empire). Multi-day, family-friendly, with the kind of weekend that makes you want to bring an instrument.

Neverender Festival

First weekend of October · Santa Ana · Rock/Emo

A rock and emo festival in Santa Ana hosted by Coheed and Cambria. The lineup pulls from emo, post-hardcore, and prog. Niche but devoted.

Joshua Tree Music Festival (Fall)

Second weekend of October · Joshua Tree · Various · Camping

The fall edition of the beloved Joshua Tree Music Festival. Same boutique-festival vibe as the spring edition, with a lineup that often leans more Americana and roots than spring’s eclectic mix. Camping in the desert in October is honestly perfect weather.

Past performers include: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Trampled by Turtles, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Trombone Shorty, Greensky Bluegrass

Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival

Mid-October (two weekends) · Catalina Island · Jazz

A smooth jazz festival on Catalina Island spanning two weekends in October. Ferry from Long Beach gets you there. Smooth jazz at island venues with the Pacific as backdrop. The most extra jazz festival in the state, in the best way.

Niteharts

Second weekend of October · San Diego · EDM

An EDM festival in San Diego with a focus on melodic and progressive house. Smaller scale, with a loyal crowd that follows specific producers.

Head Trip

Second weekend of October · Indio · EDM

An EDM festival in Indio at the Empire Polo Grounds — same site as Coachella. House and techno focused, with a more refined production aesthetic than the bigger summer fests.

Palm Tree Music Festival (Napa)

Second weekend of October · Napa · Dance/Pop

The Napa Valley stop of Kygo’s traveling Palm Tree festival. Single-day event at The Meritage Resort & Spa, with wine country setting, polished production, and a dance-pop lineup that fits the upscale wine-country vibe.

Past performers include: Kygo, The Chainsmokers, Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Zedd

Strawberry Music Festival (Fall)

Mid-October · Grass Valley · Folk/Americana · Camping

The fall edition of one of California’s longest-running folk and bluegrass festivals. Multi-day camping festival in Grass Valley with the kind of campground community that’s been forming for 40+ years. Folk, bluegrass, Americana, and acoustic music in the Sierra foothills — and the autumn light up there is honestly something else.

Past performers include: Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Old Crow Medicine Show, Greensky Bluegrass, Sam Bush

Sugar Pine Music Festival

Mid-October · Grass Valley · Various

A small music festival in Grass Valley. Multi-genre, community-driven, Sierra foothills setting.

Breakaway NorCal

Mid-October · Sacramento · EDM/Pop

The NorCal stop of the Breakaway touring festival series in Sacramento. Pop and EDM crossover lineups, with the kind of touring-fest production that hits multiple major cities each year.

Past performers include: Marshmello, Kaskade, The Chainsmokers, ILLENIUM, Diplo

Mission Bayfest

Mid-October · San Diego · Reggae/Rock

A reggae and rock festival on Mission Bay in San Diego. Beach setting, mellow vibes, with the bay as backdrop.

Day Trip Festival NorCal

Mid-October · San Jose · House/EDM

The NorCal edition of the Day Trip house and tech house festival series. Same touring concept as the SoCal edition, with daytime sets running into late afternoon.

Past performers include: John Summit, Dom Dolla, Duke Dumont, Green Velvet

Boots in the Park (Orange County)

Mid-October · San Juan Capistrano · Country

The traveling country day-party hits its OC stop in San Juan Capistrano. Same Boots formula — big lineup, day-fest format, mature-skewing crowd — running in cooler fall weather this time.

Past performers include: Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn

Holo Holo (Long Beach)

Mid-October · Long Beach · Reggae/Island

The Long Beach stop of the Holo Holo touring reggae and Hawaiian music festival. Single-day, harbor setting, same island vibes that the Holo Holo formula has perfected.

Past performers include: J Boog, Katchafire, Collie Buddz, The Green, Common Kings

Birdstock Music Festival

Late October · La Jolla · Various · Free

A small music festival at La Jolla Cove. Multi-genre, community-focused, ocean-adjacent. The setting alone is worth the ticket.

Off The Grid Campout SoCal

Late October · Apple Valley · EDM · Camping

An EDM camping festival in Apple Valley (Mojave Desert). High-desert setting, multi-day, intimate camping community. Worth knowing: this festival sells out — grab passes the day they drop.

Escape Halloween

Halloween weekend · San Bernardino · EDM

Insomniac’s premier Halloween EDM festival at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino. Two nights of dance music with elaborate haunted-theme production, costumes everywhere, and the kind of theatrical staging that turns the festival into a living horror movie. The largest Halloween music festival in the US.

Past performers include: deadmau5, Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Kaskade, ILLENIUM

Darker Waves

Mid-November · Huntington Beach · New Wave/Synth-pop

A new wave, synth-pop, and post-punk nostalgia festival on Huntington Beach City Beach. Single-day, three stages on the sand, with ocean views from every angle. The lineup is built specifically for Gen X and elder millennials who came up on MTV’s moody-synths-and-eyeliner heyday — and somehow these acts still tour and still bring it.

Past performers include: New Order, Tears for Fears, Devo, The Human League, Soft Cell

Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival

Mid-November · Los Angeles · Hip-Hop/Various

Tyler, the Creator’s curated festival at Dodger Stadium in LA. The lineup mixes hip-hop, R&B, alternative, and whatever else Tyler feels like booking — which is part of the festival’s whole identity. Surprise guests are basically guaranteed. One of the most influential festivals in the country and consistently sells out the moment tickets drop.

Past performers include: Tyler the Creator, Frank Ocean, Kid Cudi, A$AP Rocky, Solange, SZA, Erykah Badu

Dreamstate SoCal

Mid-November · Long Beach · Trance

Insomniac’s flagship trance festival at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino. Two nights of pure trance — uplifting, progressive, psychedelic — with the kind of curation that draws the genre’s most devoted fans from across the country. If trance isn’t your thing, skip it. If it is, this is the one.

Past performers include: Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Paul van Dyk

Give Thanks Festival

Thanksgiving weekend · San Jose · Reggae

A reggae festival around Thanksgiving weekend. Small-scale, community-focused, reggae-and-island vibes for the holiday weekend.

Apocalypse Zombieland

Thanksgiving weekend · Long Beach · EDM

An EDM and bass festival in Long Beach. Halloween-adjacent in spirit (the name says it all), with heavy lineups and Long Beach harbor as the backdrop.

Countdown NYE

New Year’s Eve · San Bernardino · EDM

Insomniac’s flagship New Year’s Eve EDM celebration at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino. Two nights of dance music to ring in the new year, with an alien-and-space theme, five themed stages, on-site afterparties running until 6am, and the kind of midnight moment that’s hard to top. The biggest NYE EDM event on the West Coast.

Past performers include: Tiësto, Marshmello, Zedd, Above & Beyond, deadmau5