California Events
Friday, May 23, 2025
BAKERSFIELD: Lightning in a Bottle May 21-25, 2025 at Buena Vista Lake. Lightning In A Bottle Is A Celebration Of Art, Music, Performance, Sustainability And Life. Location: 13601 Ironbark Road. Bakersfield, CA Tickets, libfestival.org
BISHOP: Bishop Mule Days May 20-25, 2025. For all things "mules" this is the greatest show on Earth! Five days of competitions, demos and entertainment featuring mules at Tri-County Fairgrounds, plus the Saturday Mule Days Parade. Location: Sierra St. & Fair Drive Bishop, CA. $, muledays.org
CAMARILLO: Camarillo Old Town Car Cruise, 4-7 p.m. on Ventura Blvd. Participate with your classic or collector car, or come admire the beauties every 4th Friday during the months of March through October. Vendors, Face Painting, and over 200 Classic Cars at this FREE event! Location: Studio Channel Islands Art Center, 2222 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo, CA. Free, facebook.com/ camarillooldtown/ | Additional dates: June 27, July 25, August 22, September 26 & October 24, 2025.
CHICO: Silver Dollar Fair "Red, White and Blue, and Car Races, Too" May 22-26, 2025 at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Competitions: Lamb, Goat, Hog, Rabbit, Steer, Horticulture, Floriculture and more. Location: 2357 Fair St., Chico, CA. $15 admission + $10 parking, silverdollarfair.org
CLAREMONT: Friday Night Live Concerts features bands at Village Plaza, Chamber of Commerce and Shelton Park, all free! Tonight's bands include: Mechanical Melody (Pop covers), Craic Haus (Irish), and Generic Clapton (rock).
CLOVERDALE: Live at the Plaza during Downtown Cloverdale Street Fair features Eric Lindell, with blue-eyed Soul 7-9:30 p.m. Street fair starts at 6 p.m. Free, cloverdaleartsalliance.org
COALINGA: Coalinga Horned Toad Derby May 23-26, 2025. Parade is Saturday at 10 a.m. Free, coalingachamber.com
COSTA MESA ScotsFest Memorial Day Weekend May 24-25, 2025 at Orange County Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA. Adult One Day - $30/day approx., scottishfest.com
FOLSOM: Peter Morgan, smooth Jazz & Yacht Rock performing at Friday Night Live Music in the Piazza, Palladio, 410 Palladio Parkway, Folsom, CA. Free, gopalladio.com
GARDEN GROVE: Garden Grove Strawberry Festival May 23-26, 2025. Always on Memorial Weekend, free admission event includes a Strawberry Festival Parade. strawberryfestival.org
GLENNVILLE: Glennville Round-Up May 23-25, 2025 at GMVA Rodeo Grounds. Memorial Weekend tradition from Greenhorn Mountain Veterans Association (GMVA) includes two days of Ranch Rodeo and Sunday's big Parade 11 a.m. and PRCA Rodeo 1 p.m. Location: 196 Pascoe Road, Glenville, CA $15, glennvillerodeo.org | rodeos
GRASS VALLEY: Strawberry Music Festival May 21-26, 2025 at Nevada County Fairgrounds. Location: 11228 McCourtney Rd. Grass Valley, CA. $, strawberrymusic.com
LAKE ARROWHEAD: Concerts in the Village with Britain's Finest, Beatles tribute. $, ticket required (no free seating in 2025) lakearrowheadsummerconcerts.com
LA PUENTE: On the Fence band performs rock, covers, R&B and 70s-today's hits at Farmers Market Live. Location: 15900 Central Avenue Central/Stimson La Puente, CA. Free, lapuentelive.com
LONG BEACH: Long Beach BBQ Festival May 23-24, 2025, 12-9 p.m. at Shoreline Aquatic Park. Two smokin' hot days of BBQ, music, entertainment, games, shopping, and fun in the sun. Indulge in mouthwatering ribs, juicy burgers, and tender pulled pork from the best BBQ vendors in town. Enjoy live music while you savor your favorite BBQ delights. Location: 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA. $20 general admission, longbeachbbqfest.com
LONG BEACH: Pop Vinyl band performs pop, funk, soul, rock and more 6 p.m. at Concerts in the Park at El Dorado Park West. Location: Studebaker Road north of Willow Street, Long Beach, CA. Free, longbeach.gov
MONTEREY: California Roots Festival May 23-25, 2025 Monterey County Fairgrounds 2004 Fairground Road Monterey, CA $338-up for 3 day pass, californiarootsfestival.com | music fests
NAPA: Bottle Rock May 23-25, 2025. Location: 575 Third Street $ bottlerocknapavalley.com
NEWPORT BEACH: Field of Honor May 16-26, 2025, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Armed Forces Day Ceremony on May 17, 2025 in Castaways Park. Location: 700 Dover Drive at 16th Street Newport Beach, CA Free, exchangeclubofnewportharbor.com
NEWPORT BEACH: David Rosales, Country, folk, blues and rock music at Newport Dunes Tunes at the Dunes. Location: 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, CA. $35 parking, newportdunes.com
NOVATO: Marin Greek Festival May 23-25, 2025 Memorial Weekend at Greek Orthodox Christian Church. Location: 1110 Highland Drive, Novato, CA 94949 | Greek
OROVILLE: Stringtown Band at Oroville Spring Concerts in the Park. Location: Amphitheater in Riverbend Park, 50 Montgomery Street, Oroville, CA. Free, frrpd.com
PASO ROBLES: Golden State Classics Memorial Day Weekend Cruise & Car Show May 23-24, 2025 at Downtown City Park. Friday Night Cruise, with pre-show party $. Saturday Car Show. Free for spectators. Fun cruise and car show with 400 cars & trucks, 60+ trophy and plaque awards! Manufacturer Row, Scavenger Hunt, raffle prizes, 50/50, food and auto-related vendors! Free spectator admission, goldenstateclassics.org
POMONA: Los Angeles County Fair "Art Unleashed" May 2-26, 2025. Spotlight on all things creative with 2025 theme. Art Unleashed: home arts, culinary arts, visual arts, performing arts, fine arts and the art of having fun in the "Mullet Throwdown" hairstyle contest. There's still livestock, a carnival, vendors, foods and more. Open Thurs.-Sunday plus Memorial Day. Location: Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA. $18.50-27.50 pre or $32 gate + parking $22.50 pre or $26 gate, lacountyfair.com
POTTER VALLEY: Potter Valley Rodeo is held on Memorial Weekend May 23-26, 2025. pottervalleyrodeo.com | rodeo
RIVERSIDE: UC Riverside Annual Tribal Powwow May 23-25, 2025. Campus of UC Riverside 900 University Ave Riverside, CA nasp.ucr.edu/ | pow wow
SACRAMENTO: Sacramento County Fair "Cowboy Boots & Fair Roots" May 22-26, 2025. Alaskan Pig races, Great American duck races, bands, Corn Dog Eating Contest, Diaper Derby, bull riding, tractor pulls and more. $, sacfair.com
SACRAMENTO: XZIBIT concert at Concerts in the Park. Location: Cesar Chavez Plaza, 910 I Street, Sacramento, CA. Free, GoDowntownSac.com
SAN JOSE: FanimeCon May 23-26, 2025 at San Jose Convention Center's The Hub. Northern California’s largest anime convention, is proud to be By Fans, For Fans. Video programming, extraordinary costumes, music, games, tournaments, panels, and renowned international guests. Masquerade, Maid Cafe, J-Fashion, Swap Meet, Dance, Karaoke, MusicFest, Speed Dating, Music Video Competition, Gaming, Artist Alley, Celebrity Meet & Greets, more. Location: 150 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113. $65-105, fanime.com
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO: Homefront America Field of Honor May 20-26, 2025, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Regular admission pricing will be in effect. Normally the Mission is closed on Mondays, however, the Mission will be open on Memorial Day, May 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. as part of this program. Location: 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA. $18 general admission, missionsjc.com
SAN PEDRO: LA Fleet Week May 21-26, 2025 includes free military ship tours, free concerts, neighborhood activations throughout greater Los Angeles area, demonstrations, information, entertainment, education and all to honor those who are serving and have served the US military. lafleetweek.com
SANTA BARBARA: Gem Faire May 23-25, 2025 at Earl Warren Showgrounds. Location: 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA. $7, gemfaire.com
SANTA CLARITA: Newhallywood Silent Film Festival May 23-25, 2025 at several locations. Event highlights thousands of dialogue-free films that were shot in the area around Newhall in the Santa Clarita Valley from 1895-1930. santaclaritaarts.com/ newhallywood/
SANTA FE SPRINGS: 90s Rock, 7-11 p.m. at Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet concerts. Location: 13963 Alondra Blvd., Santa Fe Springs, CA. sfsswapmeet.com
SANTA MARGARITA: Best of the West Antique Equipment Show Memorial Day Weekend Friday, May 23-25, 2025 Historic Santa Margarita Ranch. Train rides, tractor parade on Saturday, blacksmith demos and more. Location: 9000 Yerba Buena. $15 day or $30 weekend, bestofthewestshow.com | farm
SANTA MARIA: West Coast Kustoms Car Show Cruisin' Nationals May 23-25, 2025 at Santa Maria Fairpark. Fri. Car Cruise. On Sat. & Sun 2 bands performing. $, santamariafairpark.com | westcoastkustoms.com
SANTA MARIA: Banda Real 1221 at Santa Maria Downtown Friday Concerts. Location: Town Center West Parking Lot, S. Broadway & Cook St., Santa Maria, CA. Free, dtfsantamaria.com
SANTEE: Expressions Dance, variety, 5:30-7 p.m. at Friday Nights Live at Santee Trolley Square. Location: 9884 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee, CA. Free, cityofsanteeca.gov
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE: Greg Austin & Southern Justice 5:45-9:15 p.m. at Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series. Location: 1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA. Free, theshopsatheavenly.com
TEMECULA: The Groove Squad performs at Thornton Winery Friday Night Music Series. Location: Thornton Winery 32575 Rancho California Rd., Temecula, CA. $38-48 ticket, thorntonwine.com
TEHACHAPI: Western Swing Out Weekender Downtown Tehachapi May 23-26, 2025. Western Swing Bands offer a weekend of Western Swing, Hillbilly, Rockabilly & Country Music! $175 weekend pass: westernswingout.com | lineup
VACAVILLE: Fiesta Days May 22-26, 2025 in Andrews Park includes a carnival, concerts, car show, food eating contests and more. Free, vacavillefiestadays.org
YUCCA VALLEY: Grubstake Days May 22-25, 2025 includes a carnival (through June 1, 2025), Old West contests, 10 bands performing, kids day events, car show, vendors, food & drinks for sale, horseshoe contest and more in Brehm Park. Location: 56620 Little League Drive, Yucca Valley, CA. Free admission, yuccavalley.org
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.