California Events
Oakland Art + Soul Music and Food Festival
Thursday, September 17, 2026
ANTIOCH: Big Truck Day, 4-8 p.m. at Antioch Community Center. People big and small can get up close and explore the city's hard-working trucks. Location: , 801 James Donlon Boulevard, , Antioch, CA. Free, antiochca.gov
BERKELEY: Berkeley Old Time Music Convention September 16-20, 2026 at Berkeley Main Library, Freight & Salvage and Ashkenaz. Concerts, dances, string band contest, workshops and more. $, berkeleyoldtimemusic.org
BUENA PARK: KNOTTS SCARY FARM September 17-October 31, 2026 at Knotts Berry Farm = Mazes, Scare Zones, Coasters in the Dark scary rides, bands performing. Hours: Select Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 7 p.m.- 1 a.m. plus Fridays and Saturdays 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Location: 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA., $59.99-up, knotts.com
CONCORD: Sacred Fire Band, tribute to Santana, 6:30-8 p.m., Concord Music & Market at Todos Santos Plaza, Location: 2175 Willow Pass Willow Pass & Grant St. Concord, CA. Cost: Free, cityofconcord.org
ENCINITAS: Wavecrest Woodie Meet September 17-20, 2026. Cruise Night Downtown on Hwy 101 is Sept.17; Meet & Greet night is Sept.18 at The Encinitan Hotel & Suites; Woodie Meet is Sept.19, 8a-3p at Moonlight Beach; Woodie Cruise is Sept.20, 8-10:30a on Hwy 101 to Oceanside. Largest free wood bodied car show in the world brings people from all over the United States. Free, encinitasca.gov | woodies
GRASS VALLEY: Draft Horse Classic & Harvest Fair September 17-20, 2026. In between the Draft Horse performances, enjoy the Harvest Fair. Visit the barns and meet the horses, taste the delicious Treat Street goodies. Location: 11228 McCourtney Road Grass Valley, CA. $10 arena tickets, nevadacountyfair.com
HANFORD: Eminent Groove, R&B, 5:30-9 p.m., Hanford Market Place Concerts Downtown Hanford Between Doughty & Irwin St. Hanford, CA. Free, mainstreethanford.com
HUNTINGTON BEACH: Oktoberfest September 12-November 8, 2026 at Old World Village. German Beers & Bands, Brats & Kraut, Shot Girls, and the Chicken Dance at every event! Hosting SoCal's biggest party since 1978, the indoor/outdoor Bavarian Biergarten features free admission nights Wed & Thu; adult nights Fri-Sat; and daytime family Sundays. oldworldhb.com
IRWINDALE: Mexican Independence Mariachi Fest September 3-24, 2026, 7-9 p.m. in Irwindale Park Plaza every Thursday in September, 7 p.m. at the Park Plaza. Event includes Mexican band, Craft Vendors, Loteria, Mexican food for sale. Free, irwindaleca.gov
KELSEYVILLE: Tex Pistols, country music with a hard rockin' edge, 7-9 p.m. at Kickin' in the Country Street Dance on Main Street Downtown, Kelseyville, CA Free, visitkelseyville.com
KERMAN: Kerman Harvest Festival & Parade September 17-20, 2026 Downtown Parade Sept.19, 10 a.m. and Kerckhoff Park. $10 admission to festival includes concerts and entertainment, and wristbands for carnival rides are also sold.
LODI: Lodi Grape Festival September 17-20, 2026 at Lodi Event Center. Celebrate the grape harvest at the annual four day fair filled with music, food scents, great entertainment, vendors, grape and commodity murals, competitive exhibits, carnival and of course, wine tasting. Lodi, CA $, parking $12, grapefestival.com
NEWARK: Newark Days September 17-20, 2026 "Adventure is Just a Page Away" celebrates the founding of the City of Newark with a carnival, parade, car show, fun run, food, entertainment and four days of festive merriment. Location: Newark Community Center Park, 35501 Cedar Blvd., Newark, CA. Free admission newarkdays.org
ORANGE: Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch September 12-October 31, 2026. Annual attraction and popular place to take children for pumpkin pictures, crafts, kiddie rides, food and wholesome fun! Location: 1 Irvine Park Rd., Orange, CA. Free admission on weekdays; $, weekends - reservations required, IrvineParkRailroad.com
ORANGEVALE: Ryder Thieves band performs 5-8 p.m. at Orangevale Bands & Brews Concerts. Market is open 4-8 p.m. Location: 6826 Hazel Ave., Orangevale, CA. Free, orangevalechamber.com
ORINDA: Tom and the Broken Hearts, tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, classic rock, 6-8 p.m. at Orinda Summer Concerts in Orinda Community Park. Location: 28 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA. Free, cityoforinda.org
PINECREST: Bear Music Fest September 17-20, 2026. All inclusive includes cabin sleeping, all meals and concerts and music in this immersive event. Location: Lair of the Golden Bear 1 Camp Blue Road Pinecrest, CA $, bearmusicfest.com
PLEASANT HILL: Downtown Summer Concert Series with Foreverland band, tribute to Michael Jackson, 7-9 p.m. at The Plaza in front of Jack's Restaurant & Bar. Location: 60 Crescent Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA Free, shopdowntownpleasanthill.com
SONOMA: Sonoma Plein Air Festival Week September 14-19, 2026. Over 30 juried, nationally-acclaimed artists converge on Sonoma for a week to paint throughout the region, then show and sell their work to benefit youth arts education in Sonoma Valley. sonomapleinair.com
TULARE: Tulare County Fair September 16-20, 2026. Parade is Wednesday 10 a.m. Destruction Derby, Food contests include Homemade Ice Cream, Cookies, Salsa, Decorated Cupcakes, Breads, Cakes, Pies & Candy Confections. Location: 620 South K St., Tulare, CA $, tcfair.org | Sept. Fairs
UNIVERSAL CITY: Halloween Horror Nights September 3-November 1, 2026, at Universal Studios Hollywood is back. New this year is Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness at Southern California's scariest Halloween event with terrifying haunted houses, the Terror Tram, sinister scare zones, live entertainment and attractions. halloweenhorrornights.com
WATSONVILLE: Santa Cruz County Fair September 16-20, 2026. Horse show events, Junior Livestock, Carnival Rides, Midway games, concerts, entertainment, fun for all ages. Location: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., Watsonville, CA. santacruzcountyfair.com
WHEATLAND: Bishop's Pumpkin Farm open daily September 4-November 15, 2026. It's like going to a fair with fun foods and drinks, barnyard animals, carnival rides, hayrides, firepits, entertainment and free admission! Location: 1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland, CA. Free, parking fees select days, bishopspumpkinfarm.com
WILTON: Nudestock September 17-20, 2026 at Laguna del Sol. Music festival at clothing optional resort. 8683 Rawhide Lane Wilton, CA 95693 lagunadelsol.com
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.