California Events
Friday, September 18, 2026
LAKEWOOD: The Hollow Awakens September 12-October 31, 2026 (Wednesday-Sunday evenings) at Lakewood Center Mall. Check out Imaginarium's new Halloween themed attraction with nine haunt zones, circus entertainment and trick or treats. Location: 326 Lakewood Center Mall, Lakewood, CA. $22-24, thehollowawakens.com
AUBURN: River Forge band plays Americana with soul, 6-8 p.m. at Music in the Square in Downtown Auburn. Location: 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA. Free, exploreauburnca.com
AVALON: Annual Catalina Festival of Art, September 18-20, 2026, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily One of the longest running and most acclaimed art festivals in California! Artists from all over the country exhibit along Crescent Avenue and sell their works of fine art, sculpture, fine crafts & photography. catalinaartassociation.org
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
BISHOP: Millpond Music Festival September 18-20, 2026 at Millpond County Park. Line up: Squid Eye, Painted Mandolin, INCENDIO, Midwatch Band, Vance Gilbert, Handmade Moments, Old Blind Dogs, FAYNE Afro Euphoric, Los Wizzards, AkaMya, Daniel Rodriguez, HUDOST, Deep Thicket Dwellers, Rumbo Tumba and Brass Queens, $40-120, inyo.org Camping is also available by reservation
BOONVILLE: Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show September 18-20, 2026. Includes Horse Show, Sheep Dog Trials, National Wool Show. Location: 14400 Highway 128, Boonville, CA. $, mendocountyfair.com | apples
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
BUENA PARK: The 17th Door, a Halloween scream returns with new thrills, September 18-November 1, 2026, 7-11 p.m. at Buena Park Downtown Mall. Location: 8420 On the Mall Buena Park, CA 90620 $39-up, the17thdoor.com
CLOVIS: Tall Can Koozi band with guitar, vocals, fiddle & bass, 6:30 p.m. to dusk at Bluegrass in the Park. Location: Clovis Veterans Memorial Park (Liberty Park), 901 Fifth St., Clovis, CA. Free concert, great music!
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
FOLSOM: Dancin' in September with band, Clean Slate September 18, 2026, 6-9 p.m. at Zittel Family Amphitheater. Live music & dancing, margaritas and a full bar, raffle prizes benefiting local nonprofits and community projects, VIP table options available. Location: Zittel Family Amphitheater, 200 Wool Street, Folsom, CA. $35-40, HistoricFolsomRotary.org
FRESNO: Fresno Greek Festival September 18-20, 2026 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church. Location: 2219 N. Orchard, Fresno, CA. $ facebook.com/ FresnoGreekFest | Greek
FRESNO: Fresno Chaffee Zoo's Safari Night Gala September 18, 2026, 6-11:30 p.m. Elegant cocktail hour, seated dinner, and beverages, alongside exciting silent and live auctions. Location: 894 West Belmont Ave., Fresno, CA. $300, fcz.org
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
HESPERIA: Hesperia Days, Parade & Rodeo September 18-20, 2026. Concert with at Hesperia Lake Park Friday night. Free admission, $5 parking. On Saturday 5K Fun Run Walk Skate 8a at Percy Bakker Community Center, free; Hesperia Days Parade 9a on Main from I to E Aves.; Hesperia Celebration 11a at 7500 Arrowhead Lake Road with free admission + $10 parking. On Saturday & Sunday Hesperia Days Rodeo starts at 5p at Hesperia Lake Park Arena $20 + $10 parking. Info & tickets, hesperiaparks.com
HOLLYWOOD: Orville Peck, 8 p.m. at Hollywood Bowl Summer Concert Season. Location: 2301 N Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA. $, hollywoodbowl.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
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.
LAGUNA BEACH: AVP Laguna Open September 18-20, 2026, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at Main Beach. 70th annual Laguna Open is an AVP Contender Event this year. Free to see, AVP.com
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
LONG BEACH: Dark Harbor at Queen Mary September 18-November 1, 2026. Scary Mary, The Ringmaster, terrifying mazes, carnival rides and ghostly experiences. There's drinking, dining, dancing, swinging (axes) and lots of screaming! $, queenmary.com
MOUNTAIN VIEW: Wild Child band does soul, rock, country & blues music at Concerts on the Plaza 6-7:30 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza Location: 500 Castro St., Mountain View, CA. Free, mountainview.gov
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
ONTARIO: Route 66 Cruisin' Reunion September 18-19, 2026. Euclid Avenue Ontario, CA Free admission, Route66CruisinReunion.com
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
PASADENA: Golden State Tattoo Expo September 18-20, 2026 at Pasadena Convention Center. Tattoo artists from around the globe include Facundo Ceballos of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dave Paolo, Portugal; and Mumia, Stockholm, Sweden. Location: 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA. $35-72, goldenstatetattooexpo.com | tattoos
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
PLACERVILLE: Handblown Glass Pumpkin Patch September 18-26, 2026, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Bluestone Meadow. Public invited to this anticipated annual event. Location: 2025 Carson Rd., Placerville, CA. Free admission & parking, applehill.com
REDWOOD CITY: Oktoberfest September 18-27, 2026 (no event Monday, September 21) at Courthouse Square features 4-hours Oktoberfest sessions that include live, German bands performing. $10-up, all ages event, redwoodcity.org
SAN BERNARDINO: San Manuel Pow Wow September 18-20, 2026 at Cal State University, San Bernardino 5500 University Pkwy San Bernardino, CA sanmanuel-nsn.gov/Culture/Pow-Wow | or socalpowwow.com/ pow wow
SAN DIEGO: SeaWorld San Diego Howl-O-Scream September 11-November 1, 2026 is a special ticket, nighttime scare attraction with 6 haunted houses, 3 scare zones, vile vignettes, band/music, and themed bars with drinks for sale age 21+. $41.50-55 tickets, seaworld.com
SAN FRANCISCO: Oktoberfest on Front September 18, 2026, 2-10 p.m. Street takeover featuring big block party with Stein holding competitions, live music, games, Stein holding competitions and 70 beers on tap! Dance in the streets to authentic Bavarian yodeling and polka by Ladyhosen, followed by dance hits from powerhouse party band, Pop Rocks. Location: 240 Front Street, San Francisco, CA. Free admission, eventbrite.com
SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco, A Taste of Greece September 18-20, 2026 at Annunciation Cathedral. Beloved Greek Food Festival, newly rebranded. Location: 245 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA. Free admission, sfgreekfestival.org | Greek
SAN JACINTO: All Native Fast-pitch September 18-20, 2026 at Soboba Indian Reservation. National Indian Athletic Association All Native Fast-pitch Tournament. Registration, sponsorship and vendor opportunities: soboba-nsn.gov/niaa
SANTA BARBARA: Legendary band, Earth, Wind & Fire at Santa Barbara Bowl Concerts. Location: Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA. Tickets $67.50-up, sbbowl.com
SANTA MARIA: Banda Real at Friday Concerts in Downtown Santa Maria - McClelland Street from Boone Street to the Library, Santa Maria, CA. Free, dtfsantamaria.com
SANTEE: Indigo Swing band, 5-7 p.m. at Santee Lakes Summer Concerts. Location: Santee Lakes, 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee, CA. Free, santeelakes.com
SAUSALITO: Dee Coco & Company, 6:30-8 p.m. at Sausalito Jazz and Blues by the Bay in Gabrielson Park, Sausalito, CA. Free grass seating, first come first serve, or purchase tickets for reserved table seating, sausalitoca.gov
SOLVANG: Solvang Danish Days September 18-20, 2026 includes Danish food, themed entertainment, kids games and vendors selling unique gifts. Saturday features concerts all day, Aebleskiver Eating Contest and the main parade. Free, SolvangDanishDays.com
STOCKTON: Foreverland band, Michael Jackson tribute, 6-9 p.m. at Lincoln Center Concerts, The Brickwalk. Location: Pacific Avenue at Benjamin Holt Drive, Stockton, CA Free, lincolncentershops.com
TEMECULA: Dog N Butterfly, Heart tribute at Thornton Winery Friday Night Music Series. Location: Thornton Winery, 32575 Rancho California Rd., Temecula, CA. thorntonwine.com
TORRANCE: Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival September 18-20, 2026. Main Event: September 19, 2026, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at Torrance Cultural Arts Center. Location: 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance, CA 90503 $29-59, losangelesukulelefestival.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
WILLITS: Flynn Creek Circus September 11-27, 2026 at The Skunk Train. Aerialists, jugglers, knife throwers, circus acts, and laugh out loud comedy, this circus blends classic storybook archetypes with imaginative new heroes in The Cricket & the Wren. Location: 299 E. Commercial, St. Willits, CA. $$136.50 Big Top Includes a train ride through the redwoods, circus admission, and general seating, skunktrain.com flynncreekcircus.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.