California August Music Festivals

What a wonderful time to be living in California or visiting! In addition to free summer concerts in parks,  August features music festivals on the river,  in the mountains, at the beach and all over the place. The genres are varied--pop, rock, classical, Indie, country, bluegrass, reggae--you name it! And some concerts are actually free!

LAYTONVILLE: Dead on the Creek August 8-10, 2025
Dead On The Creek Festival, Alamo Mission Band and 3 others Black Oak Ranch
Laytonville, CA
Going where the water tastes like wine Stay tuned for lineup and more details! Music & audio Laytonville, California
facebook.com/ events/ 1119795063093714/

RANCHO CUCAMONGA: Jazz Festival August 8, 2025, 4-8 p.m. at The GEM Center. Outdoor event features great lineup of jazz artists in this fundraiser for Suicide Awareness and Prevention. Location: 8338 Day Creek Boulevard, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.  $40 includes 1 dinner plate and music, thegemcommuitycenter.org

 

Past events

Mammoth Bluesapalooza July 31- August 3, 2025
Mammoth Lakes, CA

Outside Lands August 8- 10, 2025
San Francisco, CA

San Jose Jazz Festival August 8- 10, 2025
San Jose, CA

Long Beach Jazz Festival August 9- 10, 2025
Long Beach, CAlifornia

Camp Redwoods August 15- 17, 2025
Navarro, CA

Sol Blume August 15- 17, 2025
Sacramento, CA

 

 

 

Past events

REDWAY / PIERCY: Reggae on the River music festival August 2-4, 2024 at County Line Ranch in Humboldt County. Camping, reggae music, river enjoyment and cannabis farm tour, optional. County Line Ranch (next to old location, French's Camp).
$135-up, reggaeontheriver.com
Line up: 

LONG BEACH: Uptown Jazz Festival August 3, 2024
Houghton Park
6301 Myrtle Ave.
Long Beach, CA
Free, longbeach.gov

LOS ANGELES: Hard Summer Festival August 3-4, 2024
Hollywood Park adjacent to SolFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA $190-up, hardsummer.com | line up: 

SAN FRANCISCO: Bliss Festival August 3, 2024, 6 p.m. and Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 3 p.m. at Presidio Theatre  Location: Presidio Theatre on the Main Post, 99 Moraga Avenue, San Francisco CA, 94129 $7-15, presidiotheatre.org 
Line up:

HOLLISTER - TRES PINOS: Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival   August 8-11, 2024
San Benito County Historical Park
8300 Highway
Tres Pinos, CA
$35-up, scbs.org
Line up: 

OROVILLE: For the Funk of It Music Festival August 9-11, 2024
Lake Concow Campground, 12967 Concow Rd., Oroville, CA. $270 weekend pass (approx.), ftffest.com
Line up:  

LONG BEACH: Long Beach Jazz Festival  August 9-11, 2024
Great line up of acts, , VIP options, too. Held at the beautiful Rainbow Lagoon, Shoreline Park, this event offers room to roam, vendors galore and jazz, oh yea!
$75-200, longbeachjazzfestival.com

SAN FRANCISCO: Outside Lands August 9-11, 2024
Golden Gate Park. $226-up, sfoutsidelands.com
The largest independently owned music festival in the country.
Line up: 

SUTTER CREEK: Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival August 9-11, 2024
4-5 locations throughout the town feature: Saturday evening concert and a Sunday afternoon concert to end the festival. Event passes are required at the venues, but you can still see and listen to the music at the Sina's backroads Cafe with no pass.  $25-85, historicsuttercreekragtimefestival.com / sold through the mail, online or in town at the beginning of the event.
Line up: 

SAN JOSE: San Jose Jazz Summer Fest August 9-11, 2024
Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, 170 S. Market
Downtown San Jose, CA
$40-640, sanjosejazz.org
The Summer Fest grounds encompass the heart of downtown San Jose.
Line up: 

SEBASTOPOL: Gravenstein Apple Fair August 10-11, 2024
$18-20, gravensteinapplefair.com
Ragel Ranch Park.
Saturday lineup:
Sunday lineup:

SAN CLEMENTE: San Clemente 68th Annual Fiesta Music Street Festival August 11, 2024, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
100-200 blocks Avenida del Mar
San Clemente, CA
Free, scchamber.com
Line up: 

SAN DIEGO: Hillcrest CityFest August 11, 2024, 12-11 p.m.  5th Avenue - 9 city blocks! (includes parts of Robinson & University Streets) San Diego, CA. Free,   fabuloushillcrest.com 
Lineup: 

SAN MATEO: Aloha Festival, August 10-11, 2024
Hula, Polynesian dance performances, music, Hawaiian art and souvenirs, food. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 
San Mateo Event Center
1346 Saratoga Drive
San Mateo, CA
$5, $20 parking, pica-org.org

SAN DIEGO: SoCal Taco Fest August 17, 2024, 12-10 p.m.
at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway  San Diego, CA. Line up:   .  21 + only so make sure to bring your ID. No "in and out" of festival will be allowed.$, socaltacofest.com | tacos

VISTA: Summergass Bluegrass Music Festival August 16-18, 2024
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
2040 N. Santa Fe Avenue
Vista CA
$20-85 (camping also available for a fee), summergrass.net
Bluegrass bands, workshops Impromptu jam sessions Vendors A raffle Special kid's activities Tasty food Plenty of onsite dry camping And more!
Line up:  

OLYMPIC VALLEY: Brews, Jazz & Funk Fest August 17, 2024, 3-10 p.m. at Palisades Tahoe. Breweries from throughout the western states showcase their best brews in The Village at Squaw Valley while fantastic bands bring the funk, making this fun-filled event one of the most popular in the Tahoe region. AND you can bring your canine companions to party down with you! Beers served individually for around $8/ea.  Location: 1960 Squaw Valley Road Olympic Valley, CA $28-40 approx. music only, beers additional, palisadestahoe.com
Line up: 

BETHEL ISLAND: Boats & Berries Music Festival August 17-18, 2024, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Bethel Island Scout Hall.  American Legion Colour Guard and National Anthem, King and Queen, and a hometown parade down Bethel Island Rd! (fire department golf carts, horses, dogs, dancers, musicians.) Featuring: Boat Show, Berry Pie Eating Contest, Rubber Duckie Races, LIVE Entertainment, Line Dancing and Lessons, Fun and Educational Kids Zone, Dog Show, Businesses and Vendors, Adult Refreshments/Goodies Garden, Food Trucks! Location: 3090 Ranch Lane, Bethel Island, CA 94511.  Free, facebook.com/

COTATI: Accordion Festival August 17-18, 2024
La Plaza Park
$19-32, cotatifest.com  
Nonstop accordion music in this annual event
Line up:   

SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco Sea Music Festival August 17, 2024, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Multiple venues in San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and along the waterfront to the Crab Wheel Plaza at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Five stages of live music, parade of historic boats, over-the-water jousting
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Argonaut Hotel Plaza
Crab Wheel Plaza at Fisherman’s Wharf
Free, maritme.org
Festival Highlights: Traditional chanteys, folk songs, and contemporary maritime music. • Special Guest Performer: Maria Muldaur and Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band joins the festival with their soulful blend of blues and roots music.

LAKE ARROWHEAD: Jazz Festival in San Bernardino Mountains at Tavern Bay August 22-24, 2024
Location: 28399 N Shore Rd. Lake Arrowhead, CA
$58-up, bluejayjazz.org
Line up: 

SAND CITY: West End Celebration August 24-25, 2024
Ortiz & Hickory St.
Sand City, CA
westendcelebration.com
Free admission
Line up: 

SANTA CRUZ: Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School August 23-31, 2024
valleyofthemoon.org
The Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School in the northern California redwoods invites you its 30th Annual week of intensive study, recreation, and good times with people who share an interest in the music and dance traditions of Scotland. 

GROVER BEACH: Stone Soup Music Faire August 24-25, 2024
Grover Beach, CA
Free, clarkcenter.org
Stone Soup Music Festival Street Faire offers live music, vendor booths, Mardi Paws Dog Parade and international foods.  Local dance groups, too!   
Line up: tba

AUBURN: Dry Diggings Music Festival August 23-25, 2024
Gold Country Fairgrounds
209 Fairgate Road
Auburn, CA
$52-375, drydiggingsfest.com
Lineup:  

DUNSMUIR: Pacific Crest Music Festival 
pacificcrestmusic.com
Music in the Mountains Musicians from around the country come to Dunsmuir, CA to learn and to play together. Classical music and more. Public performances, outdoor concerts, outreach events, and other live musical events included. Lineup:

SAN DIEGO: Tiki Oasis July 31-August 4, 2024
Music & Mayhem

MAMMOTH LAKES: Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza August 1-4, 2024
Mammoth Lakes, California
$65-325, mammothbluesbrewsfest.com
Annual Mammoth Bluesapalooza and Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza includes 2 days of beer tasting from 150 brews + 4 days of music.  This is an outdoor venue - you can bring blankets and LOW BACKED sand chairs, no pets or outside alcohol.
Line up: 

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.