California Odd, Unusual Festivals

Won't you take me to funky town? You don't have to go far in California — there's always something odd, unusual or unexplained just around the bend. Some of our favorites include:

NAILS: Nail & Sail Kinetic Boat Race Sept.21-22, 2019 at Oceanside Harbor Days

POISON OAK: Poison Oak Show and Fiddle & Bango Festival Sept.28, 2019 Columbia (top left photo)

FOG: Pacific Coast Fog Fest Sept.28-29, 2019 in Pacifica

COYOTES: Coulterville CoyoteFest Sept.27-28, 2019

BURROS: Calico Days / Burro Run Sept.28-29, 2019 Calico Ghost Town, Yermo

DOO: Doo Dah Parade Nov.24, 2019 Pasadena

WEEDS: Weed Show Nov.2-3, 2019, in 29 Palms

FIRE & LIGHT: Glow, A Festival of Fire and Light, Oct.12,2019 Santa Cruz

DUCKS: Rubber Ducky Derbies in Santa Clarita Oct.12, 2019 & in Glendale October 19, 2019

TARANTULAS: Coarsegold Tarantula Festival usually last Saturday before Halloween

GOLF CARTS: Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade Oct.27, 2019, Palm Desert 

PINECONES: Pine Cone Festival Oct.5, 2019, Running Springs

 

WILLOWS: Big Foot Days Parade September

BRIDGEVILLE: UFO Festival August

HAYFORK'S: Bigfoot BBQ 

WINTERS: Winters Earthquake Festival  August

TWENTYNINE PALMS: Weed Show October

FORT BRAGG: Paul Bunyan Labor Day Parade

PASADENA: Doo Dah Parade November, varies

PALM DESERT: Golf Cart Parade October-November

COLUMBIA: Poison Oak Show September-October 

Expected the unexpected, and don't get your knickers in a twist over these irreverent California events catering to crowds with a sense of humor (sometimes twisted), but always with an eye on fun. TARANTULAS: Coarsegold Tarantula Festival   Coarsegold

POISON OAK: Poison Oak Show and Fiddle & Bango Festival  Columbia State Historic Park

COYOTE HOWLS: Coulterville CoyoteFest   Coulterville

FOG: Pacific Coast Fog Fest   in Pacifica

NAILS: Nail & Sail Kinetic Boat Race  Oceanside Harbor Days

GOLF CARTS: Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade   Palm Desert

RUBBER DUCKIES: Rubber Ducky Derby   Santa Clarita

DOO DAH: Doo Dah Parade November 19, Pasadena

PINE CONES: Pine Cone Festival   Running Springs

FASHION: Santa Cruz Fashion Art  Santa Cruz 

FIRE/LIGHT: Glow, A Festival of Fire and Light  Santa Cruz 

FLOATING HOMES: Sausalito Floating Homes Tour  Sausalito

BURROS: Calico Days Annual Burro Run  at Calico Ghost Town, Yermo

WEEDS: Weed Show in 29 Palms

Unusual festivals that have taken place in California: Undie Runs, Liar's Contests, Earthquake Festival, Bigfoot Days, UFO Contest, Squirrel Roundup, Cockroach Races, Bathtub Races, Duct Tape Races, Glass Pumpkin Patches, Testicle Festival, Bed Races, Ugly Dogs... Nature Objects

 

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