May Festivals in California

May Festivals help get the party rolling for summer fun with special events some look forward to, and many are just learning about for the first time. Fantastic foods ranging from strawberries (at least 3 strawberry festivals throughout the state) to artichokes and beer are the favorites among the monthly flavors and tastes.  Beers & Brews festivals are popular annual events held in Avila Beach, Boonville, and other spots.

Some family-favorite events kids love include the Marina Festival of the Winds event with kites, and the Caledonia Street Faire in Sausalito sponsored by a nursery school and the city of Sausalito. Races, concerts, fiestas and ever-popular Cinco de Mayo all provide reasons for May to herald the early launch of the summer season! And lest we forget, Memorial Day Weekend is a three day vacation signaling the start of  summer vacations!
 

Festival	city	web / contact
All Food Festivals -May	California	seecalifornia.com
Artichoke Festival	Castroville	artichoke- festival.org
Avila Beach Blues Festival	Avila Beach	otterproduction sinc.com
Big Sur Marathon	Big Sur	bsim.org
Bluegrass in the Spring	Yermo	calicotown.com
Boonville Beer Festival	Boonville	avbc.com
Calaveras Jumping Frog Jubilee	Calaveras County	frogtown.org
Caledonia Street Fair	Sausalito	cityofsausalito specialevents.com
Chino Planes of Fame Air Show	Chino	planesoffame.org
Cinco de Mayo	Los Angeles	olvera-street.com
Cinco de Mayo	Santa Barbara	cincode mayosb.com
Cinco de Mayo	Pasadena	pasadena cincodemayo.com
Cinco de Mayo	San Diego	fiestacinco demayo.com
Cinco de Mayo	Borrego Springs	borrego springs.org
California Chili Cook-Off	San Bernardino	chilicookoff.com
Cinco de Mayo Parade & Festival	San Jose	sjgif.orgl
Cinco de Mayo	Visalia
Cinco de Mayo	Porterville
Cowboy Festival	Santa Clarita	cowboy festival.org
Doheny Blues Festival	Doheny	dohenystate beach.org
Doo Dah Parade	Pasadena	pasadenadoodah parade.info
Duck-a-thon	Huntington Beach	duckathon.org
Festival of Arts	Paso Robles	prcity.com
Festival of Winds	Marina	marina festival.com
Fiesta Hermosa	Hermosa Beach	fiesta hermosa.com
Fishing Derby Lincoln Park	Los Angeles	laparks.org
Fishing Derby	Manhattan Beach	ci.manhattan- beach.ca.us
Gourd Festival	Knights Landing	gourdfarmer.com
Great Chili Cookoff	Petaluma	greatchili cookoff.com
Grubstake Days	Yucca Valley	yucca-valley.org
Heritage Days	Woodland Hills	piercefarm center.com
Heron Festival	Kelseyville	heron festival.org
Hog & Lamb BBQ	Point Arena
OC Greek Fest	Anaheim	2011oc greekfest.com
Heritage Days & Civil War	Woodland Hills	piercefarm center.com
Hometown Days	San Carlos	sancarloshome towndays.com
How Weird Festival	San Francisco	howweird.org
Iris Festival	Yucaipa	irisfest.org
Kinetic Sculpture Race	Arcata	kinetic sculpturerace.org
Lodi Street Faire	Lodi	lodichamber.com
Long Beach Pride Festival	Long Beach	longbeach pride.com
Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival	Santa Rosa	roseparade festival.com
May Madness Show, Shine & Cruise	Corning	corning chamber.org
Monrovia Days	Monrovia	ci.monrovia.ca.us
Mountain View A La Carte & Art	Mountain View	pacific finearts.com
Mule Days Celebration	Bishop	muledays.org
National Orange Show	San Bernardino	nationalorange show.com
Ojai Storytelling Festival	Ojai	ojaistoryfest.com
Peddler's Fair	Arnold
Redding Rodeo	Redding	redding rodeo.com
Rodeo - Woodlake Lions	Woodlake	woodlakelions rodeo.com
Sacramento Jazz Jubilee	Sacramento	sacjazz.com
Santa Monica Festival	Santa Monica	santa-monica.org
Sicilian Festival	San Diego	sicilianfestival.org
Simi Cajun Music Festival	Simi Valley	simicajun.org
Simi Valley Pride	Simi Valley	simipride.org
Spring Festival	Yermo	calicotown.com
Strawberry Festival	Arroyo Grande	arroyogrande village.org
Strawberry Festival	Garden Grove	strawberry festival.org
Strawberry Festival	Oxnard	strawberry -fest.org
Sunset Beach Art Festival	Sunset Beach	Mother's Day
Swedish Festival	Kingsburg	kingsburgchamber ofcommerce.com
Tea & Fashion Show	Tomales	tomales history.com
Vacaville Fiesta Days	Vacaville	fiestadays.org
Walk on the Wild Side Festival	Freeport	fws.gov

 May 2012 California Fairs and Festivals

VENTURA-Ventura Music Festival
May 3 through May 12
venturamusicfestival.org

BUENA PARK-Sugar Plum Arts and Crafts Festival
May 3 - 6
sugarplumcrafts.com

LOS ANGELES-LA Modernism Show & Sale
May 4 - 6
dolphinfairs.com/calendar

CALABASAS-Calabasas Fine Arts Festival
May 5 - 6
calabasasartscouncil.com/CalabasasFineArtsFestival.htm

CHICO-Pioneer Day Parade
May 5
pioneerdayparade.com

SAN FRANCISCO-San Francisco Cinco de Mayo Celebration
May 5
sfcincodemayo.com

CALABASAS-Calabasas Fine Arts Festival
May 5 - 6
calabasasartscouncil.com/CalabasasFineArtsFestival.htm

GRASS VALLEY-Springtime in the Pines Quilt Show
May 5 - 6
pinetreequiltguild.com

SAN MATEO-San Mateo Co. African Violet Show & Sale
May 5
enjoy-africanviolets.org

CORONA-Koroneburg Renaissance Festival
May 12 - June 17
renaissanceinfo.com

HUNTINGTON PARK-Huntington Park Art Fesitval
May 12
huntingtonpark.org

DUBLIN- May Faire for Mother's Day
May 12
ci.dublin.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=758

REDLANDS-Mother's Day Arts and Craft Fair
May 12
artsandcraftfair.webs.com

ALAMEDA-Alameda Point Vintage Fashion Faire
May 18 - 19
alamedapointantiquesfaire.com/test4-fashionFaire-1.php

SANTA ROSA - Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival.
May 19
roseparadefestival.com

OAKDALE-Oakdale Chocolate Festival
May 19 - 20
oakdalechamber.com/chocolate-festival-rootmenu-41

ROCKLIN-Kidsfest
May 20
kidsfestnorcal.com

OAKLAND-Doof-a-Palooza
May 22
anotherbullwinkelshow.com

CONCORD-Bay Area KidFest
May 26 - 28
kidfestconcord.com

MORGAN HILL-Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras
May 26 - 27
mhmmg.com

SAN FRANCISCO-Treasure Island Flea Market
May 26 - 27
TreasureIslandFlea.com