California October Festivals

October in California is focused on Fall with harvests, and events ranging from Oktoberfest celebrations to Halloween walks, haunts and Trick or Treat. Seasonal festivals prominent in the month of October include apple festivals, scarecrow festivals, pumpkin festivals and Halloween events. Other ongoing fests throughout the month include California film festivals.

AZUSA: Golden Days October 13-22, 2023
carnival rides, games, contests, parade

CARLSBAD: Legoland Brick or Treat  
LEGOLAND California
(760) 918-5346
One LEGOLAND Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
$, legoland.com

BUENA PARK: Silverado Days   William Peak Park, Buena Park, CA

AGOURA HILLS: Reyes Adobe Days with a hometown parade 

SAN FRANCISCO: LEAP Sandcastle Contest
Ocean Beach, Great Highway
leaparts.org
Architects, engineers, contractors, designers and San Francisco school children collaborate every year to create majestic sculptures from sand. Free and open to the public.

BORREGO SPRINGS: Borrego Days Desert Festival  Annual event includes Saturday morning parade through town on Palm Canyon Drive at 10 a.m. with lively marching bands, floats, decorated golf carts, equestrian groups and more! Cost: Free. borregospringschamber.com

PISMO BEACH: Clam Festival  
Annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival A community tradition since 1946, the Pismo Beach Clam Festival features a live parade, best local chowder contest, surf contest, food, beer & wine garden, and Pier Pub. Enjoy music all weekend, and start off with the Friday Night Wine Walk, pismochamber.com

HALF MOON BAY: Art & Pumpkin Festival

SAN JOSE: Outrageous Outgrowns October 19-21, 2023
Outrageous Outgrowns sale features more than 70,000 gently used or new items including kids clothes, expectant & new moms apparel, hundreds of toys, books, movies, games, puzzles, arts & crafts, room decor, strollers, cribs, nursing & maternity items, and much, much more! All items are sold by individual families, but they're all in one place - just like a huge store. Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday & Saturday. Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Expo Hall 344 Tully Road San Jose, CA outrageousoutgrowns.com

 

IRVINE: Irvine Global Village Festival October 14, 2023,, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Great Park
8000 Great Park Blvd.
Irvine , CA 92618
$5, cityofirvine.org/globalvillage/
Fall festival with global cuisine, artisan's marketplace, music, Kids Village with crafts, interactive activities, and a petting zoo. 

 

Past events

FALLBROOK: Scarecrow Days October 9-31, 2019 Fallbrook Fall Faire | Main Ave. & Alvarado | Scarecrow Contest | fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org

HOLLISTER: Northern California Renaissance Faire at Casa de Fruta September 14 - October 20, 2019, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

SACRAMENTO: Sacramento Water Festival And Conference October 30-November 3, 2019, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Discovery Park
1600 Garden Hwy.
Sacramento, CA 95833
$Free-200, hattaf.org
Discussions, special sessions, demonstrations, visual arts and performances, local food vendors, live concerts, vendors, activities for children, art exhibitions, in celebration of Water.

IRVINE: Global Village Festival October 12-13, 2019. Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Location: The Great Park, Irvine. Free, cityofirvine.org

SANTA MONICA: West Edge Design Fair October 24-27, 2019 Santa Monica Airport The Barker Hangar 3021 Airport Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90405 $25 General admission, $125 all access pass, westedgedesignfair.com

SAN FRANCISCO: Fiesta on the Hill October 27, 2019, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA. Family-friendly and alcohol-free, celebrate the diversity that is integral to the rich fabric of Bernal Heights and its surrounding neighborhoods, Fiesta attracts thousands of people over 7 blocks with arts, crafts, local goods/services and food vendors. Highlights include live music, dancing, a children's area with rides, games and more. All proceeds go to Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center's youth, senior, affordable housing, community engagement, and employment programs. Vendor booths: (415) 279-0560 or bhnc.org. 

CHINO: Harvest Festival cow milking and seed planting

DEL MAR: Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show craft event at the fairgrounds

DUBLIN: Harvest Fair caramel apples and tractor-pulled hay wagon rides

EXETER: Fall Festival  parade and scarecrows

KELSEYVILLE: Harvest Festival grape stomping and pie eating contests

LAKEPORT: Harvest Festival Grape Stomp

McCLOUD: Apple Harvest Festival apple pie contest and fresh juice

OAKHURST: Oakhurst Fall Festival carnival

PASO ROBLES: Pioneer Day Parade & Festival parade, free bean feed, whiskerino contest and a hoosegow!

PERRIS: Southern California Fair

PORTERVILLE: Pioneer Days re-enactments with Jackass Mail Run Association's Live Shoot Out in the Street

QUINCY: Mountain Harvest Festival celebrates the Fall colors of Plumas County

REEDLEY: Reedley Fiesta and Parade, Biggest, Small Town Celebration in the Valley

ROSEMEAD: Fall Fiesta

SAN MARTIN: Uesugi Farms pumpkin patch weigh-off

SANTA YNEZ: The Great Grape Stomp vineyard hay rides

SILVERADO: Country Fair & Folk Festival

SOLVANG: Celebration of Harvest Weekend

UKIAH: Ukiah Pumpkin Festival & Scarecrow City

VALLEY CENTER:  Bates Nut Farm pumpkin patch, scarecrow contest

BUENA PARK: Arirang Festival of Orange County October 3-6, 2019 Location: The Source, 6940 Beach Blvd. Buena Park, California 90621. ArirangOC.com
Celebrate culture and heritage through lively song, dance and food at the Arirang Festival at The Source, 6940 Beach Blvd. This international event features Korean, Mexican, Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese cultures. Experience the open air market and food court, music and dance performances, senior and youth talent shows, traditional

MONTEREY PARK: Monterey Park Geranium Festival & ArtWalk Location: Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Ave. Monterey Park, CA Admission is free, MontereyPark.ca.gov

PALMDALE: Kaleidoscope Music & Art Festival October 12, 2019, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Palmdale Amphitheater
2723 Rancho Vista Blvd.
Palmdale, CA 93551
Free admission, free parking, palmdaleamphitheater.com
Artisans, live chalk artists, visual & performing arts, Art of the Brew, Fresh Made Market Culinary & Apothecary vendors, food vendors, and more!

WASCO: Festival and Rose Parade October 13, 2018
Wasco, CA

ANGELS CAMP: Mark Twain Festival October 20, 2018
angelscampbusiness.com Mark Twain Festival goldrush-header The annual Mark Twain Festival (formerly known as Gold Rush Day) in downtown Angels Camp celebrates the 151st anniversary of Mark Twain's visit to Angels Camp and the writing of The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.

SACRAMENTO: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, musical October 19-November 3, 2018.  Green Valley Theatre Company 3823 V Street Sacramento, CA 95818  $20, greenvalleytheatre.com

LOS MOLINOS / DAIRYVILLE: Dairyville Orchard Festival October 19, 2019, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Lassen View School Los Molinos, CA  dairyvillefestival.org

LOS ANGELES: Taste of Soul Crenshaw Blvd (near intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.) between Stocker and Rodeo Rd. Los Angeles, CA. Free admission, tasteofsoul.org

SANTA CRUZ: GLOW  The annual fire and digital art festival features Cooper Street and Abbott Square glowing with fire dancing, flaming fire art sculptures, fire cannonades, radiating music and dancing in the streets.

BAKERSFIELD: Via Arte Italian Street Painting Festival October 19-20, 2019, Opens after 7 a.m.
Marketplace, Corner of Ming Avenue and Haggin Oaks Boulevard- Bakersfield, CA - Free event, must apply for art participation and be accepted, see: viaartebakersfield.com

PLACERVILLE: El Dorado County Mineral & Gem Society Show,   10 a.m.-5 p.m. El Dorado County Fairgrounds 100 Placerville Drive Hours: 10 - 5 daily $5 admission, rockandgemshow.org  50 dealers featuring worldwide minerals, rough and faceted gems, jewelry, beads, fossils, petrified wood, agate, gold, opal, meteorites, geodes, finished cabochons, slabs and other lapidary material, tools, equipment, books, and kits.

SPRINGVILLE: Springville Apple Festival   Springville Apple Festival 35680 Highway 190 Springville, CA 93265 springvilleapplefestival.com

CAYYUCOS: Cayucos Antique Street Faire  7 a.m.-3 p.m. Treasures abound in this unique antique street faire setting in Cayucos! Antiques, vintage, and collectibles galore Family friendly, free admission, free parking !! Located at 10 N. Ocean Ave, Cayucos, CA Contact number: 805-751-3737 facebook.com/CayucosAntiqueStreetFaire/

FOREST CITY: Forest City Annual Apple Harvest Celebration  Location Dance Hall, Forest City, Pliocene Ridge, CA Celebrate the Annual Apple Harvest Celebration held at the Dance Hall features regionally famous apples. sierracountychamber.com

MANHATTAN BEACH: Manhattan Beach Pumpkin Race Festival October 28, 2018 Manhattan Beach Pier 

MONTE RIO: Fright Flicks  October 21, 2017  20396 Bohemian Highway Monte Rio, CA riotheater.com October 20, 2017& Haunted Wine Country  Beetlejuice with singalong October 22, 2017 Haunted Wine Country TICKETS $8 adults $6 juniors and seniors | horror films

NORTH HOLLYWOOD: NoHo Fringe Festival October 19-November 19, 2017. nohofringe.org

PALM SPRINGS: VintageVibe Festival, October 20-22, 2017 A celebration of the evolution of American style and pop culture from midcentury modernism through the 1990s, VintageVibe Festival will offer a 60,000-square-foot marketplace with memorabilia, art, goods and fashion at the Palm Springs Convention Center. 

SAN FRANCISCO: Wharf Fest 
Fisherman's Wharf 100 Jefferson St. San Francisco, CA visitfishermanswharf.com Free admission. Chowder Competition & Tastings| Live Music at the Hard Rock Cafe Mainstage | Featuring the Three Best Local Bands from the Hard Rock Rising Contest| Live Street Performer Entertainment

SANTA ROSA: Santa Rosa Mineral & Gem Society Show  Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Hall 1351 Maple Ave., Santa Rosa, CA. (Across from the fairgrounds) Time: Saturday 10am - 6pm Sunday 10am - 5pm Cost: $6 person Kids under 12 free, srmgs.org | gems

SILVERADO: Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Bat Night October 21, 2017, 4-8 p.m. Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary 29322 Modjeska Canyon Silverado, CA 92676 tuckerwildlife.org $6; age 3 and under free Parking: Corner of Santiago & Modjeska Canyon Rd. 

TWENTYNINE PALMS: Pioneer Days Festival   ci.twentynine-palms.ca.us  81st Annual Pioneer Days is celebrated the third weekend in October with a Parade, carnival, Honorary Judge & Sheriff contest, Little Miss and Master contest, Outhouse Races, and other festive events. Carnival, vendors, and community booths are in in Luckie Park Thursday through Sunday, plus music, beer garden, arm wrestling tournament, pet parade, and more. Saturday features a Firefighters Pancake Breakfast and Grand Marshals' Tribute from 6 to 10 a.m.; Parade downtown at 10 a.m. on the highway and Adobe Road; Old Timers Gathering at the Schoolhouse Museum 1-4 p.m.; Chili Dinner at the 29 Palms Art Gallery 5-8 p.m.; beer garden and live music in Luckie Park; and many more events. Enjoy down-home family fun! Information: 29 Palms Chamber of Commerce (760)367-3445. It began in 1937. A rodeo was held and races:  boot, package, rescue, potato, relay races, musical chairs  and a pony express race.  1938 found the celebration called Pioneer May Day, and in 1940 a parade was added. 

UKIAH: Ukiah Giant Pumpkin Fest  

YUBA CITY: California Wine and Beer Festival,   1-5 p.m. $30-40, californiabeerandwinefestival.com

Oktoberfest Celebrations

Del Mar Home Improvement Show October 27-29, 2017. Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar Fairgrounds, CA

Contra Costa Fall Home and Garden Show October 27-29, 2017. Location: Concord Pavilion, Concord, CA

Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show, Pleasanton October 27-29, 2017. Location: Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA | harvestfestival.com

California Home & Garden Show October 27-29, 2017. Location: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, San Jose, CA

Contemporary Crafts Market October 27-29, 2017. Location: Pasadena Convention Center Exhibit Hall, Pasadena, CA

Halloween Family Faire October 28, 2017. Location: City Park, Woodland Hills, CA

Golden Oak Honey Festival  Location: City Park, Paso Robles, CA

Coarsegold Trantula Festival  Location: Downtown, Coarsegold, CA

Handcrafted Harvest Holidays October 28-29, 2017. Location: Folsom Premium Outlets, Folsom, CA | pacificfinearts.com

Clovisfest: Celebrating the Real California Location: Old Town Clovis, Clovis, CA

ALBANY: Epic ACG Fest October 28-29, 2017, 1-9:30 p.m.
Albany Community Center 1249 Marin Avenue Albany, Ca 94706
$10-$25, eacgfest.org (310) 940-2598 Epic ACG Fest (EACG) is a international event that combines Animation, Comic art and Gaming to create Hollywood style Geek culture. Includes: animation films from worldwide | audience to face to face with the international artists | industry panels and workshops | Cosplay contest | game tournaments | red carpet award ceremony. Use your Halloween custom at the Epic ACG to double the fun.

THOUSAND OAKS: PowerShares QQQ Championship October 27-29, 2017
Sherwood Country Club $29-$59 PowerSharesQQQChampionship.com

CLOVIS: Clovisfest & Hot Air Balloon Fun 
clovischamber.com

KERNVILLE: Fall Festival
Free admission, gotokernville.com

SAN DIEGO: Monster Bash held outdoors in the Gaslamp Quarter, tickets required. This is an age 21+ event with adult themes, alcohol served and $5000 prize for costume contest.

CALIFORNIA: Boos at zoos in L.A., Fresno, San Jose, Atascadero, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Orange

COARSEGOLD: Tarantula Festival. coarsegoldhistoricvillage.com

MANHATTAN BEACH: Manhattan Beach Pumpkin Race Festival October 29, 2017, 12-5 p.m. Manhattan Beach Pier 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd. approx. Manhattan Beach, CA Free, pumpkinrace.com

BRENTWOOD: Home-Town Halloween October 28, 2017, 5 -7:30 p.m.
First & Oak
Brentwood, CA
brentwoodchamber.com

CHERRY VALLEY: Olive Festival  11 a.m.-5 p.m.
 hsresort.com $5 admission approx. Cherry Valley, California
Highland Springs Resort. Olive Pressing Demonstration & Lectures, Tours, Festive Food, Wine Tasting, Farmer's Market, Children's Games, etc. | olives

WEST HOLLYWOOD: West Hollywood Carnaval, October 31, 2017 biggest, free Halloween street party in the U.S.

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