California September Festivals

September festival in California include harvest festivals with focus on food and drinks, Halloween events seeping into the September calendar, Hispanic celebrations, film fests and thousands of things to see and do, primarily on weekends.

SAN FRANCISCO: Autumn Moon Festival September 19-20, 2026, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This event features multicultural entertainment, traditional lion and dragon dances, arts and crafts, lantern village, moon cakes and children's activities.   Grant Ave. between California and Pacific Streets. moonfestival.org

MILL VALLEY: Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival September 19-20, 2026, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Old Mill Park
352 Throckmorton Ave.
Mill Valley, CA
$28.52 admission, mvfaf.org

WASCO: Festival and Rose Parade September 10-13, 2026
Barker Park
Poso Drive & Poplar Avenue
Wasco, CA
wascorosefestival.com

AUBURN: Ain't Necessarily Dead Festival  September 12, 2026, 12-10 p.m.
Regional Park
3770 Richardson Drive
Auburn, CA
Free admission, auburnrec.com
Grateful Dead Tribute Concert This is a free show!  See lineup

McARTHUR: Inter-Mountain Fair Labor Day Weekend - September 3-7, 2026. Concert Sept. 5 with Bryan Martin. Rodeo Sept.4 with Barrel Racing, ACTRA Team Roping, separate ticket $30-82.  Small Animal Show, CountrIntMtn Valley Trail Rides, FRVCC Farmers Market, BBQ Dinner, Horseshoe Tournament, Music Series Kick-off, Big Ball Tournament, Crafts Store, Antique Car Show, Pony Plop Bingo, Mud Run Races, Trike Races, Blow Fish Races, BBQ Dinner, Beer Garden, Egg Roulette, Live Music . $8.24 admission, inter-mountainfair.com

SANTA CRUZ: Aloha Races September 19, 2026, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Municipal Wharf
Beach Street and Pacific Avenue
Free, cityofsantacruz.com
Exciting outrigger canoe races, food, fresh flower leis, shave ice, and dance performances

LA JOLLA:  San Diego Spirits Festival September 26-27, 2026
 at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Fueled by top spirits & magnificent works of art, the world-class cocktail and cultural event, is shaking things up with all-inclusive cocktails from over 65 brands (including High end Spirits, ready to drink cocktails and seltzers,) delicious bites from eateries, live music and entertainment, access to galleries and more. Hours: Sat 2-6 p.m. and Sun 1-5 p.m. Location: 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla CA 92037  Tickets: $88.90, sandiegospiritsfestival.com

ALHAMBRA: Fiesta Alhambra September 20, 2026,   9 a.m.-1 p.m.
 Latino Heritage Festival. Live music, food, activities and more while you shop at the Farmers Market!Location: 100 S. 2nd St. Alhambra, CA cityofalhambra.org | Fiestas Patrias

SOLVANG: Solvang Danish Days September 18-20, 2026
Free admission, solvangdanishdays.org

CALIFORNIA: Oktoberfest Festivals throughout the State

MILLBRAE: Millbrae Art & Wine Festival
free admission
Caltrain Lot on West Evelyn
miramarevents.com

VENTURA: Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival September 12 & 13, 2026
Ventura Harbor Village
1583 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
venturaartandchalkfestival.com
Artists show their work on the lawn and street painters  create colorful chalk murals on the sidewalks along the docks.  Children's Chalk Area invites kids to create a 2x2' mural for $. The fee includes a small box of chalk pastels. This event raises funds for two local charities. 

WOODSIDE: Nightfall
Autumn leaves change color from green to red and gold, fruit ripens to its harvest peak, and nature prepares for winter. 
Filoli 86 Canada Road Woodside, CA $, filoli.org

ANAHEIM: Anaheim Craft & Vintage Fair September 19, 2026, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Great food sold all day! | Local crafters and artists | No multi-level marketing vendors | Food sale including Eastern European favorites, homemade jam & bake sale | Church talks at 11a & 2p | Convenient parking | Handicapped accessible | Stop on by and have a great time! Location: Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church, 995 N. West St., Anaheim, CA 92801 facebook.com/ Anaheimcraftfair/

MENLO PARK:  Menlo Park Sidewalk Fine Arts & Crafts Fall Fest    Santa Cruz Avenue between El Camino Real and University Drive. pacificfinearts.com

VISTA: Viking Festival September 19-20, 2026
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
2040 North Santa Fe Avenue
Vista, California 92083
 $23 presale,  vistavikingfestival.com
Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Axe throwing, spear throwing, archery, Viking log toss, horn blowing competition, vendor row, craft beer & mead, ethnic foods, Viking encampment, more. Vista Viking Festival is hosted by Norway Hall Foundation and presented by Norwegian Fish Club Odin and Norge Lodge of Sons of Norway. Live music with 9+ Bands & Flaming Axe & Fire Exhibitions

• 30+ Local Meads and Beer from 10+ Meaderies & Breweries
• Men’s & Women’s Professional Stonelifting World Championship Qualifier
• Interactive Viking Village with over 30+ Craftsmen and Merchants
• Adult, Youth, & Kids Axe, Spear, and Archery Ranges
• Adult Fish Fling, Beard, Battle Cry, and Log Toss Competitions
• Live Blacksmithing
• Meatballs, Meatpies, Berserker Dogs, and More!
• Expanded Youth & Kid’s Pavilion

Past Events

SAN FRANCISCO: Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival September 
Ghirardelli Square
Ghirardelli Square and on Beach Street
Ghirardelli.com
ghirardelli.com
 

WILMINGTON: Fiestas Patrias 
fiestadecarnival.com

POWAY: Poway Days Fest
Poway Road, Poway, CA powaydays.com

TUOLUMNE: Tuolumne Acorn Festival 
Cost: Free Location: Tuolumne Rancheria Tuolumne, CA
blackoakcasino.com

CHICO: Summerfest Chico Location: Chico, CA

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Timeless Treasures Boutique  timelesstreasuresboutiques.com 100+ artisans at Fall and Halloween craft festival boutique. Free admission, live music, free cup of coffee, ample free parking. New items daily.

PLYMOUTH:  Barbera Festival   Location: Terra d'Oro Winery 20680 Shenandoah School Rd Plymouth, CA. barberafestival.com

MONTEREY: Monterey Jazz Festival 

BOONVILLE: Mendocino County Fair & Apple Show  Location: 14400 Highway 128, Boonville, California. mendocountyfair.com

CAMINO: Fall Harvest Festival  open every weekend through apple season. Location: El Dorado Orchards, 2948 North Canyon Rd., Camino, CA, eldoradoorchards.com

LAFAYETTE: Lafayette Art and Wine Festival September 19-20, 2026  Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, CA

LONG BEACH: Moompetam: Native American Festival
In celebration of local Native American cultures, the Aquarium of the Pacific will host its  annual Moompetam Festival, featuring traditional music, dance, cultural craft demonstrations, storytelling, and educational programs. The festival will celebrate California's indigenous maritime cultures, including the Tongva, Chumash, Acjachemen, Costanoan, Luiseño, and Kumeyaay.
Location: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach  , aquariumofpacific.org

CARMEL: Annual Sandcastle   Carmel Beach Scenic, south of 10th Carmel-by-the-Sea, California ci.carmel.ca.us or aiamontereybay.org | sandcastles

FAIR OAKS: Fair Oaks Chicken Festival September 19, 2026
10219 Fair Oaks Boulevard Fair Oaks, CA
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. fairoakspark.org
Music, dancing, contests, kids activities and community fun for all ages.

FERNDALE: Bargain Lovers' Weekend September 11-13, 2026 
visitferndale.com
Town-wide garage sale takes place from Main Street to side streets and throughout the entire Victorian Village. Dozens of locations to check out, offering everything from antiques and collectibles to household items, tools, toys, electronics, clothing and more.

FIDDLETOWN: Fiddletown Fiddlers' Jam Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Musician sign-ups begin at 9 a.m. This year Dirty Cello headlines the event. fiddletownca.org

CHULA VISTA: Bonitafest September 12, 2026
Twilight Parade is at Sunnyside Saddle Club, 6 p.m. | Festival 6:30 p.m. at Arts Center
chulavistaca.gov
Annual Bonitafest Street Fair and Performing Arts Festival takes place at Bonita Museum and Cultural Arts Center
751 Otay Lakes Road
Admission and parking are free.
Food, art and diverse South County vendors 

CRESTON: Creston, CA Classic Rodeo  Location: 6180 Webster Road Creston, CA. crestonclassicrodeo.org | rodeos

LIVE OAK: Live Oak Festival  Memorial Park, Live Oak, CA

RANDSBURG: Randsburg Old West Days September 19, 2026
Rand Desert Museum, Randsburg, CA
Free, facebook.com/ RandsburgOldWestDay
Parade at 10 a.m.; Pancake Breakfast 8-10 a.m.; Costume Contest; Old West Re-enactments; Petting Zoo; Car / Bike Show; Live Music, Food, Drinks, Vendors

KERMAN: Kerman Harvest Festival & Parade 
kermanchamber.org
Annual community celebration 70+ years and still going! Four day event opens on Thursday   Food, vendors, Paul Maurer Shows Carnival, entertainment and music nightly, dance outdoors under the stars!
PARADE Saturday the   Kerman Harvest Festival Parade at 10 a.m. in downtown Kerman. Parade procession on Madera Avenue; A Street to G Street. 2017 Parade and

DURHAM: Durham Harvest Festival September 20, 2026
Durham Community Park
Durham-Dayton Highway |
Car Show Arts and Craft Fair
Free, durhamrotary.org
47th annual Harvest Festival features the always popular Car Show & Shine! Pancake Breakfast 7:30-11 a.m.; BBQ Lunch 12-3 p.m.; Live Music, Craft Fair, Kids Activities, Antique Engine and Tractor Display, Special Performance by Durham High School Band

ONTARIO: Route 66 Reunion September 18-19, 2026
Euclid Avenue
Ontario, CA
Route66CruisinReunion.com
Vintage Metal Road Show attracts car enthusiasts, hot rodders, musicians, vendors and sponsors to the car festival along historic tree-lined Euclid Avenue during the third weekend of September.

OAKHURST:  Mountain Heritage Days  Parade Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park
Oakhurst, CA  fresnoflatsmuseum.org 

NEWARK: Newark Days
newarkdays.org
Family fun, entertainment and Arts and Crafts. Micro-Brews, music, a Car Show (Saturday), Farmers Market (Sunday), Arts and Craft Vendors, Food Vendors and local Commercial Vendors along with a Kids Zone Park.

BERKELEY: Berkeley Old Time Music Convention | music

DINUBA: Raisin Day Festival
Celebrate the raisin harvest, a 100 year tradition with a parade, carnival and fun.

FRESNO: Reel Pride Film Festival

GRASS VALLEY: Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair 
Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, CA. nevadacountyfair.com

KERNVILLE: Kern River Rock N Blues Festival

WALNUT CREEK: Walnut Creek Walnut Festival  Twilight Parade   Events include a carnival, live music and entertainment throughout the weekend at this annual festival with a name paying tribute to the city's namesake and former walnut groves prominently dotting this East Bay destination.

ARROYO GRANDE: Harvest Festival  A parade, scarecrow decorating, pie eating contest, diaper derby, wheelbarrow races and spelling bee are among the family-friendly events.

BIG BEAR LAKE: Oktoberfest The Convention Center at Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Lake, CA

BISHOP: Paiute Pabanamanina Gathering, Parade and Pow Wow   | pow pow

CABAZON: Morongo Thunder & Lightning Pow Wow  t Morongo Casino Resort, Free | pow pow

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Oktoberfest September-October, Old World Festival Hall, Huntington Beach, CA oldworld.ws

LOS ALAMOS: Los Alamos Old Days Festival 

LOS ANGELES: Latin American Heritage Celebration. Angelus Plaza, 255 S. Hill St., Free, Donations Accepted. angelusplaza.org

LOS GATOS: Magical Glass Pumpkin Patch | pumpkins

MAMMOTH LAKES: Mammoth Lakes Oktoberfest 

SONOMA: Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival   Sonoma Plaza, Sonoma, CA

FAIRFIELD: Candy Palooza   Location: 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, CA
jellybelly.com Free admission, some rides and attractions require a fee

MONTEREY: Monterey Bay Birding Festival Watsonville Civic Plaza, Watsonville, CA

OAKLAND: Dragon Boat Festival: September 23-24, 2017. World-class dragon boat racing, cultural performances, food,  vendors selling clothes and crafts, and kid-friendly activities in Dragon Land. Location: Lake Merritt. Cost: Free. | dragon boat

OROVILLE: Oroville Salmon Festival September 23, 2017, Downtown, Oroville, CA | salmon

PACIFICA: Pacific Coast Fog Fest  Free admission event with race, parade, sand castle competition and bands all day Pacifica CA pacificcoastfogfest.com

SAN ANSELMO: San Anselmo Country Fair Day   Free admission to the event. Pancake Breakfast at 7-11 a.m. at Downtown Firehouse. Street Fair, Live Music, and Food; 11 a.m. Community Parade Downtown San Anselmo San Anselmo, CA. Light up your life with a parade, live music, children's activities and booths with San Anselmo-based schools, community groups, artisans and shopkeepers. townofsananselmo.org

SAN MIGUEL: Old Mission San Miguel Fiesta  Music and festivities begin at Noon. Bring the family and celebrate the 220th anniversary of the mission. Live music, entertainment, BBQ with chicken or Tri-tip $12, optional Mexican food sold, Location: 775 Mission Street San Miguel, CA missionsanmiguel.org

 

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