Traveling the California coast north of San Francisco, the signs of Russian culture are evident as you encounter a seemingly out of place Fort Ross State Historic Park, a thriving Russian-American Company settlement from 1812 to 1841. It was chartered by Russia’s tsarist government as the southernmost Russian colonization in the North American continent. Russian River, Fort Bragg and other north coast areas are steeped in Russian history. California celebrates the exciting and colorful Russian influence in festivals throughout the state:

• WEST HOLLYWOOD Russian Style Festival at Plummer Park on May 18, 2014, 11 a.m.- 7 p.m., celebrates the rich culture and heritage of the over 500,000 members of the Los Angeles region’s Russian speaking community. Free entertainment, music, food vendors, Russian crafts and jewelry, and numerous local exhibitors, weho.org
• FORT ROSS: July 26, 2014 Fort Ross Festival multicultural celebration of the Kashaya, Russian, and Ranch era cultures features costumed historical re-enactments, crafts, militia cannon firings, live music & dance, food court, marketplace, children’s crafts and more, fortross.org
• HEALDSBURG: Russian Tea & Fragrance Festival at Russian River Rose Co. October 18, 2014, russian-river-rose.com
• SAN FRANCISCO Russian Festival in February, russiancentersf.com
• SARATOGA Russian Festival, saratogarussianfestival.com
• BELMONT: Hungarian Festival (similar to Russian festival) May 10, 2014 at Twin Pine Park, hungarianheritagefestival.com