Once known as the Flower Capital, Lompoc, Calif. celebrates its love of flowers with the 59th Annual Flower Festival and Parade June 22 - 26, 2011 (flowerfestival.org). The event includes a carnival, 2-day flower show, a Saturday Flower Parade that starts at 10 a.m., Beer Garden, entertainment, and the cool Central Coast weather that makes this event so enjoyable.

Lompoc is one of several cities in California that pay homage to flowers. At the start of the year is the big Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena each Jan. 1, and in Santa Rosa there's a Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival in May. Another colorful flower event takes place in Capitola by the Sea, the Begonia Flower Festival which is held Sept. 5 - 7, 2011.