If you tell me you’re bored this weekend, I want to know what kind of cactus juice you’ve been drinking out in that lonesome desert. California doesn’t break for fall or winter, and in fact, many plan their events in October because the venues are more readily available and it’s assumed that people will be around rather than on vacation.

Below is a sampling of what’s happening this weekend, and this doesn’t take into account every amusement park offering their Halloween scares. There’s no prominent theme we could determine in the weekend offerings because there are many diverse happenings. Here are just a few ideas to jump start your engine:

AZUSA – Golden Days, Oct. 7-9, 2011. Parade, carnival, fun run and entertainment galore with days of special dining events. azusagoldendays.org
BLUE LAKE - Medieval Festival of Courage Oct. 8 – 9, 2011. Recreating Renaissance (circa 800-1500s) since 2003. Christie’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze, 2870 Glendale Drive, Blue Lake, CA. Cost: $5, 3-12 age $2, medievalfestivalofcourage.org
BUENA PARK – Knott’s Berry Farm Scary Farm Haunt. Time: 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. Cost: $34-51 presale, $57 walk up day of. Location: 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA. Call: (714) 220-5200.knotts.com. Dates for this special event include: Sept. 23-25; 29-Oct. 2; Oct. 5-9; Oct. 12-16; Oct.19-23; Oct.26-31. Open 7p-2am Friday & Saturday only. All other days 7p-1 am
CARPINTERIA – California Avocado Festival, Oct. 7 – 9, 2011. Hours: Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-6p.m. Free admission! avofest.com
CASTRO VALLEY – Greek Festival Castro Valley Oct. 7 – 9, 2011. Hours: Friday: 5 – 9 p.m., Saturday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday: Noon – 7 p.m.3 Cost: Free Admission, Free Parking Fun and free, Location: 20104 Center St. Castro Valley, California (510) 581-8950 greekfestivalcastrovalley.org
CLAREMONT – California Beer Festival. The California Beer Festival returns. Cost: $40. californiabeerfestival.com
COTATI Oktoberfest in La Plaza Park, downtown Cotati at the corner of Old Redwood Hwy. & W. Sierra Ave., under a giant tent! Contests galore! Time: 12 noon – 6 p.m. Call Cotati Chamber of Commerce: (707) 795-5508 cotati.org
CUPERTINO - Diwali Festival of Lights. Memorial Park – Cupertino, CA
EL CAJON – Oktoberfest. Huge Beer Garden, Band from Germany, Authentic food, BBQ and games and fun. Held first 2 weekends in October. Hours Saturday: Noon -10 p.m. German American Societies, 1017 S. Mollison Ave., El Cajon, CA. Call: (619) 442-6637. germanclubsandiego.org
EXETER - Exeter Fall Festival. Exeter City Park – Exeter, CA
FELTON - Lobster Feed. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Felton, CA
FREMONT - Craft Fair. Niles Veterans Memorial Building – Fremont, CA
HUNTINGTON PARK – Sabor De Mexico Lindo Downtown Festival Oct. 7 – 9. Nine city-blocks of Pacific Boulevard brings together more than 150 Commercial, food, arts and crafts, two Major Concert-Stages. Location: Downtown Pacific Blvd. from Florence Ave. to Randolph St., 6330 Pacific Blvd. Admission: free. Call: (323) 585-1155. hpchamber1.com
LIVERMORE - Artwalk Livermore, 2011 . Award-winning Downtown Livermore – Livermore, CA
LONG BEACH – Dark Harbor Halloween Haunt at Queen Mary. Cost: $20 -60. queenmary.com
LONG BEACH – Walk for the Animals. Admission: Fair is free, $25 fee to walk. Pet-owner lookalike, most photogenic, Muttley Crew’s agility and Flyball teams & Disc Dogs, Aquarium of the Pacific’s mobile learning center, kids’ activities, vendors, raffles, gourmet food trucks & entertainment by LB’s own Blue Steel Band! Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Call: (562)988-7647. folba.org
LOS ANGELES – Japanese American National Museum Free Days. No fee to visit the museum. Location: 369 East First Street, Los Angeles Calif. Call: (213) 625-0414. janm.org
LOS BANOS – Los Banos Tomato Festival, October 8-9, 2011. This festival is a celebration of tomatoes with Celebrity Chefs, Heritage cooking demonstrations, Tomato Alley, The Tomato Patch kids area, entertainment, ag displays that show the role of tomatoes in the local agricultural community and much more! Los Banos, California. losbanos.com
MILL VALLEY – Film Festival Oct. 6 -16, 2011. Annual 34th Mill Valley Film Festival presents 11-day celebration of film at Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 4th Street, San Rafael, CA. Cost: $11.50 – 25. mvff.com
NIPOMO - Nipomo’s Best Oktoberfest. Nipomo Community Park – Nipomo, CA
PASADENA - San Gabriel Valley Pride Community Unity Day. Pasadena City College Quad – Pasadena, CA
PETALUMA – October 8, 2011 Oktoberfest Petaluma at Herzog Hall in the Community Center at Lucchesi Park features beer, Steve Balich Polka Band, dancing, food, and costumes. petalumavalleyrotary.org
PLEASANT HILL – Art, Jazz & Wine Festival, October 8-9, 2011. Join the many thousands of residents and visitors in strolling along Crescent Drive in downtown Pleasant Hill as they enjoy great art and entertainment including to superb jazz, the wares of dozens of artists, and of course fine wine and premium beer. Location: Downtown Pleasant Hill on Crescent Drive. Time: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. pleasanthillchamber.com
PLEASANTON – Pirates of Emerson. 6 Haunted House attractions include the original, infamous Pirates of Emerson, plus a and Corn Maze. The Haunting Fields is where your worst nightmares become real. As you enter the Adventure, you enter a world of suspense and terror. The only thing on your mind will be your survival. At the Haunting Fields you are actually IN the various exotic scenes. Time: 7:05 – 11 p.m. Cost: $20 General Admission. Location: Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton, CA. piratesofemerson.com. Other dates: Oct. 1, 7-9, 13-16, 19- 23, 25-31
POINT ARENA – Point Arena Hemp Hops & Harvest Festival. 2nd annual festival presents the best of the season at the cove in a fall celebration showcasing the versatility of hemp, pleasurable flavors of local beers (hops) and the richly colorful and nutritious bounty of local produce & food products. Time: Noon – 4 p.m. Location: Point Arena, CA. Cost: Free admission.
REEDLEY – Reedley Fiesta and Parade, October 7 – 8, 2011. 46th Annual Reedley Fiesta Parade on Saturday includes beautiful pageantry and tradition of unique floats, custom automobiles, high-stepping equestrians and spirited marching bands down G Street at 10 a.m. This year’s parade theme is Once upon a time. The Valley’s Biggest, Small Town Celebration moves over to Pioneer Park for two days of carnival rides, vendor booths, entertainment and fun. reedleychamberofcommerce.com
REDONDO BEACH -Taste of the Pier, Oct. 8 – 9, 2011. Food tastings, art, bands, face painting and more. Free admission, tasting for a fee. Time: Noon – 4 p.m. Cost: Taste tickets $1 each. Location: Redondo Beach Pier, 100 W. Torrance Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA. redondopier.com
RIVERBANK Riverbank Cheese & Wine Exposition, October 8-9, 2011. The Riverbank Rotary Club invites you to enjoy the many offerings of more than 200 arts & crafts, antiques and food vendors. Attend this event, and let the award winning cheeses and wines tantalize your taste buds.
Riverbank, California. riverbankcheeseandwine.org
SAN CARLOS – San Carlos Art & Wine Faire, October 8-9, 2011. Now in its 21st year, this huge festival invites the public to come out and eat, sample beer & wine (for a fee), and listen to free entertainment throughout the streets of downtown San Carlos. An entire section and musical entertainment is devoted to kids! Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Location: San Carlos Avenue between El Camino and Walnut, and on Laurel Street from San Carlos Avenue to Arroyo, San Carlos, CA. Cost: Free. sancarloschamber.org
SAN DIEGO – Taste of North Park. Taste culinary specialties along North Park’s Restaurant Row, free samples of microbrews and ales, and view fine art. Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $30 pre, $35 day of, 21+ only. natalie@mcfarlanepromotions.com.
SAN JOSE - Saint Stephen’s Church Fall Festival. Saint Stephen’s Church – San Jose, CA
SAN JOSE - Flavors Wine & Food Festival, October 7-9, 2011. Flavors Festivals are destination events celebrating distinctive tastes in wines, spirits and culinary artistry as well as the truly unique character, culture and spirit of our host cities. San Jose, California. flavors.ws
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO - Second Saturday Art Fair. Historic Downtown – San Juan Capistrano, CA
SAN LUIS OBISPO - Plein Air Painting Festival, October 2 – 9, 2011. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, San Luis Obispo, CA
SANTA BARBARA - Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival. Santa Barbara Harbor – Santa SANTA MARIA - Celebration of Harvest!. Rancho Sisquoc Winery – Santa Maria, CA
Barbara, CA
SCOTTS VALLEY Rotary Oktoberfest. Scotts Valley Rotary Oktoberfest features a genuine Oktoberfest band. Malone’s Grille, 4402 Scotts Valley Dr, Scotts Valley, CA. scottsvalleyrotary.org
SILVER LAKE - Silver Lake Art Craft & Vintage. Micheltorena Elementary School – Los Angeles, CA
SPRING VALLEY - Lemon Grove Moose Lodge Craft Show. Moose Lodge – Spring Valley, CA
VACAVILLE – Kid Fest. All sorts of fun activities showcasing the local youth of Vacaville. Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: Andrews Park, Downtown Vacaville, CA. vacavillekidfest.org
WALNUT - Walnut Family Festival. Suzanne Park – Walnut, CA