This Weekend is Filled With Celebrating in California!

What are you doing this weekend? Shown is the Swedish Festival in Kingsburg, CA. If you live in or are visiting California and think you're going to sit by a cozy fire at some mountain resort, go for it! That is certainly an option. But there are hundreds of festivals, concerts and fairs spanning 1,000 miles (the length of the State of California) and people are counting on you to show up and have a good time. From the tasty Castroville Artichoke Festival where Marilyn Monroe launched her career as the first Artichoke Queen known as Norma Jean, to the Kingsburg Swedish Festival, Orange County Greek Festival, Temecula Old Town Western Days or Cloverdale Wild West Day, the options span the globe of culinary and cultural preferences and tastes. The prices range from free to fee. We've separated them out according to price:

 

FREE EVENTS THIS WEEKEND IN CALIFORNIA - see the full calendar list with links to pages

ANAHEIM - 2011 OC Greek Fest May 20 -22, 2011 St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church 405 N. Dale Street Anaheim. Hours Friday: 3 pm - 10 pm Saturday: 12 noon - 10 pm Sunday: 12 noon - 10 pm. Free ticket online: 2011ocgreekfest.com Free to all Military, Police, and Fire Personnel (with ID) Seniors Admitted Free 2011ocgreekfest.com

CLOVERDALE - Wild West Day - 20th Annual Cloverdale Spring Event celebrates Cloverdale, Music, food and fun. Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Cloverdale Downtown Plaza, Cloverdale, CA. Contact: (707) 894-4470. cloverdale.net

FREEPORT - Walk on the Wildside Outdoor Festival. Held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Beach Lake Preserve, Freeport (916) 875-WILD. Cost: Free

HALF MOON BAY -Rock the Block Street Party. Bands include: Califuegos 4 - 5 pm; Bulk 5:15 - 6:15pm; and Bump City 6:30 -8 pm. Food vendors: Sam's Chowder servers.Time: 4 - 8 p.m. Cost: Free admission. Location: Downtown Half Moon Bay, CA. rocktheblockhmb.com

IRVINE - Socal Plein Air Painters Association Paints the Parks May 20 - 22, 2011. Juried Art Show, Exhibit, Sale and QuickDraw at Irvine Ranch Historic Park. Art Exhibit & Sale: Sat & Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. QuickDraw for Emerging under age 25: Sat 10 a.m. start - enter online tpsf.net Kids Art Classes: Sat - call for reservations. 714-832-6299 info@socalpapa.com

KINGSBURG - Kingsburg Swedish Festival Friday, May 20, 2011 to Saturday, May 21, 2011. Location: Downtown Draper Street, Chamber of Commerce (559) 897-1111

LONG BEACH - Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Parade (Free) and Celebration (Fee) May 21 & 22, 2011 from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. longbeachpride.com

MOUNTAIN VIEW - A La Carte & Art Festival. May 21-22, 2011, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 15th annual event is Bay Area's popular outdoor festival with live music, a juried arts and crafts show with 200 exhibitors, artisan specialty foods, health and wellness displays, an organic and green products showcase. Drink premium wine, microbrews, mojitos and margaritas, a farmers' market with fresh seasonal produce, a classic car show, kids' amusements in the Tons of Fun Zone. Admission is free. Location: Castro Street, Mountain View CA. miramarevents.com

SAN CARLOS - San Carlos Hometown Days May 20 -22, 2011. sancarloshometowndays.com

SAN DIEGO - Mission Trails Day. Join park staff and volunteers for an all day celebration highlighting everything Mission Trails has to offer. This popular event will feature free guided nature walks, talks and programs throughout the park, including live animals and special programs for children such as free pony rides and rock climbing wall. Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA. mtrp.org

SAN MIGUEL - Vineyard Tours. Free vineyard tours, Barrel Samples & Cheese Pairing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; plus Pizza, Sausage & Live Music from Silver Horse. Art of Blending Wine goes from 2 to 4 p.m. Location: Silver Horse Winery, 2995 Pleasant Rd., San Miguel, CA. Call: (877) 82-CRUSH (822-7874). firstcrushwinemaking.com

STANTON - Spring Car Show. 10th Annual car show invites Classics, PT Cruisers, Customs and Rods. Food, beer garden and music provide entertainment. Time 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: 7800 Katella Ave., Stanton, CA. Call (714)-890-4272. (please call to confirm this is free admission event before going)

TEMECULA - Old Town Temecula Western Days May 21 -22, Noon to 5 p.m. High noon shootout with the Old Town Temecula Gunfighters, Music by Older than Dirt, Cross Town Boys & Judy Taylor String Trio, Stagecoach rides, calf roping lessons and the Old Town Temecula Chili Cookoff. temeculacalifornia.com

 

FEE BASED EVENTS IN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEKEND - see the full calendar list with links to pages

ALAMEDA -Living Ship Day. Demonstrations are held on the third Saturday of most months. Location: 707 W Hornet Ave , Pier 3 in Alameda, CA. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6-$15 for youths through adults and there is ample free parking across from the pier. Call (510) 521-8448. uss-hornet.org

ANGELS CAMP - Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee. Jumping Frog Jubilee & County Fair May 19 - May 22, 2011 Address: 101 Frogtown Road, Angels Camp, California frogtown.org

CASTROVILLE - Artichoke Festival May 21 -22, 2011. Live music, Games, face paints, clowns, stilt walkers, Artichokes fried, cooking demos, wine tasting, farmers market, more. Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Cost: $10 general; $5 Child 4-12; under 3 free. artichoke-festival.org

CHOWCHILLA - May 19 - 22, 2011 Chowchilla-Madera County Fair ci.chowchilla.ca.us

LOOMIS Blue Goose Food Extravaganza. Enjoy unlimited samples from over 80 chefs, cooks and caterers. 11th annual fundraiser brings together professional restaurant chefs, caterers, media celebrities, local and regional government officials, business owners and cooks who just love to share their favorite dishes. Time: 5 to 8 p.m. Location: Blue Goose Event Center, 3550 Taylor Rd., Loomis, CA. Cost: $25. bluegooseeventcenter.com

ORLAND - Glenn County Fair May 18 - 22, 2011 glenncountyfair.org
95 years old in 2011

QUINCY - Blue Grass Festival & Dutch Oven Cook Off Contest. First annual festival at Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch starts at 11 a.m. 20 of the best Dutch oven chefs around and some of the finest in blue grass listening. Cost: $25/person. Location: Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch, 2116 Greenhorn Ranch Road, Quincy, CA. Call: (530) 283-0930. greenhornranch.com

REDWOOD CITY - Walk-n-Waddle for Weingarten. This family-centered event includes a 2 mile Family Fun Walk, a post-walk carnival and picnic plus a Pluck-A-Duck raffle for prizes including an Apple iPad 2. Registration: 9am Walk: 10am Carnival, picnic and iPad2 raffle: 12 noon. This event benefits Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf in Redwood City, and its students. Location: Pacific Shores Center (end of Seaport Blvd.) Redwood City, CA. Cost: $10; $20 family. Registration: walknwaddle.blogspot.com

TOMALES - Tea and Fashion Show. 13th annual fashion tea sponsored by Tomales Regional History Center. The museum will be open early on this day at 11 a.m. Stop by before teatime! Location: Tomales Town Hall, Hwy. One, Tomales, CA. Time: 1:30 p.m. Cost; $30. Call (707) 878-9443.

VICTORVILLE - San Bernardino County Fair May 14 - 22, 2011. sbcfair.com

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