Travel Article: Festivals in California


Some Home Grown Festival Ingredients

California produces everything that is needed for a party - a variety of superb world class wines, a plethora of produce and gastronomical treats, wonderful weather and friendly people. Musicians and entertainers either from California or drawn to California complete the picture. Combine these party ingredients with a reason to celebrate and a festival is created. A vast array of tantalizing festivals are held in California throughout the year that can spice up a weekend or add an interesting dimension to a vacation. And in California there is a festival that piques the interest of almost everyone.

Carmel Bach Festival
For over 60 years in the beautiful ocean side city of Carmel in the Central Coast area, a live baroque music festival has taken place. For 23 days, mid summer, a variety of concerts are played throughout the day featuring music composed by baroque period composers such as Mozart, Bach and Handel. The wonderful array of music combined with the beauty of Carmel makes this festival a wonderful addition to summer plans.

LA Film Festival
Calling all independent cinema buffs - From mid to late June the alluring LA Film Festival is on. A combination of about 50 feature films, 45 shorts and 30 music videos make up the bill. Every year films are submitted to the programming committee. (about 2500 films) The committee then views all the entries submitted and selects the best in new independent cinema.

California Dried Plum Festival
On an early September weekend, the California Dried Plum Festival celebrates the plum in a family oriented atmosphere. Entertainment and interesting food mark the occasion. There are five stages of continuous entertainment featuring Dixie, Rock, Country and Blues. Artists and artisans display their wares and talents. Celebrity Chefs prepare delicious dried plum dishes such as plum ice cream, plum cake, plum chili and plum burgers for festival goers to sample. Lots of other fine festival food and drinks available. Parades, dances and more make up the celebratory weekend. This festival is held in the Yuba - Sutter area, a part of Central Valley.

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival

Every October the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin festival celebrates the glorious pumpkin. A prize for the biggest pumpkin brings together a spectacle; giant pumpkin after giant pumpkin competing for the prestigious heavy weight award. The 2001 pumpkin winner was a gargantuan 940 pound monster pumpkin whose owner received $15,000 for producing the heavy weight. Truly a site to see. Pumpkin carving, pie eating, Halloween costumes, great entertainment and vast array of food make this an exciting way to spend an October weekend. Half Moon Bay is located in the San Francisco area.

Santa Cruz Blues Festival
The Santa Cruz Blues Festival is held in a natural amphitheater park surrounded by redwoods next to the Pacific Ocean. The state-of-the-art sound system, big-festival names and intimate gathering of about 3000 music lover's makes this festival extremely enjoyable. Held on a weekend near the end of May this popular festival does sell out so buying tickets well in advance is recommended. Santa Cruz is located in the Central Coast area just south of San Francisco.

Gilroy Garlic Festival


Garlic - The Honored Guest of the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

Gilroy hosts what it claims to be the Best Food Festival. The festival was started in the 70's to put Gilroy on the map as the Garlic Capital of the World. Over 100,000 people attend the festival each year enjoying gourmet food, wines, family entertainment and arts and crafts. The highlight of the festival is the Great Garlic Cook-Off. Amateur chefs from around the country submit delicious sounding garlic laced recipes. One hundred of the most appealing recipes are then forwarded to a professional food consultant who decides on 8 finalists. The 8 finalists are invited to Gilroy for a cook off to prepare their recipes in front of festival goers. Celebrity judges then select their favorite dishes and the prizes, including a garlic crown, are awarded. The garlic festivities are held over Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the last full weekend in July. Gilroy is located in the Central Coast area just south of San Francisco.

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Festivals in California