From music festivals and culinary weeks to county fairs and car shows, California is the perfect place to be from June to September. Here are some planning ideas for you to explore that will make your summer one to remember!

Northern California

25th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival – June 17-25, 2023

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival is a week-long festival from June 17-25 perfect for music lovers. Sip on wine from Sonoma County and enjoy artists like NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves, Grammy Award winner Samara Joy, percussion maestro and Healdsburg Jazz artist-in-residence John Santos, among others.

Classic Car Weekend in Atascadero – August 18-19, 2023

Atascadero’s beloved Cruisin’ Weekend returns August 18-19. Kick things off with the annual Hot El Camino Cruise Nite where visitors get the chance to see over 400 local cruisers from the 50’s and 60’s. The fun continues with the 7th Annual Dancing in the Streets that has live performances, music and dancing throughout the downtown area. Food, wine and distillery vendors will be onsite for the free weekend event.

Summer Festivities in Morgan Hill – July 4, 2023

Celebrate summer in Morgan Hill. From June to August, Guglielmo Winery will host its Vines & Vibes Concert Series featuring a free live show, local food trucks, and refreshing wine slushies alongside their classic wines served by the glass or bottle. Morgan Hill Freedom Fest on July 4 includes the popular "Patriotic Sing”, Freedom Run, a street music festival, Cruise and Car Show, and Fireworks on the Green. The free Friday Night Music series, which runs mid-June through August, showcases the Bay Area’s favorite musical acts performing for enthusiastic crowds under an open sky.

Summer Fairs and Festivals in Sonoma County – June 14, 2023

The annual Taste of Sonoma on June 24 invites guests to experience the Sonoma County lifestyle by sampling vintages of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and more from 19 diverse wine regions. The event also includes guided wine seminars, complimentary food trucks, a beer garden, and themed lounges. Celebrate 50 years of Sonoma County at Gravenstein Apple Fair, August 12-13. Enjoy live music, local food, arts and crafts vendors, farm animals, iconic microbrews, premium wines, and a VIP Lounge. Awarded the first-ever Green Resolution for events by Sonoma County Zero Waste, the fair is proud to be 95% zero waste.

Central California

San Luis Obispo Concerts in the Plaza – June 23- August 26, 2023

The San Luis Obispo Concerts in the Plaza returns to Mission Plaza for 12 weeks of free live music and local vendors in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo from June 23 - August 26. Concerts in the Plaza is the largest free concert series on the Central Coast. In addition to live music there will be food and drink from vendors around the plaza.

Gilroy Rodeo – August 11-13, 2023

The Gilroy Rodeo rides back into town August 11-13. Things kick off on Friday at the Buckin’ Bash, an abbreviated rodeo dedicated to “all things that buck.” CCPRA Rodeo performances on Saturday and Sunday also feature tie-down roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, rodeo clowns and more. This event is a community fundraiser that raises money to benefit local schools and charities.

California Wine Festival - Carlsbad & Santa Barbara

California Wine Festival tours this summer with a new lineup of signature oceanfront tasting opportunities, celebrating two decades of world-class wine discovery and everything that makes California the idyllic destination for wine enthusiasts. Entering its 20th event season, each festival pays homage to the vast offerings from winemaking regions across the Golden State, paired with gourmet food selections from local dining purveyors, and accompanied by live entertainment and expansive coastal views. CA Wine Festival will be in Carlsbad on June 23-24 and in Santa Barbara on July 14-15.

Southern California

Summer Nights and Ghost Town Alive! Return to Knott's Berry Farm – May 26, 2023 – September 4, 2023

The party starts acer sundown on select nights at Knott's Summer Nights, an evening event with craft food and beverage booths, rotating bands, and a Boardwalk DJ. Experience a Western adventure at Ghost Town Alive! where the citizens of Calico welcome visitors to join their story filled with bandits, cowboys, judges, robberies, and a classic hoedown. Events run May 26 – September 4.

Watermelon Extravaganza in Oceanside – July 15 – 16, 2023

Mellano Farm Stand’s watermelon festival returns July 15-16, featuring ripe watermelons, local vendors, strawberry and sunflower u-pick, and a farm stand full of flowers and produce.