12 California Festivals In November 2026 That Are Worth Planning A Trip Around

Thousands of sandhill cranes fly in each fall, and one town throws them a whole weekend party.

Those tall gray birds sail in at sunset, calling loudly as they land in the wetlands. I can’t think of a better welcome committee.

That’s only one stop on this list. Another festival takes you to rock art that may be 10,000 years old. A third sends you into the woods with guides to hunt for wild mushrooms.

November in California gets overlooked. Summer crowds are gone, and the holiday rush hasn’t fully started yet.

That gap leaves room for film screenings, citrus harvests, parades, and millions of twinkling lights.

I love that one month can hold so many different moods. You could spend a Saturday with birds and a Sunday with Santa.

1. Coronado Island Film Festival

Movie nights usually mean a couch and a blanket. On Coronado Island, they come with a gala, filmmaker talks, and ocean breezes.

The festival celebrates its 11th anniversary in 2026. It runs for five days and welcomes both filmmakers and regular folks who simply love a good story.

You can catch narrative films, documentaries, animation, and shorts. That mix means you can laugh in the morning and cry by dinner, which is honestly the best kind of day.

A big highlight is the Leonard Maltin Industry Tribute Gala on November 4. Maltin is a famous film critic, so this night has real Hollywood flavor.

Food fans should look into the Culinary Cinema series. It pairs the joy of movies with the joy of eating, and that combo is hard to beat.

Short film lovers get their own spotlight with Shortsfest. Short films are great when you want variety and don’t want to commit to three hours in one seat.

Screenings happen at several venues across the island. The box office sits at the John D. Spreckels Center, so that’s a handy first stop.

Plan to pick up tickets there and grab a schedule. From there, you can map out your days and leave gaps for strolling.

Filmmaker discussions are worth your time too. Hearing how a movie got made can change how you watch the next one.

Dates: November 4-8, 2026

Address: 1019 7th Street, Coronado, CA 92118

2. Big Sur Food Festival

Few dining rooms come with cliffs, redwoods, and the Pacific Ocean as decoration. Big Sur pulls it off for three days each November.

The coastline here is one of the most famous stretches of road in California. Now picture it as the backdrop for long dinners and special food events, and you get the idea.

Events take place at several spots along the coast. Well-known resorts like Alila Ventana Big Sur and Post Ranch Inn host some of the gatherings.

One big perk is the outdoor angle. Some events mix walking or hiking with the eating, so you earn that next bite with fresh coastal air.

Big Sur is not a place you rush through. Roads twist along the coast, cell service can be spotty, and lodging is limited.

So book your room early, maybe even months ahead. Then give yourself extra time to drive between events without stress.

Bring layers for the weather too. November on the coast can be sunny one hour and foggy the next, and you’ll want a jacket handy.

Check the event list before you go, since each gathering has its own location and ticket. Picking a few favorites keeps the weekend fun instead of frantic.

Even between events, the views stay busy entertaining you. Pull over at a safe turnout and enjoy the waves crashing below.

Dates: November 5-7, 2026

Address: Big Sur, CA 93920 (events at various locations along the Big Sur coast)

3. Palm Springs Pride

Forty years of rainbow flags in the desert is a milestone worth a road trip. Palm Springs Pride marks its 40th anniversary in 2026.

The main festival runs for three days. A full week of events kicks off even earlier, starting on October 31.

Downtown Palm Springs and the Arenas District become the heart of the action. You’ll find several entertainment stages, block parties, and a long lineup of exhibitors.

The parade is the showstopper. It steps off at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 8.

The route starts in the Uptown Design District at Tachevah Drive and Palm Canyon Drive. From there, it travels south to the festival entrance at Amado Road.

Want a good viewing spot? Show up early, bring a hat, and pack water, because desert sun doesn’t care that it’s November.

Comfortable shoes matter here too. Between the parade route, stages, and block parties, you’ll cover plenty of ground.

Palm Springs makes a fun base for the whole weekend. The town is known for its mid-century style and mountain views, so there’s plenty to see between events.

Hotels can fill up during this week, so lock in your stay early. Then you can relax and soak up the cheer.

Dates: November 6-8, 2026 (events October 31 to November 8, 2026)

Address: Downtown Palm Springs and the Arenas District, Palm Springs, CA

4. Ojai Film Festival

Independent movies and a mountain valley make a pretty great double feature. The Ojai Film Festival celebrates its 27th year in 2026.

The Ojai Valley sits inland from the coast in Ventura County. It’s known for its relaxed small-town feel, which suits a festival built around storytelling.

Programming covers narrative films, documentaries, animation, and shorts. The lineup has an international reach, so you might travel the world without leaving your seat.

Filmmaker discussions add another layer. You can hear directors explain their choices, which is way more fun than reading a review.

Screenings and events happen at several spots in Ojai. Venues include El Roblar Hotel, Playhouse Theatre, Libbey Bowl, and Chaparral Auditorium.

Libbey Bowl is an outdoor venue, so pack a layer for the evening. Valley nights can get chilly once the sun drops.

Since venues are spread around, plan your day with a map. Grouping screenings by location can save you from racing across town.

Leave time to wander downtown too. Ojai is small and walkable, and breaks between films give you a chance to stretch.

Indie film fans tend to love discovering a movie before anyone else has heard of it. This festival gives you plenty of chances to be that friend.

Dates: November 6-9, 2026

Address: Ojai Art Center, 113 S Montgomery St, Ojai, CA 93023 (festival headquarters; screenings at various venues)

5. Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival

Some guests arrive by car, but the stars of this party arrive by sky. Thousands of sandhill cranes return to the wetlands around Lodi each fall.

The 28th annual festival celebrates that comeback. It turns a natural event into a weekend of learning, art, and birdwatching.

Sandhill cranes are tall gray birds with a red patch on their heads. Their calls are loud and rattly, so you often hear them before you see them.

Guided trips take you out to watch the birds in their habitat. Experts help you spot cranes and other wildlife you might miss alone.

Sunset trips might be the highlight. That’s when cranes fly back to their roosting areas for the night, filling the sky.

Back in town, Hutchins Street Square hosts art, exhibits, and workshops. Naturalists and conservationists also give talks about the birds and the wetlands.

Kids who love animals will be glued to the binoculars. Adults will be too, honestly.

Bring a warm jacket for evening trips. Wetlands can feel colder than town once the sun goes down.

Popular tours can fill up, so sign up early. Then grab a field guide and get ready to count feathers.

Dates: November 6-8, 2026

Address: 125 S. Hutchins Street, Lodi, CA 95240

6. Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival and Inter-Tribal Pow Wow

Rock art that may be 10,000 years old is the kind of thing that makes a history book feel small. This free festival puts it within reach.

Ridgecrest sits in the high desert of California. The 11th annual event celebrates Native American cultures with music, dance, and stories.

An intertribal pow wow brings dancers, drums, and regalia together. Hoop dancers are a crowd favorite, spinning and shaping hoops into amazing designs.

Traditional storytelling and live music fill out the schedule. You can also browse crafts and try local food while you explore.

Now for the big draw. The festival works with the Maturango Museum on guided petroglyph tours in the nearby Coso Range.

Those carvings were made long, long ago by people who lived in this desert. Seeing them in person helps you understand how deep the history here runs.

Tours often need advance sign-up and have limited spots. Check details early so you don’t miss out.

Desert days can be sunny, but mornings and nights get chilly. Pack layers, sunscreen, and plenty of water.

Remember to be respectful at the pow wow. Listen to the announcer, and ask before taking photos of dancers.

Dates: November 7-8, 2026

Address: 300 East French Avenue, Ridgecrest, CA 93555

7. Mendocino Coast Fungi Festival and Cultural Convergence

Mushroom season on the Mendocino Coast is a big deal, and this festival treats fungi like rock stars. The third annual event lands right at the peak of the season.

It’s a two-day celebration of mushrooms in almost every form. You can learn, shop, eat, and even head into the woods.

Workshops and presentations explain how mushrooms grow and why they matter. Displays of wild mushrooms and spore prints show off shapes and colors you didn’t know existed.

Guided forays are the adventure part. Experts lead groups into the forest to search for mushrooms and teach you what to look for.

Please don’t eat a wild mushroom unless an expert confirms it’s safe. Some look harmless but can make you very sick.

The marketplace is a treasure hunt of its own. Vendors sell foraged mushrooms, mushroom-dyed goods, art, books, and teas.

Kids get their own activities, so families can come along. Curious young minds often love the weird shapes most.

Food lovers should look at the Forager’s Feast on Saturday evening. It requires a separate ticket, so plan ahead.

Bring rain gear and sturdy shoes for the woods. The coast can be damp this time of year, which is exactly why mushrooms love it.

Dates: November 14-15, 2026

Address: Caspar Community Center, 15051 Caspar Rd, Caspar, CA 95420

8. Mission Inn Festival of Lights

Ten million lights is not a typo. The Mission Inn Festival of Lights covers a historic hotel and downtown Riverside in holiday sparkle.

The 34th annual festival starts with a switch-on ceremony on November 21. The glow then sticks around into early January.

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa is the centerpiece. It’s a landmark building with towers and courtyards, which makes it a dramatic canvas for lights.

The kickoff night packs in fireworks and live entertainment. Food vendors keep you fueled while you wander.

An ice rink adds a wintry touch in Southern California. Skating under twinkling lights is a pretty great photo moment.

Santa Claus makes visits too, so kids can share their wish lists. A Holiday Marketplace offers a chance to knock out some gift shopping.

New this season is Candy Land at Albert S. White Park. It sounds sweet in every sense.

Opening night tends to draw the biggest crowd. If you prefer more breathing room, try a weeknight later in the season. Either way, go after dark for full effect. Then just wander and look up a lot.

Dates: November 21, 2026 to January 3, 2027

Address: 3649 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501

9. Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show

Holiday shopping gets a lot more fun when the person who made the gift is standing right there. That’s the charm of this Sacramento show.

Hundreds of artisans, makers, and small businesses gather in one place. It’s built for families, so bring the whole crew.

The range of goods is huge. You’ll see fine art, photography, jewelry, ceramics, glasswork, wood art, and clothing.

Specialty foods and home decor round things out. If someone on your list is hard to shop for, this is your chance.

Entertainment adds to the festive mood. Food options mean you can take a break without leaving.

A little strategy helps here. Walk the whole floor once before buying, then circle back to your favorites.

Bring a sturdy tote bag for your finds. Your arms will thank you after the third ceramic mug.

Many makers love talking about their craft. Ask how they made a piece, and you might hear a great story to share with the gift.

Dates: November 20–22, 2026

Address: 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815

10. Mountain Mandarin Festival

Citrus in the foothills might surprise you, but Placer County mandarins have a loyal fan base. The 33rd annual Mountain Mandarin Festival celebrates the harvest for three days.

Mandarins are small, sweet, and easy to peel. That makes them a perfect snack for walking around a festival.

Farmers bring fresh mandarins straight from the harvest. You can also find gift baskets that make tasty holiday presents.

Food vendors get creative with mandarin-themed treats. Expect plenty of chances to taste citrus in new ways.

Live music keeps the energy up as you browse. Artisan crafts offer another shopping stop beyond the fruit stands.

Home cooks can check out the recipe contest. It’s a fun way to pick up ideas for using a big bag of mandarins.

Families will like the Kids Zone. Younger visitors get their own activities while grown-ups compare fruit.

Bring a bag or box for carrying fruit home. Mandarins keep well, so stocking up is a good idea.

The timing is handy too, right before Thanksgiving. A bowl of fresh mandarins makes an easy table centerpiece you can actually eat.

Dates: November 20-22, 2026

Address: 700 Event Center Dr, Roseville, CA 95678

11. Great Dickens Christmas Fair

Top hats, bonnets, and Victorian London, all inside a building near San Francisco. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair turns the Cow Palace into a 19th-century holiday street.

The fair is inspired by the world of Charles Dickens, author of A Christmas Carol. Costumed performers play characters and bring the old city to life.

You can wander lanes lined with shops and stages. Music, dancing, and theater pop up as you explore.

Wearing a costume is welcome but not required. Still, a scarf and a fancy hat might help you blend in.

The fair usually opens the weekend before Thanksgiving. For 2026, that points to an opening on Saturday, November 21.

It then runs on weekends into December, plus the day after Thanksgiving. Confirm the exact schedule before booking, since dates can shift.

Plan for a long visit. There’s a lot to see, and the side lanes hide fun surprises.

Bring cash or cards for shopping, since many vendors sell handmade gifts. Holiday ornaments and crafts make great keepsakes.

Kids often love chatting with characters. It’s like stepping inside a storybook, minus the time machine.

Dates: Expected to open November 21, 2026, running weekends into December

Address: 2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City, CA 94014

12. Hollywood Christmas Parade

Santa on Hollywood Boulevard might be the most Los Angeles way to start the holidays. The Hollywood Christmas Parade has been a Southern California tradition for decades.

Floats, marching bands, and celebrities roll down a famous stretch of street. Santa usually closes out the show, which is the moment kids wait for.

The route runs along Hollywood Boulevard. It passes the Walk of Fame, so you’ll be standing near those famous stars.

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair officially opens November 21, 2026, and runs for five weekends through December 20, plus Friday, November 27.

Viewing from the curb is free. Grandstand seats are sold separately if you want a guaranteed spot.

Crowds are big, so arrive early. Bring a folding chair if allowed and a blanket for the evening chill.

Public transit can save you a headache. Street closures make driving and parking tricky that day.

Snacks and water help pass the waiting time. A fully charged phone helps too, because you’ll want photos.

It’s a festive way to end a California November. One parade, a few hours, and suddenly the holidays feel very real.

Dates: November 21–December 20, 2026, Saturdays and Sundays, plus Friday, November 27

Address: Hollywood Blvd and Orange Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90028