10 California Festivals You Won’t Want To Miss This October
October has a habit of filling weekends faster than expected. One minute you are making vague fall plans, and the next every Saturday seems to come with a festival worth leaving the house for.
The month brings a particularly fun mix of seasonal celebrations, community traditions, food-filled gatherings, and events that happily embrace everything quirky about fall.
October gives California an excuse to turn ordinary weekends into street parties, harvest celebrations, and wonderfully weird local traditions.
That variety means no two festival days need to look remotely alike.
One weekend might call for comfortable shoes and an empty stomach, while the next could have you digging through the closet for something festive to wear.
The hardest part may simply be deciding which events deserve space on the calendar.
1. Redwood Coast Music Festival, Eureka (October 1-4)
Picture tall redwoods outside and a hot swing band inside, with the dance floor shaking under happy feet.
That is the mood when the Redwood Coast Music Festival rolls into Eureka from October 1 to 4.
It has been bringing blues, swing, jazz, zydeco, and rockabilly to the North Coast for over three decades.
The 2026 festival runs at eight venues throughout Eureka, including the Adorni Center, Historic Eagle House, Morris Graves Museum of Art, Sequoia Center, Veterans Memorial Building, Eureka Theater, Red Lion Inn, and the Gazebo.
Bands play at multiple stages at the same time, so you can wander from one sound to another. If you love to dance, bring comfy shoes, because partners of all skill levels jump in.
The official 2026 ticket page currently lists the advance adult four-day ticket at $185, with a Patron Music Sponsor four-day pass at $300.
Kids often get discounted entry, which makes it easier for families.
Here is a friendly tip: book your hotel early. Eureka is a small city, and rooms fill up fast when music fans arrive from all over the West.
Pack a warm jacket too, because foggy coastal nights get chilly.
2. California Avocado Festival, Carpinteria (October 2-4)
Peace, love, and guacamole. That is the official motto of the 40th annual California Avocado Festival, and honestly, it might be the tastiest slogan in the state.
From October 2 to 4, the little beach town of Carpinteria turns into a green, creamy celebration of everyone’s favorite toast topping.
You will find the fun stretched along Linden Avenue in downtown Carpinteria, between Carpinteria Avenue and 6th Street.
More than 60 bands play across four stages, so there is always music floating through the air. Artists and crafters line the street too, selling jewelry, paintings, and handmade goodies.
Timing matters, so write this down. The official 2026 schedule is Friday 1 PM–11 PM, Saturday 11 AM–10 PM, and Sunday 11 AM–6 PM.
The best part? Admission is completely free, and you only pay for the food and drinks you want.
And the food is the star. Try avocado ice cream, avocado egg rolls, and, of course, a mountain of fresh guacamole.
Some years the festival even builds a record-breaking vat of guac, which is a sight you will want to snap a photo of.
Parking downtown fills up quickly, so consider taking the train, since the Carpinteria Amtrak station sits just steps from the action.
3. Johnny Appleseed Days, Paradise (October 3-4)
Back in the days when Paradise was covered in apple orchards, neighbors gathered each fall to celebrate the harvest.
That tradition lives on today as Johnny Appleseed Days, known as California’s oldest harvest festival. It feels a bit like stepping into a storybook.
The celebration takes place at Terry Ashe Park, 6626 Skyway, Paradise, CA 95969. Hours are Saturday, October 3, from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, October 4, from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Entry is free which makes it easy on family budgets.
So what will you eat? Warm homemade apple pie topped with ice cream is the classic choice, and locals will tell you it is worth the wait in line.
Fresh apples, cider, and other treats round out the menu.
Kids especially love the old-fashioned children’s area. There are nostalgic games like sack races and ring tosses, and a costumed Johnny Appleseed tells stories about planting apple trees across early America.
Fun fact: the real Johnny Appleseed, named John Chapman, planted nurseries in Ohio and Indiana in the early 1800s.
This festival also carries extra meaning. Paradise has worked hard to rebuild after the 2018 Camp Fire, and every visitor helps support local artisans and small businesses.
Bring a tote bag for apples to take home. You will thank yourself when you bake a pie next week.
4. Sonoma County Harvest Fair Awards Night Gala, Santa Rosa (October 10)
Wine country knows how to celebrate harvest season, and this October gathering puts Sonoma County’s award-winning local flavors in the spotlight.
On Saturday, October 10, the Sonoma County Harvest Fair hosts its Awards Night Gala, Red, White & Sparkle!, at the Sonoma County Event Center at the Fairgrounds.
You will find the celebration at 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404. The event runs from 6 PM to 9 PM, and tickets cost $100 per person.
Rather than the traditional daytime fair with general admission and family activities, this is an evening event centered around the Harvest Fair’s annual awards.
Guests can expect a more grown-up harvest celebration, with local drinks taking center stage as the county recognizes standout producers from the annual competition.
The setting also makes sense for the season. October lands right in the heart of Sonoma County’s harvest period, when vineyards are especially busy.
If you are planning to attend, check the official Harvest Fair website before heading out for current ticket information and event details.
It is a very different experience from an old-fashioned county fair, but it offers a fitting way to celebrate Sonoma County’s biggest season.
5. Corning Olive Festival & Car Show, Corning (October 10)
They do not call Corning the Olive City for nothing. For generations, this Sacramento Valley town has grown and cured some of the best olives in America, and on Saturday, October 10, it throws a party to prove it.
The 79th Annual Corning Olive Festival and Car Show brings together two things people love: great food and shiny old cars.
The festival runs from 10 AM to 3 PM, while the car show starts earlier, from 8 AM to 3 PM. Admission is free, so the whole family can come along.
Head to Corning Community Park and Lennox Field, 1485 Toomes Avenue, Corning, CA 96021. The car show itself sits at Lennox Fields, 1624 Houghton Avenue.
Expect rows of hot rods, classic trucks, and vintage beauties polished until they sparkle.
Hungry yet? Local vendors serve olive-inspired creations, from stuffed olives and tapenade to olive oil treats you might not expect.
Live music and family activities keep the energy up all day.
Bring a hat and sunscreen, because valley sunshine can still be strong in October. And bring a cooler for all those olive jars you will want to take home.
6. Harvest FestiFall, Columbia (October 10-11)
Stagecoaches, wooden sidewalks, and folks dressed like it is 1850.
Columbia already feels like a time machine, and Harvest FestiFall on October 10 and 11 adds a fall twist to the adventure.
This celebration takes place inside Columbia State Historic Park, a preserved Gold Rush town in the Sierra foothills.
Cars are not allowed on the main streets, which makes strolling feel peaceful and safe.
During FestiFall, the town fills with pumpkins, hay bales, and harvest activities. Families can try old-fashioned crafts, listen to live music, and watch demonstrations of pioneer skills.
Many activities are free, while some things like candle dipping or gold panning have small fees.
Speaking of gold, panning is a must. You might actually find a few tiny flakes to take home in a little vial. Kids go wild for it, and honestly, so do adults.
Park entry to Columbia is free, which is a real treat. Hours usually run from around 9 AM to 5 PM.
Do not leave without a stop at the old-time candy shop or a sarsaparilla at the saloon.
7. Old West Days, Groveland (October 10-11)
Howdy, partner! On October 10 and 11, the little gateway town of Groveland dusts off its boots for Old West Days.
Cowboys, gunfight reenactments, and western music bring the spirit of the frontier roaring back to life.
Groveland sits along Highway 120, about 25 miles from the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park.
Most of the fun happens downtown along Main Street, Groveland, CA 95321. It is a perfect pit stop if you are headed to Yosemite anyway.
The town has deep Gold Rush roots, and its famous Iron Door Saloon claims to be the oldest operating saloon in California. It first opened its doors in the 1850s.
During the festival, look for costumed performers, vendors selling handmade crafts, and plenty of hearty food like barbecue and chili.
Kids can often enjoy pony rides or old-fashioned games. Admission to the street events is generally free, though food and activities cost extra.
Exact hours and schedules can shift, so check with the Groveland community or local visitor center before you go.
Bring a camera for the staged shootouts, since they are loud, dramatic, and totally fun to watch. And grab a cowboy hat if you have one.
You will fit right in.
8. Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay (October 17-18)
Some pumpkins here weigh more than a small car. Seriously.
Half Moon Bay calls itself the World Pumpkin Capital, and the Art and Pumpkin Festival on October 17 and 18 shows why.
The whole festival takes over Main Street in downtown Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, just over the hills from Silicon Valley.
Booths are packed with handmade art, pumpkin treats, and crafts. There is a parade, pie-eating contests, pumpkin carving, and a mountain of photo spots.
Admission is free, which is great news for families. You will spend money on snacks, though, and trust us, the pumpkin bread, pumpkin ice cream, and pumpkin pie are hard to resist.
Before the festival, on October 12, the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off crowns the heaviest pumpkin.
Winners have topped 2,500 pounds! Many of those giants stay on display during festival weekend, so you can see them up close.
Now, a word of warning. Traffic on Highway 92 gets very backed up during festival weekend.
Leave early in the morning, carpool, or use the shuttle services that often run from nearby parking lots.
After the festival, visit one of the many pumpkin patches along the coast to pick your own.
9. Pismo Beach Clam Festival, Pismo Beach (October 17-18)
Eighty years! That is how long Pismo Beach has been throwing a party for its famous little shellfish.
The 80th Pismo Beach Clam Festival lands on October 17 and 18, and the town is ready to celebrate big.
Back in the early 1900s, Pismo was known as the Clam Capital of the World, and people dug huge Pismo clams right from the sand. Today, clamming has strict rules, but the love for clams has never faded.
The festival is free and full of family fun. Live entertainment, local food, and craft booths fill the area near the pier and downtown.
The Clam Festival Parade marches down Price Street, Pismo Beach, CA 93449, with floats, bands, and plenty of clam-themed costumes.
Then comes the main event for food lovers: the Clam Chowder Cook-Off. Local restaurants compete on the pier to win the best chowder title, and you get to taste and vote.
Bring a jacket, because ocean breezes can surprise you. Sunscreen is a must too.
Between events, walk out onto the pier, watch the surfers, or look for sea lions. With a warm cup of chowder in hand and waves crashing below, you might just decide Pismo Beach is your new favorite place.
10. Borrego Days Desert Festival, Borrego Springs (October 17-18)
Out where metal dinosaur sculptures roam the sand and the night sky glows with stars, Borrego Springs throws its biggest party of the year.
The 60th Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival runs October 17 and 18, and it marks the start of the desert’s cooler, busier season.
Everything happens at Christmas Circle Community Park, on Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA 92004. Admission and parking are both free, which is a sweet deal for a whole weekend of fun.
Saturday starts with a bang. The national anthem and a flyover happen at 8:45 AM, followed by the hometown parade at 9 AM.
The festival then runs until 6:30 PM, with live music, cultural performances, art, and family activities.
Sunday keeps things relaxed, running from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. It is a great time to shop local vendors and grab a bite to eat.
Did you know Borrego Springs is an official International Dark Sky Community? Stay after dark, and you might see the Milky Way stretching overhead.
October in the desert can still be warm, so pack water, hats, and sunscreen. While you are in town, drive around to see the giant Galleta Meadows metal sculptures.
