Discovering Northern California's
Events and Festivals:
January through March

NorCal Events and Festivals For Friends and Family

These are the community events and festivals that celebrate the joie de vivre of an area; they put a sparkle in our eyes, a smile on our faces, and a spring in our steps - whether they're about food, music, dance, drink, nature, or ethnic diversity!

So we're gathering Northern California's celebrations together in one place for your pleasure and convenience. This is a work in progress and we'll be adding more, but if your event is missing and you'd like it included, just let us know here.

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January Events and Festivals in Northern California

California Restaurant Month - a great way to try something new and save money at the same time!

Sonoma Valley Olive Festival - a series of events throughout the month celebrating the fruit of the tree!

Sacramento's Restaurant Week - for sensational menus at bargain prices, it's Dine Downtown!

Tahoe South Restaurant Week - special menus, "Made with Attitude"!

Santa Cruz' Fungus Fair - everything you ever wanted to know about mushrooms! 

Chefs' Holidays at The Ahwahnee - Yosemite's little something for the foodies among us!

Nevada City's Wild & Scenic Film Festival - the largest environmental film festival devoted to inspiring and igniting solutions! 

Oakland Restaurant Week - 10 days of special deals on prix fixe lunches and dinners!

Napa Truffle Festival - truffles, truffle chefs, truffle scientists, and truffle dogs, all bringing you the best of everything truffles!

Vacaville Restaurant Week - special prices and special menus at participating restaurants!

Elephant Seal Birthing Season - this is one of those annual events and festivals sponsored by Mother Nature! 

Sonoma's Winter Wineland - meet winemakers, sip limited production wines, new releases, and library wines!

Lassen Film Festival - celebrating Lassen Volcanic National Park and outdoor recreation through film!

Johnsville's Historic Longboard Revival Race Series - "Dope is King!" and "Long Live Longboards!" - mottoes for this triad of downhill ski races!

Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival - who doesn't like chocolate events and festivals?

Tuolumne County Restaurant Week - more great food at equally great prices!

National Parks Fee-Free Days - that's right, special days on which your National Parks wave their entry fees!

San Francisco's Restaurant Week - "Foodies rejoice" - it's time to gourmet dine on cut-rate prices!" 

Mendocino Crab and Wine Days - Crab feeds, winemaker's dinners, crab cooking classes, cook offs, fun, fun, fun! 

Berkeley Restaurant Week - Enjoy an assortment of tastes and textures for the ultimate foodie experience.

San Rafael Gem Faire - one of the largest gem, jewelry, and bead shows in the United States!

Galt Winter Bird Festival - winter home of the regal, red-browed Sandhill Crane!

Coloma's Gold Discovery Day - James Marshall's discovery that changed the course of California history! 

Chico's Snow Goose Festival - celebrating migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway

Treasure Island Flea - a monthly gathering of artists, collectors, designers, crafters and food trucks on the last weekend of each month!

Northern California Home & Landscape Expo - largest show of its kind since 1995! 

SOS Seafood Fest: Sustaining Our Seas - Half Moon Bay's answer to this year's algae bloom that devastated the Dungeness crab season!

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February Events and Festivals in Northern California

Sacramento Museum Day - twenty-six museums offering FREE admission! 

San Francisco's Annual Russian Festival - a Russian Staycation! 

San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival - bird watching, Mare Island military history, and Napa River adventures! 

Santa Cruz' Natural Bridges Migration Festival - bid the migratory Monarchs a fond Adieu!

Boonville's International Alsace Varietals Festival - Rieslings, Gewurztraminers, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blancs, and Muscats - Yummm! 

Madera's Wine and Chocolate Weekend - local wine, chocolate, and live music make for a great weekend! 

Lodi Wine and Chocolate Festival - just in time for Valentine's Day!

San Francisco's Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival - Note: SFBOT took a hiatus in 2015, but hopes to be back. Lots of pickin', fiddlin', and singin' to be heard! 

Sonoma's VinOlivo - celebrate Sonoma's local wines, finest restaurants, savory olives and olive oils, and sweet temptations! 

Cloverdale Citrus Fair - all things citrus! 

San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade - and Community Street Fair, and Spring Festival! 

San Francisco's Tulipmania - San Francisco style - we love tulips and they're in bloom! 

Johnsville's Historic Longboard Revival Race Series - "Dope is King!" and "Long Live Longboards!" - mottoes for this triad of downhill ski races! 

Ripon's Annual Almond Blossom Festival - old-fashioned, down-home fun! 

Yosemite's Nordic Holiday Race - at Badger Pass, home of the first slalom in California! 

Santa Cruz Annual Clam Chowder Cook Off and Festival - the best clam chowders in the world! 

San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival - spectacular people, memorable films, soul-stirring events, amazing innovations, and passionate parties! 

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March Events and Festivals in Northern California

Monterey's
Jazz Bash By The Bay - otherwise known as The Monterey Jazz Festival! Monterey Jazz Festival

Grass Valley's
Foothills Celebration - a taste of Grass Valley's shops, historic sites, wines, gourmet cuisine, and confectioners delights! Foothills Celebration

Mammoth Lakes
US Snowboarding Grand Prix - the longest running domestic snowboard tour! US Snowboarding Grand Prix

Sacramento's Camellia International Dance Festival - dances of the Ukraine and beyond! Camellia International Dance Festival

Harrisburg's Wine Road Barrel Tasting - over 100 wineries are participating in this wine event! Wine Road Barrel Tasting

Concord's Beads and Boutique Art Show - a large assortment of original works of art showcased by the artists! Bead and Boutique Arts Show

San Francisco's Chocolate Salon - the premier chocolate show on the West Coast! San Francisco International Chocolate Salon

Stanislaus County Home and Garden Show - everything you could possibly need for your home improvement projects! Stanislaus County Home and Garden Show

Castro Valley Mineral and Gem Show - over 40 quality jewelry, mineral, gem, bead, and fossil dealers display each year! Castro Valley Mineral and Gem Show

Calistoga's Mustard, Mud, and Music - a Calistoga Jazz festival! Mustard, Mud, and Music

Sanger Blossom Day Festival - celebrating the Fresno County Blossom Trail! Sanger Blossom Day Festival

Fresno Home and Garden Show - "Let us inspire you..." Fresno Home and Garden Show

Sonora Celtic Faire - the oldest and largest Celtic Faire on the West Coast! Sonora Celtic Faire

North Lake Tahoe's SnowFest - every Spring since 1982, fun-filled days and nights brings North Lake Tahoe alive! SnowFest

Sacramento's California State Yo-Yo Championship - in beautiful Downtown Sacramento! Cal State Yo-Yo Championship

Mendocino Whale Festival - wine tasting and whale watching - I'm a happy happy girl! Mendo Whale Fest

Marysville's Bok Kai Festival - witness the Boka Kai dragon, protector of the river and the River God! Bok Kai Festival

Napa Valley Marathon - an established favorite among experienced marathoners! Napa Valley Marathon

Stockton's Chinese New Year Celebration - continuous entertainment, children's activities, authentic Chinese food, and more! Chinese New Year Celebration

Weaverville's Annual Chinese New Year at Joss House State Park - annual Lion Dance celebration! Chinese New Year Celebration

Pleasanton's Gem Faire - gems, jewelry, crystals, beads - all your jewelry making needs under one roof! Pleasanton Gem Faire

Visalia St. Patrick's Day Parade - a celebration of all valley cultures! Visalia St. Patrick's Day Parade

Siskiyou Sled Dog Races - mushers, dogs, action, family fun, snow, Mount Shasta, what could be better! Siskiyou Sled Dog Races

Murphy's National Daffodil Show - hundreds and hundreds of miniature daffodils! National Daffodil Show and Convention

Old Sacramento's St. Patrick's Day Parade - Irish dancers, bagpipers, school banks and military regiments - it's a grand ol' parade! Old Sac's St. Patrick's Day Parade

San Francisco's St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival - everyone's Irish on St. Paddy's Day in The City! SF's St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival

Foresthill Sled Dog Winter Classic - two-dog, four-dog, and six-dog sledding in beautiful Foresthill! Sled Dog Winter Classic

Turlock Rock & Gem Show - dinosaur and fossil exhibits, educational exhibits, fluorescent display, jewelry beads and tools - it's all about the stones!

Point Arena Flower Power Festival - thousands of beautiful daffodils in shades of yellow and orange!

Little River Whale Festival - it's the annual migration from the best NorCal spot ever!

Vacaville's Celtic Mystery - A St. Patrick's Day celebration that's actually on St. Patrick's Day!

Annual Vinton Cowboy Poetry Show - cars are Cowboy Tattoos with better stories! Cowboy Poetry Show

Santa Cruz PaddleFest - formerly known as the Santa Cruz Kayak Surf Festival, it's all about Paddle Power! Santa Cruz PaddleFest

Volcano's Daffodil Hill Days - a Northern California Springtime ritual! Daffodil Hill Days

A Taste of Yountville - part of the Napa Valley Mustard Festival: Foodies, forks, knives, and wine glasses at the ready! A Taste of Yountville

Redding's Sundial Film Festival - one day only - don't miss out! Sundial Film Festival

Surprise Valley's Annual Squirrel Roundup - more of a hunt than a roundup, this event is limited to 100 participants and requires registration. Annual Squirrel Roundup

Chico's Soroptimist Home, Garden & Antique Show - celebrate Spring at one of Chico's most popular events! Soroptimist Home, Garden & Antique Show

Savor Sonoma Valley - a food and wine experience in the heart of California's Wine Country! Savor Sonoma Valley

Fort Bragg Whale Festival - featured attractions are chowders, microbrew tasting, an arts and crafts fair, and whale watching! Fort Bragg Whale Festival

Isleton's Annual Spam Festival - it's all about Spam - the eating kind, not the email kind! Call 916-777-6510 (Isleton Joe's) for date and time

Johnsville's Historic Longboard Revival Race Series - "Dope is King!" and "Long Live Longboards!" - mottoes for this triad of downhill ski races! Historic Longboard Revival Race Series

Kelseyville Olive Festival - complete with and Olive Pit Spitting Contest! Kelseyville Olive Festival

Eureka's Redwood Coast Jazz Festival - four fun-filled days at "The best small town festival in the West"! Redwood Coast Jazz Festival

Belmont Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival -
artists' works on display! Belmont Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival

Mammoth Winter Biathlon - combining cross-country skiing and rifle shooting! Mammoth Winter Biathlon

Mt. Shasta's Coyote Classic Ski Races - THE premier ski racing event at Mt. Shasta Ski Park! Coyote Classic

Amador County's Annual 49er Treasure Trail - conquer clues and challenges - an interactive adventure of epic proportions! 49er Treasure Trail

Oakdale's Annual Testicle Festival - you read that right - and all reports are that they're delish! Cowboy Testicle Festival

Vallejo's Skipper Whipper Whaleboat Races - how cool does that sound! Skipper Whipper Whaleboat Races

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You'll find Northern California events and festivals occur during each and every month of the year!

• January through March Events and Festivals
  Food festivals, music festivals, whale festivals, and a LOT about chocolate!
• April through June Events and Festivals
  Spring has sprung and we're getting outdoors!
  
• July through September Events and Festivals
  Summer's rolling on into Autumn with harvest festivals and wine events!
• October through December Events and Festivals
  Fall into Winter with whale watching and snow sports!
  
• Looking for events and festivals that center on a favorite food? Those are my favorites, too! Take a look at Fun Food Festivals

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