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.


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!


February Events and Festivals in Northern California

Box of Chocolates; Photographer UnknownBox of Chocolates;
Photographer Unknown

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! 


March Events and Festivals in Northern California

Jazz Trumpet; Photographer UnknownJazz Trumpet;;
Photographer Unknown

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


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

Please continue your exploration of what Northern California has to offer by using the Nav Bars in the left and right columns or by using the links at the bottom of the page.

Search this Site


Like what you're finding here at Discovering Northern California? Then please share with the Social Network of your choice.

And thanks for coming!

Return to Discover Northern California's Home Page from Events and Festivals: January through March