Seasonal Events in So. Cal for Tourists from Locals

[fairycat]

Ok so with some of the celebrity sightings mentioned on the other thread I thought of a few fun seasonal events I never miss and decided to offer some events for tourists with extra time or who are looking for something a little different to do.

Again locals please feel free to offer up some of your favorite seasonal events in So Cal!

Also see muchkinsmom's great Calender here!



JANUARY-

Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
January 1st

Tournement of Roses Parade (Pasadena)
January 1st (the 2nd if he first is a Sunday)

FEBUARY-
NASCAR
http://www.californiaspeedway.com/

MARCH-

BASEBALL! (Anaheim and Los Angeles)
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la


APRIL-

California Poppy Festival in Palmdale
http://www.poppyfestival.com/

The Southern California Renaissance Faire (Irwindale)
Weekends April 5th- May 18th
http://www.renfair.com/socal/index.php

Baseball (Anaheim and Los Angeles)
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la

Long Beach Grand Prix (LB)
April 18th-20th
http://www.gplb.com/

MAY-

2008 Grunion Run info: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

California Strawberry Festival (Ventura)
May 17th and 18th
http://www.strawberry-fest.org/festival/festival-food.html

The Southern California Renaissance Faire (Irwindale)
Weekends April 5th- May 18th
http://www.renfair.com/socal/index.php

Baseball (Anaheim and Los Angeles)
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la

JUNE-

Baseball (Anaheim and Los Angeles)
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la

JULY-
Pagent of the masters- Where art comes to Life (Laguna Beach)
July9th- August 30th
http://www.foapom.com/site/overview_pom.asp

Orange County (O.C.) County Fair (Costa Mesa)
July 11- Aug 3
http://www.ocfair.com/ocf/

Baseball (Anaheim and Los Angeles)
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la


Huntington Beach surf competition

AUGUST-

Orange County (O.C.) County Fair (Costa Mesa)
July 11- Aug 3
http://www.ocfair.com/ocf/

Pagent of the masters- Where art comes to Life (Laguna Beach)
July9th- August 30th
http://www.foapom.com/site/overview_pom.asp

Baseball (Anaheim and Los Angeles)
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la

NASCAR
http://www.californiaspeedway.com/

SEPTEMBER-
Toshiba Tall Ships Festival (Dana Point)
http://tallshipsfestival.com/index2.html

Los Angeles (L.A.) County Fair (Pomona)
September 5-28th
http://www.lacountyfair.com/2007/homepage.asp

Baseball (Anaheim and Los Angeles)
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la

OCTOBER-

Miramar Air Show in San Diego

NOVEMBER-

Belmont Shore- for christmas lights

Del Mar racetrack and fairgrounds- For Christmas Lights

DECEMBER-

Griffith Park DWP Christmas Light Display and Train Ride to Santas House (Los Feliz)
no dates listed yet for 2008
http://www.family-vacation-getaways-at-los-angeles-theme-parks.com/Griffith-Park-Christmas.html
http://www.laparks.org/light_festival/lightfestival.htm

Palm Desert Living Desert annual festival of lights at the zoo

Belmont Shore- for christmas lights

Del Mar racetrack and fairgrounds- For Christmas Lights

 

[fairycat]

The Southern California Renaissance Faire
Weekends April 5th- May 18th
http://www.renfair.com/socal/index.php

Though the history is hard to trace to the very, very beginning, this event is getting close to 50 years old starting its life in Agoura Hills, moving to Devore, and now currently at the Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale. This was the first Renaissance Faire in the US and helped to start a long tradition of yearly Faires around the country.

This event offers shopping for handmade wares, costumed performers, historical actors, Beer, pirates, rides and more all surrounding the time of Queen Elizabeth the first. You can hear a sonnet from Shakespeare, pillage with a pirate and learn some baudy songs from a lovely wench.

I love the play and feel of this outdoor event, with so much to see and do. I love the shows, the characters and the things you will find only here!

Also an extra treat, the Ren Faire has a very long celebrity guest list, starting back to the early days. In the past two years I have seen Hugh Heffner and the "Girl's Next Door" (they actually filmed an episode of the event, too bad I got cut ), Hugh Jackman and Annette Benning both with their children in tow. Though some actors have never had their visits substanianted (Johnny Depp recently, though he did visit during his earlier acting days). Most of the celebrities are hard to spot as some come in costume and some just blend in to all the bright sights.

Either way its a fun place to visit if you have the time.


NOTE: I do work this event so I might seem extra partial, but I still thought I would include it

 

[jlmarr]

Again locals please feel free to offer up some of your favorite seasonal events in So Cal!

It's almost baseball season!

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ana

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=la

 

[audrabolster]

I second the above ideas! Of course there is the beach too!

 

[Magix]

A little off most people's radar, but there's the annual Toshiba Tall Ships Festival in Dana Point in September. Just do a web search for the Ocean Institute in Dana Point for info.

Also, this year, in August the Tall Ships Challenge will be in San Pedro and San Diego. A great festival with something like 15 tall ships from around the world. Check the ASTA (American Sail Training Association) website for details and links to each city's site for the festival.

Second or third week of April is the Long Beach Grand Prix. A great racing event every year. I almost hate to direct anyone to this right now, since it's marquee series, Champ Car, has capitulated to the IRL and their hideously ugly cars will be running the circuit after this year (2008 is a farewell to Champ Car event... ). It's very hard on those of us who loved Champ Car (the entire series is dead). But, the average person won't know the difference.

I agree that the Renaissance Faire is always a good bet. Been going to that, off and on, since the old Agoura days.

 

[jlmarr]

July 9th - August 30th in Laguna Beach

http://www.foapom.com/site/overview_pom.asp

Check out the gallery on this page:

http://www.foapom.com/gallery

 

[fairycat]

Great stuff guys!!! Yeah locals for help!

I just added a calendar to the first post and added some new stuff as well to the calendar.

Locals keep offering up this great stuff!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I'm not a fan myself, but NASCAR is here twice a year, currently February and August (Labor Day weekend). The track is California Speedway, I think currently renamed Auto Club Speedway. It's in Fontana, about 45 minutes from DLR. If you're a race fan don't miss it! DH and my dad have enjoyed it.

http://www.californiaspeedway.com/

 

[awdfan]

When I lived down there, my favorite thing to do was go to Belmont Shore in late November, early December and walk around to check out the Christmas decorations/displays at the houses. They also have a Christmas parade around the first week of December, but it's fun to walk along the canals and check out the homes.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

Around Christmas, the Del Mar racetrack and fairgrounds has a huge lights display, called Holiday of Lights. It takes a good half an hour to drive through the whole display, and it's very impressive!

Also, the flower fields in Carlsbad are beautiful when in bloom, March through May.

 

[PSWGal]

During the summer there's always the Huntington Beach surf competition. You can Google it. They also have a parade and fireworks on the beach on July 4th. There's a big pier with a 50's type restaurant, Ruby's at the end of the pier.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Southern California is one of the few places in the world that experiences the phenomenon known as grunion runs.

At night, these small fish come up on the beach with the waves, lay and fertilize their eggs, and make their way back to the ocean on the next wave. As a child, we often went to the beach to go Grunion Hunting, and would sit out there at 1:am with our bonfire along with other families.

The challenge today is to find a beach where you can see the grunion come up and not be chased away due to the curfew that exists on many beaches.

If you're going to visit in the next few months, check the calendar for local grunion runs.

2008 grunion info: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/gruschd.asp

http://arachnid.pepperdine.edu/grunion/multimedia.htm

http://arachnid.pepperdine.edu/grunion/media/2005June8SealBeach.wmv

 

[Eaglefan9727]

Second or third week of April is the Long Beach Grand Prix. A great racing event every year. I almost hate to direct anyone to this right now, since it's marquee series, Champ Car, has capitulated to the IRL and their hideously ugly cars will be running the circuit after this year (2008 is a farewell to Champ Car event... ). It's very hard on those of us who loved Champ Car (the entire series is dead). But, the average person won't know the difference.

I felt the same way in 1983 when that was the final year for formula one racing on the streets of Long Beach. Although, That was my first ever race that I went to live and its been 25 years since then. It was still a shame to loose formula one back then. That is one of the reasons why I planned a trip to the Long Beach Grand Prix this year to see CART race there for the last time plus I wanted to celebrate my 25th anniversary of going to my first racing event. In those 25 years, I have been to the Long Beach Grand Prix 9 times. This will be my tenth time.

 

[munchkinsmom]

MARCH:
Watch a San Diego Padres Game (through September): http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sd

MAY:
Watch a concert outdoors by the bay @ Humphrey's (through October): http://www.humphreysconcerts.com/


JUNE/JULY/AUGUST:
San Diego County Fair: http://www.sdfair.com/fair/

Del Mar Horse Racing (July through September): http://www.dmtc.com/


SEPTEMBER:
Watch a San Diego Charger Game through December (only NFL team in SoCal): http://www.chargers.com/

OCTOBER:
San Diego Zoo Celebrates its birthday by offering free entry to kids under 12 during the month of October: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

NOVEMBER:
Mother Goose Parade: http://www.mothergooseparade.org/

DECEMBER:
December Nights in Balboa Park: First weekend in December: http://balboapark.org/decembernights/

Christmas on the Promenade @ Liberty Station, San Diego: http://www.christmasonthepromenade.com/

In Riverside, CA, Mission Inn has their annual “Festival of Lights”:
http://www.festivaloflightsca.com/
http://www.missioninn.com/

Watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at The Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park. Side note: Vanessa Hudgens from HSM played Cindy Lou at the Old Globe several years ago: http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/media/San-Diego-Magazine/July-2004/Vanessa-Anne-Hudgens/)

http://www.balboapark.org/calendar/detail.php?EventID=1189
http://www.theoldglobe.org/


San Diego Bay Parade of Lights: http://www.sdparadeoflights.org/

Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade (in conjunction w/ the Holiday Bowl):
http://www.holidaybowl.com/events/port-of-san-diego-big-bay-balloon-parade.html

Legoland Holiday Block Parties: http://www.legoland.com/

Skiing at Big Bear Mountain Resorts (until snow melts): http://www.bigbearmountainresorts.com/index_winter.php


I'll add to this post as I think of more things. HTH!

 

[Zoemakes5]

Miramar Air Show in San Diego in October. Don't have this year's dates yet.

In Feb/March and then again in September (this year August 31), there's the NASCAR California Speedway races in Fontana.

Palm Desert Living Desert annual festival of lights at the zoo. Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas time.

 

[ckdipp]

Such great stuff! Thanks so much for sharing!!

 

[fairycat]

I added all the suggestions to the list and added a link to Munchkinsmom's since I hope she adds even more great stuff to her list!!

I also added the Poppy Festival, it is great for photographers and people who enjoy a good local festival. The California Poppy is our state flower

http://www.poppyfestival.com/

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

When and where is a good Sand Castle building contest???

 

[jlmarr]

I forgot about this one - the annual mooning of the Amtrak trains heading from L.A. to San Diego...

http://www.moonamtrak.org

But alas, the authorities stepped in this year...

http://www.knbc.com/news/16865249/detail.html