<\/p>\n
This April, California is booming with things to do, from hitting the slopes to\u00a0wildflower viewing<\/a> to attending the legendary Coachella and Stagecoach festivals in the desert. Perhaps you\u2019d like to enjoy some spring weather while catching a baseball game at one of\u00a0California\u2019s great ballparks<\/a> or taste your way through a legendary outdoor culinary festival in Pebble Beach.<\/p>\n Here are more than 25 April events in California to help you make the most of spring.<\/p>\n Native California tribes host\u00a0Pow Wows year-round<\/a>, and April brings a lot of great opportunities to experience these festivals of dancing, singing, drumming, and feasting\u2014typically free and open to the public.<\/p>\n On April 4, UC\u00a0Davis<\/a> hosts its\u00a050th Annual Pow Wow\u00a0<\/a>on its campus quad. The next week, the\u00a0Sierra College Big Time\/Pow Wow<\/a> in\u00a0Placer County<\/a> (April 11) stages a competition Pow Wow, complemented by a variety of food and craft vendors. Also on April 11, the\u00a054th San Diego State University Pow Wow<\/a> features a Kiowa gourd dance and Kumeyaay bird singing. Then, the\u00a0Sherman Indian School Powwow<\/a>\u00a0takes place in\u00a0Riverside<\/a> (April 18).<\/p>\n This annual competition at\u00a0Sugar Bowl ski resort<\/a> started in 1940 as a high-speed giant slalom for Olympians and World Cup skiers along a rugged 1,300-foot course. Today, top athletes vie for the freeride competition finals, with Silver Belts and cash prizes on the line. The big event is April 4, but qualifying races start on March 30.<\/p>\n Explore Alexander Valley wineries this month during this special event that includes complimentary tastings, 10 percent off purchases, and meet-and-greets with growers and winemakers\u2014including some wineries that aren\u2019t typically open to the public. Participating wineries include Robert Young Estate Winery, Jordan Vineyard & Winery, and Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Events within the month include Winemaker Nights at The Matheson in\u00a0Healdsburg<\/a> and a\u00a0Gen Z-friendly Wine 101 course (April 18) at\u00a0Silver Oak Cellars.<\/p>\n Experience\u00a0Redding<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0 famous\u00a0Turtle Bay Exploration Park<\/a> at this after-dark, limited-time attraction. Illuminated lanterns inspired by animals and plants dot the park near the landmark\u00a0Sundial Bridge<\/a>. Stroll through the lights with stops at the food and drink kiosks and listen to live music. Runs on select nights through June 7.<\/p>\n Soak up the seasonal color at\u00a0Oroville<\/a>\u2019s Riverbend Park, located along the Feather River in\u00a0Butte County<\/a>. Browse the seasonal produce, locally made crafts, and food-truck offerings, and take one of the guided kayak tours on the river.<\/p>\n Enjoy Gold Country scenery along the American River during this 50-mile run from\u00a0Folsom<\/a> to\u00a0Auburn<\/a>. The race starts at Folsom Point in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and passes through oak woodlands and meadows, followed by the Pioneer Express Trail, a path once used by gold prospectors.<\/p>\n If 50 miles sounds too daunting, you can do the 25- or 10-mile runs that follow portions of the full course.<\/p>\n Attend screenings of independent films\u00a0at this festival that takes place in both\u00a0Morgan Hill<\/a> and\u00a0Gilroy<\/a>, and which showcases filmmakers from historically marginalized groups. Besides screenings of films\u2014including\u00a0narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental works\u2014the festival will have Q&As with filmmakers, panel discussions, and networking events.<\/p>\n Dine your way around the\u00a0San Francisco Bay Area<\/a> during this spring edition of Restaurant Week. Choose from prix fixe menus that typically range from $10\u2013$45 for brunch or lunch and $30\u2013$90 for three-plus courses at dinner. As of press time, participating restaurants were still TBD, but past participants have been located both in San Francisco neighborhoods such as Union Square and Chinatown as well as outlying Bay Area towns.<\/p>\n The one-day festival at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in\u00a0Santa Rosa<\/a> celebrates both global and California craft beers. Check out the juried competition, dubbed The Craft Cup, then cast your own vote at the main event, where craft beer fans pick their favorites among dozens of breweries.<\/p>\n The Butte County town of\u00a0Chico<\/a> is the home of\u00a0Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.<\/a>, a pioneer in the craft-beer movement. This festival goes beyond the hometown roots, however, offering tastes of more than 40 beers from 20-plus breweries, like\u00a0FiftyFifty Brewing<\/a> from\u00a0Truckee<\/a>. Proceeds benefit a wide range of local charities.<\/p>\n This party boasts of being the largest\u00a0cherry blossom festival<\/a> in the U.S. outside of Washington, D.C. The two weekends in\u00a0San Francisco\u2019s Japantown<\/a> also feature a full schedule of food, music, and bonsai exhibits.<\/p>\n Another nice spot for cherry blossoms this time of year is\u00a0Filoli<\/a> in nearby San Mateo County. The estate\u2019s garden and orchard have weeping cherry blossom trees that are more than a century old, as well as blossoming crabapple, pear, peach, nectarine, and plum trees.<\/p>\n Start your observance of the America250 Celebration at this family-friendly, afternoon concert at Sonoma State University\u2019s Green Music Center. The program features\u00a0American classics such as Copland\u2019s \u201cHoe-Down,\u201d Joplin\u2019s \u201cThe Entertainer,\u201d and Gershwin\u2019s \u201cRhapsody in Blue,\u201d as well as sing-alongs of \u201cAmerica the Beautiful\u201d and \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner.\u201d<\/p>\n This annual festival celebrates the special relationship that the North Coast town of\u00a0Crescent City<\/a> shares with Rikuzentakata, Japan. The sister-city status goes back to 2013, when an empty boat from a Rikuzentakata high school named\u00a0Kamome washed up on the shores of Crescent City and was rehabbed by local high school students.<\/p>\n These days, the Del Norte County town typically celebrates with a Japanese-themed restaurant week and free activities such as a guided historic tsunami walking tour and a shinrin-yoku-certified forest bathing event in\u00a0Redwood National Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n Come to this\u00a0Humboldt County town<\/a> to welcome the spring migration of the marbled godwit\u2014just one of the many diverse bird species that traverse the Pacific Flyway. Take part in guided birding trips and workshops and find out who\u2019s been awarded Bird of the Year.<\/p>\n Watch roping and riding at one of the biggest rodeos in the nation. The weekend in\u00a0Tehama County<\/a> includes classic competitions, legends of professional rodeo, and the Wild Ride, the Sunday event where cowboys dress in costumes while attempting eight seconds on the back of a bucking horse.<\/p>\n Immerse yourself in car culture at this\u00a0Redding<\/a> event that includes an all-can-join cruise, a Big Show, and smaller \u201cshow and shine\u201d events most other days. There are fun family activities, too, like pancake breakfasts and drive-in movies.<\/p>\n Join in as the Sonoma County town of\u00a0Petaluma<\/a> celebrates its rich agricultural heritage at this annual party, more than 40 years running. Besides a classic parade and food, the festivities include beer and wine gardens, kids\u2019 zones, and cheeky competitions such as Cutest Little Chick and a cow-chip-throwing contest.<\/p>\n Each year, the festival also recognizes a deserving local citizen as that year\u2019s Good Egg. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cAmerica\u2019s Birthday, Petaluma Style.\u201d<\/p>\n This annual event started as an open house for a new dairy barn in 1909, but now is a\u00a0big party<\/a> showcasing the esteemed university in\u00a0Davis<\/a>. It\u2019s great for prospective students or anyone nostalgic for their own college days, with its parade, picnicking, and quirky activities like the Doxie Derby and the Battle of the Marching Bands.<\/p>\n Explore the culinary landscape of\u00a0San Mateo County<\/a> at this week of special prix fixe menus at hundreds of restaurants. The first half of the festival will focus on the San Francisco Peninsula\u2019s \u201cbayside\u201d restaurants while the second half on the area\u2019s \u201ccoastside.\u201d Throughout the event, expect lots of recently caught seafood, authentic international cuisine, and creative fusion options.\u00a0<\/p>\n Enjoy \u201cbackstage\u201d access at 15 heralded wineries and vineyards in\u00a0Napa Valley<\/a>\u2019s Stags Leap District during this VIP-style festival. The weekend includes small vintner-hosted dinners, vineyard walks, seminars, and many tastings including new releases and library wines. Buy a ticket for either Saturday or Sunday, or a pass that covers Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday.<\/p>\n Founded in 1957, this\u00a0San Francisco<\/a> event is the longest-running\u00a0film fest<\/a> in the nation, offering a mix of international and domestic crowd-pleasers. The lineup of films is usually announced in late March; consider buying six-packs or 10-packs of tickets for the best value.<\/p>\n Spring is peak rhododendron season in\u00a0Humboldt County,<\/a> when the bright red, pink, and white blossoms stand out beautifully against a backdrop of\u00a0redwood trees<\/a>. Head to downtown\u00a0Eureka<\/a> to see a parade of classic cars, floats, horses, tractors, and bands\u2014all festooned with rhododendron blooms and other flowers.<\/p>\n Ride through wine country at this\u00a0Sonoma County<\/a> event launched by\u00a0Levi Leipheimer<\/a>, the former pro cyclist and three-time Amgen Tour of California winner. The seven route options range from 8 to 138 miles and feature a variety of terrains, from flat wine country routes to a super-challenging ride on par with the toughest stretches of the Tour de France.<\/p>\n This annual event is a great excuse to check out the impressive, 25-square-mile\u00a0Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area<\/a>, home to almost 200 species of birds. Explore the exhibits, attend a birding tour, meet adorable ducklings, and learn duck calls.<\/p>\n Head to\u00a0The Presidio<\/a> to witness 100-plus decorated boats gliding by in this annual tradition that goes back to 1917. The all-boats-welcome parade\u2014organized by the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association\u2014starts off the shore of\u00a0Crissy Field<\/a> in the Presidio, and traverses the city’s waterfront to the Fort Mason building. This year’s theme is “Myths & Legends,” which celebrates the folklore of maritime history.<\/p>\n See this year\u2019s bloom while riding through Butte County: This annual cycling event offers routes ranging from 12 to 100 miles.<\/p>\n April is peak harvest season for pixies\u2014the small, super-sweet tangerine produced by 40 growers in the Ventura County town of\u00a0Ojai<\/a>. Pick up the fresh fruit at local stores such as Friend\u2019s Ranch Packing House and Rainbow Bridge Natural Foods Market, or enjoy pixie-infused cuisine, spa treatments, and merch at participating businesses around town. The month brings deals at hotels too, including the\u00a0Ojai Valley Inn<\/a>.<\/p>\n This acclaimed\u00a0culinary event<\/a> in\u00a0Pebble Beach<\/a> features themed lunches, dinners, tasting tours, seminars, and even a VIP golf tournament. The lineup of talent and makers includes 135 chefs and 150 wineries as well as mixologists and sommeliers. This year\u2019s culinary headliners include\u00a0Antonia Lofaso<\/a> and\u00a0Oliver Ridgeway<\/a>. Book tickets for individual events or get a package that bundles in several experiences.<\/p>\n Explore the bounty of\u00a0Ventura County\u00a0<\/a>through a variety of farm tours and other ag-themed activities in or around\u00a0Camarillo<\/a>. Check out the map of participating farms<\/a> which typically include tractor rides at Prancer\u2019s Farm in Oxnard or olive oil tasting at Ojai Olive Oil.<\/p>\n You can also take a self-guided walking tour of agricultural-themed murals in the\u00a0Heritage Valley<\/a> community of Santa Paula.<\/p>\n Celebrate Earth Day early at this weekend event dedicated to helping protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and held at Fisherman\u2019s Wharf in\u00a0Monterey<\/a>. There will be\u00a0interactive exhibits, live music, and research and rescue boat tours, as well as appearances by \u201cDee\u201d the inflatable humpback whale. Admission is free.<\/p>\n Each spring, the Fresno County town of\u00a0Clovis<\/a> embraces its cowboy heritage, starting with a longtime street fair in Old Town Clovis known as\u00a0Big Hat Days\u00a0<\/a>(April 11\u201312). Enjoy the food and craft vendors, a beer garden, and live music (wearing a 10-gallon hat is optional). From April 22\u201326, take part in the classic\u00a0Clovis Rodeo<\/a>, which includes a lineup of bull riding, roping events, and concerts.<\/p>\n April is National Kite Month, and the Central Coast city of\u00a0Santa Barbara<\/a> offers a particularly lovely setting for this one-day celebration\u2014a giant meadow at Santa Barbara City College. Activities include the traditional children\u2019s kite-tail chase and contests for Most Beautiful Kite, Funniest Kite, and Most Unflyable Kite.<\/p>\n This\u00a0Central Coast cycling event<\/a> is considered the kick-off of the North American cycling season, attracting more than 10,000 athletes\u2014including pros as well as national, world, and Olympic champions. Watch athletes compete in mountain bike, cross country, dual slalom, road, and cyclocross events, and join in the fun during non-competitive recreational events for all ages.<\/p>\n Salute the migrating whales along the Santa Barbara Channel\u2014named a Whale Heritage Area\u2014at this event at Channel Islands Harbor in\u00a0Oxnard<\/a>. Check out the family-friendly activities, chalk art, and a children\u2019s fun zone, as well as the\u00a0Channel Islands Maritime Museum<\/a> and the \u201cGray Whale Migration Trail\u201d that runs through Harbor View Park.<\/p>\n Extend your April Fool\u2019s Day observance in\u00a0Anaheim<\/a> with this debut festival that is part culinary and part comedy, held at venues around the\u00a0Anaheim Packing District<\/a>. The schedule includes separate-ticket comedy shows at various small venues as well as chef\u2019s table dinners and tastings.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some events include food while others just include easy access to the food hall options at the Anaheim Packing House. The full lineup is still in the works, but one headliner is Adam Ray (known for his Netflix special and roles in\u00a0Curb Your Enthusiasm<\/em> and\u00a0Barbie<\/em>).\u00a0<\/p>\n TV nerds will love this sneak peek\u2013style event featuring special episodes and meet-and-greets with TV stars and creators. This year\u2019s event at the\u00a0Dolby Theatre<\/a> will feature star-studded panels celebrating\u00a0Pluribus<\/em>, Shrinking<\/em>, Nobody Wants This<\/em>, and a reunion of stars from\u00a0Charlie\u2019s Angels<\/em>. Buy your tickets \u00e0 la carte for each event: seats start at about $80, including fees.<\/p>\n While this\u00a0epic music festival<\/a> is technically sold out, don\u2019t give up hope: You can still\u00a0get on the waitlist<\/a> for either weekend. Either way, you can always enjoy the region-wide party in the desert. Headliners on both weekends are Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G, with supporting acts including The XX, The Strokes, and Iggy Pop.<\/p>\n Check out these\u00a0hacks for making the most of Coachella<\/a>, with or without a pass.<\/p>\n See the state flower at its peak this month at\u00a0Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve<\/a> in the Los Angeles County town of\u00a0Lancaster<\/a>, then celebrate at the nearby AV Fair and Events Center. Activities include rides, live music, a beer garden, and live animal exhibits.<\/p>\n Scoot your boots at this Western music festival in\u00a0Santa Clarita<\/a>, the L.A. County town that\u2019s rich with both cowboy history and movie-location history. Check the schedule of more than 15 live acts of country, folk, and bluegrass music; at the festival, browse the Western fashion vendors and check out the Pioneer Corner\u2019s lessons on wool-spinning, candle-making, and leather-stamping.<\/p>\n This two-day event on the\u00a0University of Southern California campus<\/a> features book sales, readings, signings, chats with authors, and musical performances. Check out the author lineup, which always features some literary stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n See more than 130 works of art from the personal collection of two notable San Diego residents\u2014Alicia Keys and\u00a0hip-hop producer\u00a0Kasseem Dean (aka\u00a0Swizz Beatz)\u2014at this exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego.<\/p>\n Set against a soundtrack by Marvin Gaye, the exhibit at the\u00a0La Jolla<\/a> museum features 37 Black American and diasporic artists from around the world including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kwame Brathwaite, and Esther Mahlangu. Be sure to check out the debut of a large-scale piece by\u00a0multi-media artist Mickalene Thomas. Runs through August 9.<\/p>\n Ogle 150 rare and restored vehicles\u2014including horseless carriages, European marques, and American classics\u2014displayed on grassy oceanfront lawns at\u00a0this event<\/a> in La Jolla. The weekend also features live music and the free event Porsches & Power on Prospect\u2014a lineup of 75 Porsches parked along La Jolla\u2019s Prospect St.<\/p>\n After the rock fans have dispersed from Coachella, the Empire Polo Club in\u00a0Indio<\/a> welcomes country music fans for this\u00a0three-day extravaganza<\/a>. Headliners include Cody Johnson, Launey Wilson, and Post Malone, supported by genre-crossers such as Journey, Counting Crows, and Hootie & the Blowfish.<\/p>\n Taste Your way through this traveling Asian street food festival that includes this one stop in the Golden State. More than 80 vendors will set up at\u00a0San Diego<\/a>\u2019s Waterfront Park with dishes from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and beyond. Between bites, browse the artisan crafts and watch cultural performances while kids can play in the panda bounce house.<\/p>\n May the Fourth<\/a> arrives early at\u00a0Disneyland Resort<\/a> this year and lasts well beyond the day itself. Starting April 28, Disneyland Park will also host four Disneyland Star Wars Nites\u2014separate ticket, after-hours events that include character sightings, themed menus, light saber lessons, and a Fans of the Force Costume Cavalcade, an all-are-welcome cosplay parade along Main Street USA. Runs on select evenings through May 6.<\/p>\nAround the State<\/h3>\n
Beginning April 4: Native California Pow Wows and Festivals<\/h4>\n
Northern California<\/h3>\n
March 30\u2013April 4:\u00a0The Silver Belt<\/a>, Sugar Bowl<\/h4>\n
All Month:\u00a0Taste Alexander Valley<\/a>, Sonoma County<\/h4>\n
Begins April 4:\u00a0Glowing Wild<\/a>, Redding<\/h4>\n
April 4:\u00a0Wildflower & Nature Festival<\/a>, Oroville<\/h4>\n
April 4:\u00a0American River 50-Mile Endurance Run<\/a>, Folsom<\/h4>\n
April 8\u201315:\u00a0Poppy Jasper International Film Festival<\/a>, Morgan Hill and Gilroy<\/h4>\n
April 10\u201319:\u00a0Spring SF Restaurant Week<\/a>, San Francisco<\/h4>\n
April 11:\u00a0Battle of the Brews<\/a>, Santa Rosa<\/h4>\n
April 11:\u00a0Chico BrewFest<\/a>, Chico<\/h4>\n
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April 11\u201312, 18\u201319:\u00a0Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival<\/a>, San Francisco<\/h4>\n
April 12:\u00a0Santa Rosa Symphony\u2019s Celebrate America<\/a>, Rohnert Park<\/h4>\n
April 13\u201319:\u00a0Kamome Festival<\/a>, Crescent City<\/h4>\n
April 16\u201319:\u00a0Godwit Days Spring Migration Birding Festival<\/a>, Arcata<\/h4>\n
April 17\u201319:\u00a0Red Bluff Round-Up<\/a>, Red Bluff<\/h4>\n
April 17\u201326:\u00a0Kool April Nites<\/a>, Redding<\/h4>\n
April 18:\u00a0Butter & Egg Days Parade and Festival<\/a>, Petaluma<\/h4>\n
April 18:\u00a0UC Davis Picnic Day<\/a>, Davis<\/h4>\n
April 23\u2013May 3:\u00a0Taste of the Peninsula<\/a>, San Mateo County<\/h4>\n
April 24\u201326:\u00a0Stags Leap District\u2019s Vineyard to Vintner<\/a>, Napa Valley<\/h4>\n
April 24\u2013May 4:\u00a0San Francisco International Film Festival<\/a>, San Francisco<\/h4>\n
April 25:\u00a0Rhododendron Parade<\/a>, Eureka<\/h4>\n
April 25:\u00a0Levi’s GranFondo Cycling Event<\/a>, Windsor<\/h4>\n
April 25:\u00a0California Duck Days Festival<\/a>, Davis<\/h4>\n
April 26:\u00a0Opening Day on the Bay<\/a>, San Francisco<\/h4>\n
April 25\u201326:\u00a0Chico Wildflower Ride & Festival<\/a>, Chico<\/h4>\n
Central California<\/h3>\n
All month:\u00a0Ojai Pixie Tangerine Month<\/a>, Ojai<\/h4>\n
April 9\u201312:\u00a0Pebble Beach Food & Wine<\/a>, Pebble Beach<\/h4>\n
April 11:\u00a0Ventura County Farm Day<\/a>, Camarillo<\/h4>\n
April 11\u201312:\u00a0Whalefest Monterey<\/a>, Monterey<\/h4>\n
April 11\u201312, 22\u201326:\u00a0Clovis Big Hat Days & Clovis Rodeo<\/a>, Clovis<\/h4>\n
April 12:\u00a0Santa Barbara Kite Festival<\/a>, Santa Barbara<\/h4>\n
April 16\u201319:\u00a0Monterey Sea Otter Classic<\/a>, Monterey<\/h4>\n
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April 19:\u00a0Celebration of the Whales<\/a>, Oxnard<\/h4>\n
Southern California<\/h3>\n
April 3\u20134:\u00a0Stand Up, Chow Down<\/a>, Anaheim<\/h4>\n
April 4\u201312:\u00a0PaleyFest,<\/a> Los Angeles<\/h4>\n
April 10\u201319:\u00a0Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival<\/a>, Indio<\/h4>\n
April 17\u201319:\u00a0California Poppy Festival<\/a>, Lancaster<\/h4>\n
April 18\u201319:\u00a0Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival<\/a>, Santa Clarita<\/h4>\n
April 18\u201319:\u00a0Los Angeles Times Festival of Books<\/a>, Los Angeles<\/h4>\n
\n
Begins April 18:\u00a0Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys<\/a>, San Diego<\/h4>\n
April 24\u201326:\u00a0La Jolla Concours d\u2019Elegance<\/a>, La Jolla<\/h4>\n
April 24\u201326:\u00a0Stagecoach Festival<\/a>, Indio<\/h4>\n
April 25\u201326:\u00a0Panda Fest<\/a>, San Diego<\/h4>\n
April 29:\u00a0New Arrivals at Star Wars: Galaxy\u2019s Edge in Disneyland<\/a>, Anaheim<\/h4>\n