Are your ready for anything? Sunny California is a top festival destination for visitors from around the world, with such a variety of venues and types of festivals that you may just spend the summer on the west coast. Anchored by festival royalty like Coachella and Outside Lands, the festival season also boast camping festivals tucked away in the Redwoods of northern California, warm-weather electronic fests in So-Cal, and roots and reggae in the mountains. Let’s take a look at some of the best fests in Cali:
Beachlife Festival 2023
May 5-7, 2023
Redondo Beach, CA
Dip your toes into the sand and enjoy that Beachlife! This festival in Redondo Beach, California, puts out a chill festival vibe with classic rock, reggae, and Americana artists.
Featured Artists: Band of Horses, Caamp, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Modest Mouse, Pixies, Sublime with Rome, The Black Crowes, The Black Keys, The Head and the Heart, The Wailers, Trampled By Turtles
Bottlerock Napa Valley 2023
May 26-28, 2023
Napa, CA
Wine meets music when artists from around the world descend on Napa Valley just north of San Francisco. The internationally renown wine region lets it all hang out during this Memorial Day Weekend Festival, putting out one of the best West Coast lineups of the season.
Featured Artists: Bastille, Billy Strings, Caamp, Carly Rae Jepsen, Duran Duran, Japanese Breakfast, Leon Bridges, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Los Lobos, Lupe Fiasco, Phantogram, Post Malone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, Starcrawler, The National, The Smashing Pumpkins, Thievery Corporation, Tom Odell, Tove Lo, Wu-Tang Clan
Coachella Music Festival 2023
April 14-23, 2023
Indio, CA
Like a barometer always reading a temperature of awesome, the traditional kickoff to the summer festival season is dominated by Coachella. The glitz and glamour of Los Angeles migrates east to the Indio desert for back to back weekends of the biggest names in music. What started as a small electronic festival in the desert has transformed into a cultural touchstone for the festival season.
Featured Artists: A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Adam Beyer, Alex G, Ashnikko, Bad Bunny, Bakar, Becky G, Benee, Big Wild, Björk, Blackpink, Blondie, Boris Brejcha, Burna Boy, Calvin Harris, Cannons, Charli XCX, Christine And The Queens, Chromeo, Dannylux, Destroy Boys, Diljit Dosanjh, Doechii, Dominic Fike, Drama, Earthgang, Eric Prydz, Ethel Cain, Fisher, Flo Milli, Frank Ocean, Glorilla, Gordo, Gorillaz, Idris Elba, Jackson Wang, Jai Wolf, Jamie Jones, Joy Crookes, Kali Uchis, Kaytranada, Kenny Beats, Knocked Loose, Labrinth, Latto, Maceo Plex, Magdalena Bay, Marc Rebillet, Metro Boomin, Muna, Mura Masa, Noname, Nora En Pure, Paris Texas, Pi’Erre Bourne, Porter Robinson, Pusha T, Rae Sremmurd, Rebelution, Remi Wolf, Rosalía, Sg Lewis, Snail Mail, Sofi Tukker, Stick Figure, Tale of Us, The Blaze, The Breeders, The Chemical Brothers, The Comet is Coming, The Garden, The Kid Laroi, The Linda Lindas, TV Girl, Two Friends, Underworld, Vintage Culture, Wet Leg, Weyes Blood, Willow, Yung Lean, Yungblud, Yves Tumor
Photo Credit: Mike Ivankay for Coachella
Stagecoach Country Music Festival 2023
April 28-30, 2023
Indio, CA
Curated for country music enthusiasts, Stagecoach Festival brings a little country flair to California. With attendances of up to 75,000 fans, Stagecoach is easily one of the largest country music festivals in the world. The breadth of seasoned pros and up-and-coming artists showcased in the festival's lineup brings attendees of all ages to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Featured Artists: Bryan Adams, Chris Stapleton, Diplo, Jon Pardi, Luke Bryan, Nelly, Old Dominion, Tyler Childers, ZZ Top
Photo Credit: Andrew Jorgenson for Stagecoach
Lightning in a Bottle 2023
May 24-29, 2023
Bakersfield, CA
The dedicated fans of this transformational festival have kept LiB at the top of its game for over ten years. It has changed venues more than a few times, but the incredible art, enthusiastic attendees, and top notch lineup at this boutique fest is a steady constant.
Featured Artists: 070 Shake, Beats Antique, Caribou, Diplo, Drama, Liquid Stranger, Phantogram, Rezz, Sofi Tukker, Tale of Us, The Floozies, The Polish Ambassador, Tokimonsta, ZHU
Photo Credit: Watchara Phomicinda
California Roots 2023
May 25-28, 2023
Monterey, CA
One of the largest reggae festivals in the country, Calforinia Roots delivers a cosmic blend of good vibes, true happiness, family, peace, love and joy to all who enter. The three-day festival takes place at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, where Jimi Hendrix famously lit his guitar on fire in 1967.
Featured Artists: Atmosphere, Cypress Hill, Matisyahu, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Shaggy, Sublime with Rome, Wu-Tang Clan
Photo Credit: Stage Media
Beyond Wonderland 2023
March 24-25, 2023
San Bernardino, CA
It's time to journey back down the rabbit hole for this Alice in Wonderland themed fest. Insomniac's springtime EDM festival in southern California, the sister festival of Nocturnal Wonderland, features everything from house to trance to dubstep to drum and bass. We'll see you at the Mad Hatter's Castle.
Featured Artists: Alan Walker, Alok, Andy C, Borgore, Chris Liebing, Deorro, Dillon Francis, Ellen Allien, Excision, Felix Da Housecat, Ferry Corsten, Flosstradamus, Kaskade, San Holo, Sub Zero Project
Photo Credit: Jake West
Outside Lands 2023
August 11-13, 2023
San Francisco, CA
A bike valet, wine tasting tent, and local organic food vendors are just a couple of signs that you’re in San Francisco at Outside Lands. The quirky and wonderful Golden Gate Park hosts a wide range of acts and has quickly grown into a highlight of the San Fran summer. Bring a hoodie with you. Just because it’s August doesn’t mean that the fog won’t join the party.
Featured Artists: Alex G, beabadoobee, Cigarettes After Sex, Claptone, Ethel Cain, Father John Misty, Fisher, Foo Fighters, Interpol, Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, Lil Yachty, Megan Thee Stallion, Noah Kahan, Nora En Pure, Odesza, The 1975, Willow, Zedd
Sol Blume 2023
April 29-30, 2023
Sacramento, CA
Sol Blume is a two day, outdoor, all ages, alt R&B, music festival, held in the heart of downtown Sacramento.
Featured Artists: Amber Mark, Ella Mai, Jessie Reyez, Kehlani
Desert Hearts Festival 2023
May 6-7, 2023
Los Angeles, CA
The DIY Desert Hearts Festival boasts a dedicated community of underground electronic music fans who worship at the alter of house, techno, and love. The intimate gatherings are beloved by fans, who are inspired by the small capacity experience focused on art, music, and community.
Featured Artists: DJ Seinfeld, Skream
Photo Credit: Desert Hearts
The Untz Festival 2023
May 12-14, 2023
Browns Valley, CA
Adding to the myriad of festivals taking place in California each summer, The Untz Festival brings a weekend of dance music to the Mairposa Fairgrounds. Founded in 2009, Untz has devoted their event to bringing to light some of the best underground electronic artists making an impact on the industry.
Photo Credit: Joseph Runge
High Sierra Music Festival 2023
June 29-July 2, 2023
Quincy, CA
Situated in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, High Sierra Music Festival boasts a family friendly atmosphere packed with artists traversing all musical genres. The eclectic lineup at the festival is backed by a picturesque venue surrounded by a mountainous landscape and national forests. More than just music is offered at the High Sierra with yoga areas, audience-participation parades, children’s areas and more.
Featured Artists: Deer Tick, Dopapod, Dumpstaphunk, Galactic, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Lotus, The Infamous Stringdusters
Photo Credit: High Sierra Music Festival
Northern Nights 2023
July 14-16, 2023
Piercy, CA
Connecting music and nature, Northern Nights Music Festival is one of the most sought after events held at Cook’s Valley Campground in Northern California. Promoted as a music and arts, camping, yoga and cannabis retreat, the festival features a varied lineup of primarily electronic artists. Still a small festival by industry standards, Northern Lights tops out at 6,000 attendees. The selective attendee limit and festival grounds play a large role in Northern Nights success. The campgrounds are home to swimming holes and the largest Redwood grove in the nation where camping is allowed.
Featured Artists: Big Gigantic, Mura Masa
Same Same But Different 2023
September 21-24, 2023
Perris, CA
SSBD caters to those that embrace unique and diverse music spanning multiple genres over a multi-day experience. Late night electronic, funky day-time beach parties, early morning acoustic, secret jam spots and lots more.
Photo Credit: Same Same But Different
Monterey Jazz Festival 2023
September 22-24, 2023
Monterey, CA
Home to an area holding some of the biggest names in festival history, Monterey Jazz Festival was founded in 1958 by jazz DJ icon, Jimmy Lyons. The festival features dozens of acclaimed acts, well known jazz musicians and other rising stars in the industry to the Monterey County Fairgrounds. With over 60 years of bringing some of the best jazz to Monterey every year, festival attendees are sure to hear some of the best in classic jazz and witness the evolution of jazz music in today’s modern music culture scene.
Aftershock Festival 2023
October 5-7, 2023
Sacramento, CA
California's biggest rock festival storms into Sacramento with a powerful lineup of rock and metal favorites. With alumni like Megadeth, Korn, Ozzy Osbourne, Nine Inch Nails, Godsmack, Alice in Chains, and System of a Down, this is the place to see genre legends in the western United States along with up-and-comers to the scene.
Featured Artists: 311, Afi, Avenged Sevenfold, Bad Omens, Badflower, Billy Talent, Coheed and Cambria, Converge, Daughtry, Deafheaven, Escape the Fate, Godsmack, Guns N' Roses, I Prevail, Incubus, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Mayday Parade, Megadeth, Nothing But Thieves, Parkway Drive, Pennywise, Queens of the Stone Age, Rancid, Skillet, Steel Panther, The Bronx, Tool, Turnstile
Photo Credit: Aftershock
Nocturnal Wonderland 2023
September 16-17, 2023
San Bernardino, CA
Presented by electronic stronghold Insomniac, Nocturnal Wonderland plays host to a roster of top notch electronic DJs in San Bernardino, California. With colorful luminescent art installations throughout the festival, the atmosphere of Nocturnal Wonderland is a playground for electronic fans of all genres. Spanning over a weekend, this two day festival includes more than 50 artists across three separate stages.
Photo Credit: Jake West for Insomniac
Splash House 2023
June 9-11, 2023
Palm Springs, CA
Splash House is a summer festival series held in southern California and your ticket to a house and disco escape with great people and great fun. Held over two weekends in sunny Palm Springs, the party takes place across three hotel resorts.
Dirtybird Campout 2023
TBD October 2023
Waterford, CA
It's summer camp for adults at the annual Dirtybird Campout! Hosted by the folks at the Dirtybird label, this electronic-themed campout is all about non-stop entertainment. Wood carving, knot tying, tug-of-war, dodgeball, talent shows, and of course, tons of music. This southern California experience has even been adapted for a spring-time east coast version.
Photo Credit: Aaron Glassman
Desert Daze 2023
October 13-15, 2023
Pioneertown, CA
Desert Daze continues to impress with one of the best lineups in the world. With Lake Perris in southern California as its backdrop, Desert Daze aims to be epic yet intimate, esoteric yet accessible, catering to weirdos, but embracing to all, and to facilitate the ever expanding growth of the human spirit.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2023
September 29-October 1, 2023
San Francisco, CA
An annual free to the public festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass boasts its non-commercial roots in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Challenging the assumptions of what defines American music, the festival features an eclectic lineup of country, soul, folk and more. Artists perform nonstop across six outdoor stages spanning the length of a three day spirited weekend of fun.
Ohana Festival 2023
September 29-October 1, 2023
Dana Point, CA
Taking place at Dana Point, California, Ohana Festival thrives off pairing good music with good vibes. Half of the proceeds earned at Ohana each year benefit a local non-profit that aims to preserve and maintain the magic of California’s coastal parks. Keeping in tune with Ohana’s premise, the lineup showcases the best of indie, surfer rock, and alternative music.
Hard Summer 2023
August 5-6, 2023
San Bernadino, CA
Founded by Gary Richards, also known as the electronic artist Destructo, Hard Summer thrives each year on the root of its founder’s fame – electronic. Taking place in diverse locations within the Los Angeles city limits since its inaugural year in 2007, the festival is back home in the 213.
Featured Artists: 21 Savage, Bicep, Boys Noize, Deorro, Dillon Francis, Diplo, Emo Nite, Fat Joe, Gorgon City, Kaskade, Kid Cudi, Loco Dice, Ludacris, Peekaboo, Skrillex, The Martinez Brothers, Yellow Claw