Festival The World: The Best Festivals in California [2023]

By Vito Valentinetti / January 27, 2023

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Be sure to check out Grass Lands, one of the largest curated cannabis experiences ever held at a music festival.

Sol Blume is a two day, outdoor, all ages, alt R&B, music festival, held in the heart of downtown Sacramento.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 takes place in downtown Los Angeles at a combination of venues with various stages spread throughout the campuses of the historic LA Memorial Coliseum, Exposition Park, and BMO Stadium. This 2-day festival has been exploding with electronic music since its debut in 2008 and has become a staple of the Southern California electronic festival scene.