We’ve searched everywhere high and low to bring you our complete summer festival guide. These festivals will take you near and far with a wide variety of events for all ages. Please feel free to rip these pages out and save them, or to enter the dates into your iPhone. Enjoy a great summer filled with sun, music, dancing, and yoga.
ONGOING FESTIVALS
Concerts at Commons Beach
Sundays, June 23 to Sept. 8
Free community concerts at Lake Tahoe. Headliners include Mumbo Gumbo, Joe Craven, The Monophonics, and Trey Stone. Info: most shows starting at 4 p.m., Commons Beach, Tahoe City, visittahoecity.org
Bluesdays at Squaw
Tuesdays in July and August
Enjoy the summertime blues at these ongoing concerts. Info: 6 p.m., free, the Village, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Music in the Park
Wednesdays, June 19 to Aug. 28
Live music from Montaña, Jelly Bread, Deckheads, The Blues Monsters, Downbeat, Moonalice, Drop Theory, Jo Mama, One Track Mind, and more. Info: 6:30 p.m., free, donations welcomed, Truckee Regional Park, Truckee, tdrpd.com
Movies at Commons Beach
Wednesdays, July 3 to Aug. 28
Cuddle up and watch a flick on the big screen under the stars. Movies include “Hotel Transylvania,” Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax,” “Sandlot,” and “Austin Powers.” Info: movies start at dusk, Commons Beach, Tahoe City, visittahoecity.org
Outdoor Summer Movie Series at Squaw
Thursdays, June 27 to Aug. 29
Families and friends can snuggle up while enjoying new releases and family classics on the big screen. Info: 8:30 p.m., The Village, Squaw Valley,
squaw.com
Truckee Thursdays
June 13 to Aug. 29
Farmer’s market, artists, crafts vendors, music, beer garden, and food. Info: downtown Truckee, Donner Pass Road, Truckee, historictruckee.com
Music on the Beach
Fridays, July 5 to Aug. 30
Dance to live tunes in the sand. Info: 6:30 p.m., Kings Beach State Recreation Area, Kings Beach, northtahoebusiness.org
MAY
Emissions
May 17 to 19
Gather together outdoors and expand your horizons while enjoying life in the West Coast bass culture. Info: tickets start at $125, cabin and RV packages available, Belden Town, emissionsfestival.com
Joshua Tree Music Festival
May 17 to 19
“The desert is freedom, music is power, and community is crucial,” so says the logo for this gathering, where headliners include Papadosio, Ganga Girl, Bang Data, Dogon Lights. Info: tickets $100/three day, $40/Friday or Sunday, $60/Saturday, $15/camping per person, per night, Joshua Tree Lake Campground, joshuatreemusicfestival.com
Bay to Breakers
Sunday, May 19
A 12K race from the Embarcadero to Golden Gate Park. Opt to run it seriously or wander in costume. Info: 7 a.m. to noon, tickets $58/basic registration, San Francisco, baytobreakers.com
Strawberry Music Festival
May 23 to 27
“Mountains, magic, music” near Yosemite National Park. Headliners include Trampled by Turtles, Joan Osborne, Alison Krauss, and Robert Earl Keen. Info: tickets $200/four day, $190/three day, $65/one day, Camp Mather (outside Yosemite’s west gate), strawberrymusic.com
Black Rock Rendezvous
May 25 and 27
Join the Friends of Black Rock, the Nevada Outdoor School, and the Friends of Nevada Wilderness in the Black Rock Desert to celebrate diversity and stewardship. Events include kids camp, workshops, potlucks, a Dutch oven, cook-off, burn-barrel talks, and more. Info: free, Black Rock Desert, blackrockdesert.org
JUNE
Valhalla Renaissance Faire
June 1 and 2, 8 and 9
The magic and merriment of the Renaissance, featuring four stages of music, dancing, jesters, costumed actors, Shakespearean vignettes, staged battles, storytelling, archery tournaments, plus merchants selling jewelry, woodcrafts, artwork, ceramics, clothing, historical weapons, and leather goods. Info: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, tickets $18/adults, $13/seniors, military, ages 13 to 17, $8/children 6 to 12, Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina, South Lake Tahoe, valhallafaire.com
San Francisco Free Folk Festival
June 8 and 9
Two days of formal and informal music making and dancing. Workshops include Appalachian clogging, jamming the blues, “hardly strictly” folk songs, songwriting basics, and more. Info: free, Presidio Middle School, San Francisco, sffolkfest.org
Fathers Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival
June 13 to June 16
Celebrate Dad with some bluegrass. Headliners include Blue Highway, Oak Grove, Little Black Train, and Della Mae. Info: tickets $160/four day, $130/three day, $35/Thursday or Sunday, $50/Friday, $55/Saturday, special prices for teens available, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, fathersdayfestival.com
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Heart and Solstice Festival
June 20 to June 23
Celebrate the summer solstice. Headline events include the Bridgetender Fireworks Street Dance, a Commons Beach concert featuring Mumbo Gumbo, the Tahoe City Classic Car Stroll and a wine walk. Info: times vary, Tahoe City, visittahoecity.org
Susanville
Bluegrass Festival
June 17 to June 23
Listen to tunes while you sew a quilt. Headliners include Bluegrass Etc., Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, The Jeanette Williams Band, and more. Info: tickets $40/four day advance, $20/Friday or Saturday, $15/Sunday, Lassen County fairgrounds, Susanville, susanvillebluegrass.com
The Bounce Festival
June 20 to June 24
Premier electronic music, progressive art, vibrant community, and natural surroundings. Headliners include MartyParty, PantyRaid, and more. Info: tickets $160/ advance, $180/door, Twain, thebouncefestival.com
Reno Rodeo
June 20 to June 29
“The wildest, richest rodeo in the West,” complete with carnival, music, and food. Events include bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc, team roping, tie-down roping, mutton bustin’, barrel racing, and bull riding. Info: tickets start at $17, Reno Livestock Events Center, Reno, renorodeo.com
Electric Daisy Carnival
June 21 to June 23
Hundreds of DJs, artists, and performers in the City of Sin, along with more than 320,000 fans. Info: tickets $289/three day, $500/VIP, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, electricdaisycarnival.com
The Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews, and Blues Festival
June 21 to 22
For Reno’s summer kickoff party, events include live blues, food, and more than 40 microbrews. Info: noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, the El Dorado Hotel and Casino and Virginia Street, Reno, eldoradoreno.com
Sierra Nevada World Music Festival
June 21 to June 23
Three days of roots reggae and world music. Headliners include Damian Marley, K’Naan, Marcia Griffiths, Max Romeo, and more. Info: tickets $170/three day advance, camping not included, Mendocino County Fairgrounds, Boonville, snwmf.com
Adventure Sports Week
June 21 to June 30
Races, clinics, music, film, and family activities in North Tahoe. Compete in trail running, mountain biking, triathlon, stand-up paddle boarding, and swimming. Info: registration varies, Tahoe City, aswtahoe.com
Truckee Chili Cookoff
Saturday, June 22
Contestants compete for the best chili in town and raise funds for the Truckee Sunrise Rotary’s efforts locally and internationally. Info: 2 to 6 p.m., tickets $15/adults, $3/children under 12, Truckee Regional Park, Truckee, truckeechilicookoff.org
Enchanted Forest
June 28 to July 1
Celebrating tribal culture through dance, art, environmental nature, and human nature in the Redwoods. Info: tickets $165, Camp Navarro, enchantedforestmendo.com
JULY
Artown
July 1 to July 31
Bringing it back to 1973, this year’s Artown kicks off with a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s classic, “Dark Side of the Moon.” Headliners include Rickie Lee Jones, a children’s series, Fourth of July Celebration, free Monday night music, and more. Info: tickets, times, and locations vary, Reno, renoisartown.com
Red, White, and Tahoe Blue
July 3 to July 6
Incline Village and Crystal Bay celebrate the country’s independence. Events include parades, tributes to veterans, fireworks, concerts, chalk drawings, rubber ducky races, food, and more. Info: times and locations vary, Incline Village, redwhitetahoeblue.org
High Sierra Music Festival
July 4 to July 7
Blues to bluegrass, rock to folk in the Sierra Nevada. Headliners include Robert Plant, Primus, Jelly Bread, Steel Pulse, Leftover Salmon, Emancipator, and more. Info: tickets $187/four-day advance, Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds, Quincy, highsierramusic.com
Truckee Tahoe AirFair & Family Festival
Saturday, July 6
This year, planes will be performing aerobatic performances in the sky. Info: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, Truckee Tahoe Airport, truckeetahoeairfair.com
Beerfest and Bluegrass Festival
Saturday, July 6
Live music and 30 local and regional breweries on tap. Info: 3 to 7 p.m., tickets $30/advance, $38/door, proceeds go to Truckee Trails Foundation, the Village at Northstar, northstarcalifornia.com
Fillmore Jazz Festival
July 6 and 7
The largest free jazz festival on the West Coast. Events include three stages of back-to-back music. Info: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. rain or shine, on Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy Street, San Francisco, fillmorejazzfestival.com
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California WorldFest
July 11 to 14
Music and dancing from around the world plus workshops, international food, fine crafts, and a children’s program. Headliners include Pink Martini, Vieux Farka Toure, Delhi 2 Dublin, Tibetan Monks, Yemen Blues, and more. Info: tickets $185/four day with camping, $175/three day with camping, $145/two day with camping, $75/one day with camping, fairgrounds, Grass Valley, worldfest.net
Lightning in a Bottle
July 11 to 15
Celebrating art, music, performance, sustainability, and life. Info: tickets $240/weekend in advance, $175/two day in advance, $90/one day in advance, $275/weekend at the door, $200/two day at the door, $110/one day at the door, Temecula, lightninginabottle.org
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
July 12 to Aug. 25
Pack a picnic, watch the sun set on the East Shore, and listen to Shakespeare come alive on the stage, featuring “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Info: tickets start at $20, Sand Harbor State Park, Incline Village, laketahoeshakespeare.com
Music at the Mine
Saturday, July 13
Mumbo Gumbo takes the stage with its blend of rock to soul to country. Info: 7:30 p.m., $25, sierracountyhistory.org
Art, Wine, and Music Festival
July 13 and 14
Browse booths by fine artists and craft makers, live music performances, and sip wine from featured wineries. Info: 11 a.m., tasting from 2 to 5 p.m., $25 donation, the Village, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Mendocino Music Festival
July 13 to 27
Summer festival featuring orchestral and chamber music, opera, jazz, and big band, featuring Alison Brown Quartet, James D’Leon, The House Jacks and more. Info: times and tickets vary, Mendocino, mendocinomusic.com
Broadway on the Beach
Monday, July 15
The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Laura Jackson performs on the beach for this one-of-a-kind experience. Info: 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $39, Sand Harbor State Park, Incline Village, laketahoeshakespeare.com
Wanderlust
July 18 to 21
Bringing the world’s leading yoga teachers, top musical acts and DJs, renowned speakers, top chefs, and winemakers together in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty. Music headliners include Moby, DJ Alia, Caravan Palace, DJ Dragonfly, and more. Info: tickets $475/Sage four day, $395/Seeker three day, $108/Thursday, $160/Friday or Saturday, $99/Sunday, $24.50/Thursday music only, $29.50/Friday music only, $34.50/Saturday music only, $20/Sunday music only, Squaw Valley, wanderlustfestival.com
Mystic Garden: Gathering of the Tribes
July 18 to 23
Music, yoga, theme camps, and the visionary arts. Info: Tickets $140/five day pass, $125/three day pass, all ages are welcomed, Lake Selmac, Selma, Ore., mysticgardengathering.com
Sierra Storytelling Festival
July 19 to 21
In an outdoor theater under the stars, hear stories from different traditions, as well as heart-warming folk tales from storytellers around the world. Featured tellers include, Baba Jamal Koram, Laura Simms, Tim Tingle, Charlie Chin, Andy Offutt Irwin, MaryGay Ducey, and Caroline Paul. Info: Tickets $90/all events, $22.75/Friday evening, $33.00/Saturday day, $24.75/Saturday evening, $13.50/Sunday, $7.50/childrens concert, the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center, San Juan Ridge, sierrastorytellingfestival.org
Americana Music Festival
July 19 to 21
Bluegrass and country music throughout Virginia City, featuring country star James Otto. Info: $10 mugs for the “Beer Crawl,” $30/all access, $20/weekend pass, $100/VIP pass, americanafest.org, (775) 847-7500
Mrs. Robinson
Sunday, July 21
A 2012 hit brought back by popular demand. Enjoy of the best bands on the land as they groove like it’s 1960. Info: 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $25, Sand Harbor, laketahoeshakespeare.com
Classical Music Under the Stars
Monday, July 22
Reno Chamber Orchestra performs an unforgettable evening under the stars. Info: 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $25, Sand Harbor State Park, Incline Village, laketahoeshakespeare.com
Tour de Nez
July 25 to 28
Schedule of locations this year include Virginia City, Carson City, and South Lake Tahoe. Visit website for detailed list of events, tourdenez.com
GuitarFish Music Festival
July 26 to 28
A three-day family, community, and arts festival to raise awareness of over-fishing and pollution of the ocean, and to help preserve watersheds, rivers, and streams. Headliners include The Pimps of Joytime, Eddie Robert’s West Coast Sounds, Joe Craven, New Monsoon, SambaDá, and more. On-site camping (bring your headlamps) with yoga and Pilates classes, arts & crafts, and food vendors. Info: tickets $129/three days, Cisco Grove Campground, Cisco Grove, guitarfishfestival.com
Living History Day
Saturday, July 27
The California State Parks turns back the clock to the ‘30s where guests can browse vintage cars and boats, and swim on the beach. Events include concerts, historical talks, movies, painting with artists-in-residence, guided tours. Info: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $10/parking, Sugar Pine Point State Park, laketahoelivinghistory.com
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Fourth of July Arts and Crafts Festival
July 27 and 28
A gathering of artisans and craftsmen. Info: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, the Village at Squaw Valley, pacificfinearts.com
Wa She Shu It Deh Native American Arts Festival
July 27 and 28
The Washoe reunite on the last weekend of July at the Tallac Historic Site to honor their culture and heritage. Events include traditional American Indian dancers and drum performers, basket weaving displays, art, and food. Info: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., donations requested, Valhalla Grand Lawn, South Lake Tahoe, valhallatahoe.com
Coppelia
Monday, July 29
The Sierra Nevada Ballet, featuring top professional dancers, presents a comic love story taking place in both fantasy and reality. Info: 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $22, Sand Harbor State Park, Incline Village, laketahoeshakespeare.com
AUGUST
Reggae on the River
Aug. 1 to 4
An internationally renowned celebration of the best in reggae and world music featuring Julian Marley & The Uprising Band, Morgan Heritage, Rootz Underground, J Boog & Hot Rain and more. Info: tickets start at $190, French’s Camp, reggaeontheriver.com
Bluesapalooza
Aug. 1 to 4
Outdoors among the pines and showcasing the best craft breweries in the country and top blues performers, headliners include Joan Osborne. Mavis Staples, John Hammond, Diego’s Umbrella, and more. Info: tickets $140/ultimate blues and brews three-day pass, $105/two day pass, Sam’s Wood Site, Mammoth Lakes, mammothbluesbrewsfest.com
SummerFest Concert Series
Aug. 2 to 18
Featuring artists from the world’s most prestigious stages, including Federica von Stade, Jennifer Koh, and more. Info: 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 4 p.m. on Sundays, tickets start at $25, Sierra Nevada College, Incline Village, tahoesummerfest.org
Hot August Nights
Aug. 6 to 11
Cars and music to celebrate rock ’n’ roll and the ’50s, entertainment. Info: schedule to be announced, Reno, hotaugustnights.net
Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance
Aug. 9 and 10
One of the premier events showcasing wooden boats. Events include boat exhibits, dinners, awards ceremony, and more. Info: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, tickets $25/advance, $30/door, $35/two day advance, $40/two day door, Sierra Boat Company, Carnelian Bay, laketahoeconcours.com
Outside Lands
Aug. 9 to 11
Music and art at Golden Gate Park. Headliners include Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul McCartney, and more. Info: tickets $249.50, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, sfoutsidelands.com
Pacific Fine Arts Festival
Aug. 10 and 11
18th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts on the Shore.Info: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Kings Beach State Park, pacificfinearts.com
Brews, Jazz, and Funk Fest
Aug. 10 and 11
Taste beers from representing microbreweries and listen to an incredible lineup of music. Bring your dog, as this is fundraiser for the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. Info: 2 to 8 p.m., $5 entry donation, $4 beer tickets, the Village, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Living History
Monday, Aug. 12
Historical characters come to life, featuring First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Ernie Pyle, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter. Info: 7:30 p.m., tickets start at $22, Sand Harbor State Park, Incline Village, laketahoeshakespeare.com
Bowers Mansion Bluegrass Festival
Aug. 16 to 18
An outdoor festival hosted by the Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association, which is dedicated to promoting and preserving bluegrass, old-time, traditional, and related folk music in Northern Nevada, featuring Michael Martin Murphy and more. Info: tickets $15, children under 12 free, Bowers Mansion, New Washoe City, bowersbluegrassfestival.org
Gatekeeper’s Cabin Basket Weavers Gathering
Saturday, Aug. 17
Native American basket weavers come together for demonstration of weaving and other indigenous crafts, and to sell basket and other works. Info: North Lake Tahoe Historical Society Gatekeeper’s Cabin, Tahoe City, northtahoemuseums.org
Mountain Vibe Music Gathering
Aug. 23 to 25
Music, camping, and off-roading. Headliners to be announced. Info: tickets $75 early bird, $100 closer to show and day of event, Little Bear Lake, Dutch Flat, mountainvibemusic.com
Truckee Championship Rodeo
Aug. 24 and 25
Back for its 39th year. Come out and get down and dirty with the cowboys, kids day Aug. 23. Info: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., $12/advance, $15/gate, McIver Arena, Truckee, truckeerodeo.org
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Peaks and Paws Festival
Aug. 24 and 25
Treat your dog to a weekend at Squaw. Events include live music, art booths, wine and beer tasting, and doggy vendors. Info: noon to 6 p.m., $5 entry donation, the Village, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Burning Man
Aug. 26 to Sept. 2
Come home to Black Rock City and immerse yourself in art, music, and community. This year’s theme is Cargo Cult. Info: Black Rock City, burningman.com
Strawberry Fall Music Festival
Aug. 29 to Sept. 2
“Mountains, magic, music” near Yosemite National Park. Headliners include The Del McCoury Band, Ray Bonneville, The California Honeydrops, Hot Buttered Rum, and many more. Info: tickets $200/four day, $190/three day, $65/one day, Jamestown, strawberrymusic.com
Pacific Fine Arts Festival
Aug. 30 to Sept. 1
Homewood Arts & Crafts Festival, Info: Friday/Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Homewood Mountain Resort, pacificfinearts.com
Foam Fest
Saturday, Aug. 31
Sample more than 50 beers while rocking out to Tommy Castro and The Painkillers. Proceeds benefit Disabled Sports USA Far West. Info: 2 to 6 p.m., $25/beer tasting, free designated drivers, KT Base Bar Sundeck, Squaw Valley, (530) 581-4161, squaw.com
SEPTEMBER
Sample the Sierra
Sunday, Sept. 1
El Dorado County local farmers and chefs pair up to produce tasting samples. Live music, storytellers, and cooking demonstrations. Info: 1 to 5 p.m., $30 tickets, available at door, Ski Run Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, samplethesierra.com
Alpen Wine Festival
Sunday, Sept. 1
Listen to live music and taste wine. Events also include a silent auction and raffle to benefit Can Do MS. Info: 2 to 5 p.m., tickets $40, the Village, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival
Sept. 6 to 8
Three days of cooking seminars and demonstrations, culinary competitions, wine tastings, grape stomp, and more. Info: events and tickets to be announced, the Village at Northstar, Truckee, northstarcalifornia.com
The Great Reno Balloon Race
Sept. 6 to 8
The largest free hot air ballooning event in the nation. Arrive at dawn to see more than 100 balloons take flight.Info: 6:45 a.m., Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, Reno, renoballoon.com
Virginia City International Camel Races
Sept. 6 to 8
Featuring competitors of every unlikely species, from camels to ostriches to emus. Info: 10 a.m., Silverland Inn and Suites, Virginia City, visitvirginiacitynv.com
Pacific Fine Arts Festival
Sept. 7 and 8
Historic Downtown Truckee Arts & Crafts Festival. Info: Friday/Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Truckee, pacificfinearts.com
Historic Downtown Truckee Arts and Crafts Festival
Sept. 7 and 8
Handcrafted arts. Info: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Bridge Street at Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, pacificfinearts.com
Trails and Vistas
Sept. 7 and 8
Experience live performances and art installations along a guided three-hour hike that blends art and nature. A concert on Saturday night celebrates the 10th Anniversary. Info: tickets $30 or $40/advance, $10 or $20/kids ages 5 to 12, Pacific Crest Trail, Donner Summit, trailsandvistas.org
American River Music Festival
Sept. 13 to 15
Music on the banks of the south fork of the American River. Headliners include Hot Buttered Rum, New Monsoon, Dead Winter Carpenters, and more. Info: tickets $50/two days, $35/one day, ticket packages also available, Henningsen-Lotus Park, Coloma, americanrivermusic.org
Fat Tire Festival
Sept. 13 to 15
Mountain bike races, movies, MTB clinics, and of course plenty of beer from New Belgium Brewing. Info: schedule to come, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
Celtic Festival
Sept. 27 and 29
Celebrate Celtic heritage with live music, dancing, and family fun. Info: Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, kvmr.org
Oktoberfest
Saturday, Sept. 28
Traditional Bavarian music and folk dancers, benefit beer garden, brats and kraut, and games. Fundraiser for the Tahoe Truckee Lacrosse Association. Info: 2 to 6 p.m., the Village, Squaw Valley, squaw.com
OCTOBER
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
Oct. 4 to 6
Three days of free music in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Lineup to be announced, hardlystrictlybluegrass.com
