Discover Northern California's Travel Blog

May Event: Castroville

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:45:05 GMT

This is One of My Favorite Food Festivals of All Time!

Giant Artichoke in Castroville;
Photo by Suzi Rosenberg

Probably because it celebrates one of my Favorite Foods of All Time - the perennial thistle that we call Artichokes! It's the Castroville Artichoke Festival - May 19th through the 20th - and you should get there if you possibly can! Did you know that Norma Jean Baker was crowned the very first Artichoke Queen back in 1948? That was before she went on to receive international fame as Marilyn Monroe! The festival has grown since 1948, and has morphed into one of the most popular food festivals in Northern California, with its colorful parades, live musical entertainment, Agro Art Competition (think veggies carved, arranged, and stacked into works of art), wine and chef demos, children's activities, field tours (see how artichokes are grown), farmers markets, arts and crafts, and classic car shows! And don't forget the Artichokes!! Try 'em fried, sautéed, grilled, marinated, pickled, fresh, and creamed in soup! They're delish, any which way you go! As someone clever once said - Thistle Be Fun! To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

May Event: Angels Camp

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:49:36 GMT

Life Mimics Fiction!
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
By Samuel I. Clemens (Mark Twain)

Leap-Frog Sculpture;
Photo by Suzi Rosenberg

Have YOU ever jumped a frog? I would expect that most of us haven't! But every year hundreds of frogs vie to leap tall buildings in a single bound (okay... to cover the greatest distance in three jumps) and win the title of International Leaping Frog Jubilee Champion Frog Jumper. It's all happening May 17th through the 20th at the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee in Angels Camp, just as it has happened since 1928! In addition to the Frog Jumping Contests held throughout the run of the Fair, you'll enjoy iconic County Fair entertainment, exhibits, livestock, arena events, and fabulous fair-food - all to celebrate the rough and tumble days of the California Gold Rush and California's original 49ers. "It certainly had a wide celebrity...but I was aware that it was only thr frog that was celebrated. It wasn't I."
~ Mark Twain, speaking about the celebrity of his famous story in his Autobiography To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

Big Sur California

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:08:58 GMT

Big Sur California is a piece of the Northern California coastline that is isolated, dramatic, dynamic, and charming.

May Event: Petaluma

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:15:54 GMT

Petaluma California's Salute to American Graffiti
is coming up this weekend!

Mels drive-in in San Francisco;
CC Thomas Hawk

Now we all know that George Lucas' semi-autobiographical coming-of-age movie was set in 1962 Modesto where George Lucas was born and spent his teenage years, but by 1972, when the film was being made, Modesto had changed so much that most of the film was actually shot in Petaluma - a town that more closely resembled the Modesto that Lucas remembered and wanted to capture. So every year the life and times of George Lucas and his American Graffiti are celebrated during Petaluma's "Salute to American Graffit" - a weekend of Cruisin', classic cars, Mel's burgers, and live bands crankin' out our favorite tunes from the 50s and 60s. So cruise on up to Petaluma May 16, 17, and 18,
and take a stroll down Memory Lane!
Where were YOU in '62? To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

Panning For Gold

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:13:45 GMT

How's the recession treating you? Not so great? Worried about your finances? I have a thought - have you ever considered panning for gold? It's an idea more and more people are embracing!

May Event: Redding

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:31:44 GMT

It's Rodeo Week in Redding!

Redding Rodeo Parade
CC Patricia Carver

The Kick-off Dinner and Dance was Saturday night; today is Special Kids' Day - when kids from throughout the Redding area are given the opportunity to touch, pet, and ride a horse; Jackpot Barrel Racing starts tomorrow; Wednesday brings the Asphalt Cowboy Chili & Beans Cook Off; Rodeo gates open Thursday at 5:00 p.m.; Friday is "Think Pink / Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night"; and Saturday brings the popular Redding Rodeo Parade, and the last night of Rodeo Events! It's Rodeo Week in Redding, California - May 12th through the 19th - and it's all about the cowgirls and cowboys! And the bronc ridin', bull buckin', team ropin', steer wrestlin'... everything you'd expect from a world-class rodeo! And Ladies, Friday is Chicks n Chaps™ - a Rodeo Clinic and
Breast Cancer Patient Fundraiser just for women! To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

Northern California Camping

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:47:52 GMT

If you're a camper, you'll love Northern California camping! You've got your beaches, your mountains, your Redwoods, your rocky rugged coastlines, your wilderness... every environment imaginable!

Events and Festivals: April through June

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:22:48 GMT

Now you can find fabulous Events and Festivals from all over Northern California, in one convenient location. Looking for a nearby April event? May? June? You'll find them here!

Events and Festivals: January through March

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:28:38 GMT

Now you can find fabulous Events and Festivals from all over Northern California, in one convenient location. Looking for a nearby January event? February? March? You'll find them here!

Overland by Covered Wagon

Mon, 07 May 2012 20:10:17 GMT

There were two ways to reach the goldfields during the California Gold Rush-one was to travel overland by covered wagon (prairie schooner) to Northern California.

Marin County Attractions

Mon, 07 May 2012 20:03:21 GMT

Marin County attractions all seem to be big and expansive, like Point Reyes National Seashore, Muir Woods, Angel Island...

Follow the Sacramento River

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:58:40 GMT

Are you up for adventure? Want to see how the 49ers went from San Francisco to Sacramento City? Come on, let's follow the Sacramento River...

May Event: Boonville

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:03:40 GMT

Zombie Apocalypse 2012

Boonville Beer Fest Beers;
CC _e.t.

That's the theme for the 16th Annual... Awesome... Greatest... Legendary... Boonville Beer Festival! The theory being "... if it's the last year we're going to be alive, we might as well make it to the greatest beer fest of all time!" They'll be pouring aplenty bahl steinber horn (really amazing beer) from dozens of micro breweries so you can earn your Bahl Hornin' (here's to good drinkin') badge on Untappd! Plus there'll be bahlest gorms (most excellent eats) from Slow Hand BBQ and more, and dancin' and clappin' tidrik (party) tunes from multiple bands on multiple stages! So grab your applehead (girlfriend) or stooks (boyfriend) and pike (travel) on over to the Mendo County Fairgrounds in Boont (Boonville) and join the tidrick on Saturday, March 12! And if your ears are pickin' up on some odd sounds while you're there, no worries - it's just the Boonters boontin' Boontling, Boont's own private lingo and its way of keeping its Insider Secrets ... secret! Taking a little poetic license with party phrases
because Boontling reminds me of the Cajun...

Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler and Bahl Hornin'! To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

iPhone Apps

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:43:27 GMT

Here's a guest article from the popular Mom Maps app-er and online Kids Play Guide author, Jill Seman about iPhone apps.

May Event: Sebastopol

Fri, 04 May 2012 16:25:35 GMT

Sixteen Years of Celebrating Romani Culture in Sebastopol!

2012 Herdeljezi Fest Poster;
Poster Courtesy of voiceofroma.com

For sixteen years Voice of Romani has been helping Romanies and non-Romanies alike celebrate the cultural traditions and folk arts of the Romani people. It's a frolicsome fete of Romani music, songs, dances, stories, foods, crafts, literature, and customs! Join in the fun as Romanies and their visitors from all over the United States enjoy a traditional Gypsy folk arts festival while welcoming the Spring and Summer seasons and the gifts that Mother Earth provides to her peoples, on May 4th and 5th. And join in on the sense of shared community/neighborhood - or mahala - that this lively festival brings to all! Our caravan is our family, and our family the world
~ Old Romani Saying To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

May Event: San Jose

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:27:51 GMT

The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles Presents...

SJ Textile Museum Logo;
Logo Courtesy of San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles

... the fourth annual May Day Market, May 4th through the 6th at the museum, located at 520 South First Street in beautiful downtown San Jose. The museum was established in 1977 as the first museum in the United States to focus exclusively on quilts and textiles as an art form. And the May Day Market is your opportunity to peruse and purchase donated goods for the benefit of the museum. You'll discover fabric, ethnic textiles, notions, stylish vintage clothing, amazing quilts, and all things textile! Express YOURself -
"When life gives you scraps make a quilt!"
~ Author unknown To find more April, May, and June Events and Festivals: April through June

Discover Chico California

Tue, 01 May 2012 18:13:31 GMT

Many Chicoans are surprised to learn how many people have heard of their town. But Chico California has so much to offer, it's really no mystery!

Discover The World

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:32:40 GMT

We have been lucky enough to discover the World through our travels, and we thought it would be fun to share what we've learned with you!

May Event: Oroville

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:08:44 GMT

Attention History Buffs: Hop Aboard the Bidwell Bar Time Machine!

Bidwell Bar Bridge;
(CC) Chris Austin

Every first Saturday in May the California Gold Rush town of Bidwell Bar comes alive again thanks to the Bidwell Bar Association and the state Department of Parks and Recreation. Join in the fun as living history volunteers in period dress reenact the good ole days of gold mining in Northern California! Celebrating over 30 years of Bidwell Bar Day, it promises to be lots of fun for the whole family: stop at the various stations to play Faro with a card shark, make a candle from scratch, weave yourself a bracelet, make a cornhusk doll with yarn hair, or pan for gold - you might even come up with a flake or two! It's all happening Saturday, May 5th near Bidwell Bar Bridge (Lake Oroville). Call 530.538.2219 for more information. Be sure to catch the melodrama -
boo the black hats & cheer the white ones!
To find more May Events and Festivals: April through June

Tehama County

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:14:07 GMT

Tehama County means seething fumaroles and simmering mud pots, a city built on the red banks of the Sacramento River, a Trappist Abbey winery, and olives - lots and lots of olives! Let's explore...

Ashland Oregon

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:16:45 GMT

Ashland Oregon is the ultimate walking town! Stay in the city center as we did, and you'll have no reason...

Site Map for Discover Northern California

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:05:59 GMT

Discover Northern California's Site Map, gives you a quick, one-stop-shop for exactly the Northern California information you're seeking!

May Event: San Francisco

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:58:44 GMT

A Window on to Norway

© Bea Ahbeck;
Photo Courtesy of NorwayDay.org

It's this weekend's Norway Day Festival in San Francisco. The first festival was held in 1993 for the purpose of promoting relations between Norway and the United States, helping U.S. residents of Norwegian descent celebrate their heritage, and promoting modern Norway. Organizers expected maybe 300 people that year - imagine their surprise when 1300 showed up! The festival has continued to grow in popularity and you can be one of the celebrants this year - just head for San Francisco May 5th and 6th to enjoy authentic Norwegian foods, music, and dance! Browse the clothing, craft, art, jewelry, books vendor booths; take in a cooking demonstration or two; learn something of the history and genealogy of Old Norge; enjoy the on-stage entertainment and the fabulous fashion show. It's all happening at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion,
beneath the Golden Gate Bridge To find more April, May, and June Events and Festivals: April through June

May Event: Mountain View

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:57:28 GMT

Live Music and a Livelier Street Scene! Mountain View's A la Carte & Art festival, May 5th and 6th, kicks off the Bay Area's outdoor festival season with colorful tents filled with fine art and cool crafts... Artisan specialty foods offering organic, fresh, and exotic festival fare... Health and wellness displays... Plus a Classic Car Show, the Tons of Fun Zone, and a Farmers Market offering fresh locally-grown produce! Don't forget your sunscreen - it's Springtime in the Bay Area! To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: San Francisco

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:30:47 GMT

Opening Day on the Bay

Sailboats on the Bay;
(CC) Josh Mazgellis

That would be San Francisco Bay, of course! Sunday, April 29th, 2012 marks the 95th annual Opening Day on the Bay decorated boat parade that celebrates the beginning of the boating season. This year's theme is American Spirit - Join the crowds along the Bay from Crissy Field to Pier 39 - Ooh and Aah at over 120 historic workboats, fireboats, towboats, and more, all vying for top honors in the theme decorations department! "The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea."
- Isak Dinesen To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

Sacramento California

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:08:05 GMT

Sacramento California, having served as the up-river jumping-off site for the California Gold Rush, is now the cosmopolitan Capital City of California, and this is your Sacramento travel guide.

Chico Day Trips: Gold Country Drive

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:52:35 GMT

Relive the Gold Rush with another of my Chico day trips! Historic buildings, hard-rock mining, museums, Old Towns, gold discovery site, gold panning, historic main streets-it's all on this day trip!

Around the Horn

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:33:25 GMT

There were two ways to reach the goldfields during the California Gold Rush-one was to sail from the eastcoast Around the Horn to Northern California.

April Event: Big Sur

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:36:46 GMT

Big Sur Marathon Returns to Original Course

Big Sur Marathon;
Photo Courtesy bsim.org

The Big Sur International Marathon takes place this Sunday, April 29th, 2012 along the Big Sur coastline. Happily, runners in the 2012 Big Sur International Marathon will be able to return to the original course this year, though passing through the still-affected area in a one-lane section of Highway One at mile 14. The road collapse in March 2011 that necessitated a re-routing of the race to an out-and-back course has been shored up to allow a single traffic lane on California's scenic Highway One. The marathon, marathon relay and 21-Mile events will begin in their traditional spots along the Highway, beginning in the heart of the Big Sur village at 6:45 a.m. The 21-Miler starts at Andrew Molera State Park and relay stations two and three are set at 5 and 9.8 miles from the race start. Various music groups and aid stations will be set up along the course south of the affected area. Runners are excited about the return to the original course. One of the marathon's Facebook fans noted, "I loved the out-and-back course last year, but definitely had to return in 2012 for the opportunity to start in Big Sur, run over Hurricane Point, and then cross Bixby Bridge... ... It's a dream come true!" To find more April, May, & June Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Chico

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:02:40 GMT

This Year Only: Go the Extra Mile or 25!

Bike Art;
Photo Courtesy of ChicoVelo.org

Last year the Chico Wildflower Century Ride celebrated 30 years of one of the most popular Century Rides in Northern California! This year they're celebrating another milestone - California State University-Chico is 125 years old this year and ChicoVelo.org is commemorating the occasion with a new addition to its Century Ride: the Wildcat 125! Add Coutelenc Road and Sterling City to the traditional Wildflower route, and you've got the Wildcat (mascot for CSUC) 125 Ride. For Century riders, the Wildflower series is a favorite, combining the three things Century riders love most - challenging rides, drop-dead-gorgeous scenery (who can beat the Spring views of Table Mountain?), and tasty and plentiful food! Don't miss it - April 29th - it's a great time to come to Chico! To find more April, May, and June Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Saratoga

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:34:50 GMT

Rivers of Chocolate Festival

Auction Item: Candy Bento
(CC) _e.t

In fifteen years, the Rivers of Chocolate festival has established itself as the premier wine, chocolate and savory tasting event in Northern California. The revenue from this event benefits the programs of EHC LifeBuilders – the leading provider of shelter and services for homeless adults, families, and children in Santa Clara County. Featuring a large selection of the Bay Area's best wineries, chocolatiers, and restaurants, Rivers of Chocolate offers an afternoon of wining and dining samples, touring the grounds of the beautiful Mountain Winery, bidding on lucious and lovely live auction and silent auction items, and enjoying the live music presentations. Partake of the tastings and pleasure in the music
while patronizing a good cause! To discover upcoming May Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Red Bluff

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:23:50 GMT

Big Bang for Red Bluff!

Red Bluff Civil War Days Poster;
Poster Courtesy of Red Bluff COC

It's the eighth annual Red Bluff Civil War Days, with living historians reenacting the sights, sounds, and battles of the War Between the States! The event takes place Saturday and Sunday (April 28th & 29th) amid the shaded trails of Samual Ayers/Dog Island Park, which actually puts one in mind of an ancient Virginia battlefield because of its lush and rugged isolation. Experience cannon and musket fire, cavalry and skirmishers probing enemy lines, and authentic tactics and weapons of the Civil War. Visit Union, Confederate, and even civilian camps, and speak with the soldiers and camp followers to learn what life was like during this period in American history.
Thrill to the precision of the Fife and Drum Corps performances, and the demonstrations of artillery, cavalry, and infantry drills; witness the horrors of civil war surgery, and the squallor of everyday civilian life. It is well that war is so terrible, else we should grow too fond of it.
General Lee to General Longstreet To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Cupertino

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:30:59 GMT

Cupertino's Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry Blossoms;
(CC) Peter Lee

It's the 29th Annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival, honoring the Sister City relationship with Toyokawa, Japan. Enjoy delicious Japanese foods and beverages, outdoor entertainment by Taiko Drum groups, classical Japanese dancers, martial art schools and musical groups, large koi fish display and more. Explore the indoor Japanese cultural displays and demonstrations - Bonsai, doll making, flower arranging, Origami - at the Cupertino Community Center. Browse over sixty arts and crafts booths - offering cards, pottery, washi eggs and dolls, Japanese antiques, clothing - and have the kidlettes participate in the Kidz Zone. And you know I love to say this:
Admission is FREE! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Paradise

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:09:02 GMT

Gold Nugget Days: Celebrating Dogtown's 54-Pound Gold Nugget! That's one heck-of-a big nugget!! And it was responsible for putting Dogtown (which was later renamed Magalia) on the California Gold Rush Map! Since 1959 (the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Dogtown Nugget), the folks of Magalia and Paradise have joined forces - via the Gold Nugget Museum - to remember that nugget and all the good-ole-days stuff that went along with it. Come on up to Paradise between April 26th and April 29th to explore Tent City where miners are living and working along the West Branch of the Feather River, panning for gold. Enjoy a fast game of cards and a glass of beer at the ole saloon (after the deputy checks your ID); take in the Dogtown Revue; cheer for your favorite donkey in the Donkey Revue... There's lots to see and do during Gold Nugget Days! Don't miss the big parade on Saturday! Go for the Gold, déjà vu all over again! P.S. Do you know how Paradise got it's name? There used to be a saloon called the Pair O' Dice - true story, or so I'm told! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

Monterey County California

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:48:44 GMT

What do you think of when I say Monterey County California? Monterey Bay? Monterey Aquarium? Beaches? Whale watching? It's all of that, but it'll surprise you too!

Monterey California

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:40:13 GMT

Mixing some of California's oldest memories, adobe-style architecture, and the influences of the sea, with a liesurely today-and-trendy lifestyle, Monterey California offers a unique experience!

April Event: Petaluma

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:20:16 GMT

Petaluma celebrates its River of Dreams with Butter and Egg Days

Butter & Egg Days Parade;
(CC) Gary H.

River of Dreams: Then & Now is the theme for the 30th Annual Butter and Egg Days Parade and Festival, taking place on April 28th, celebrating the moments in time when Petaluma's river was the third busiest shipping center in the state, when Petaluma was named Egg Basket of the World, and when Petaluma became home to the world's first chicken pharmacy. The Nave Patrola (a slapstick platoon of Italian infantrymen) leads the perennial parade with its comical clumsy formation and Three-Stooges-style routine, getting everyone in the mood for the fun and merriment to follow! Fun that includes a special Kids Parade, the festival of arts and crafts booths, tasty food offerings, the Cutest Chick Contest, and a traditional Cow Chip Throwing Contest. An added bonus: Stick around for the weekend and you can also enjoy the Petaluma Antique Faire on Sunday! Petaluma's Historic Downtown is one of the Bay Area's premier antique centers, and during the twice annual Faires, Petaluma is transformed into an antique marketplace! You get two great events in one fabulous weekend! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Sebastopol

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:43:39 GMT

Old McBlossom on a Farm

Apple Blossom Fest Logo;
Courtesy of Sebastopol Area Chamber

Sebastopol's Apple Blossom Festival is all about the apples and the farmers who provide them! Main Street and Ives Park are the centers of attention for Sebastopol's 66th annual Apple Blossom Festival with its spirited down-in-the-old-hometown parade and its fun-for-everyone festival. Cheer for your favorite flowered float, feast your inner Foodie, frolic to the beat with The Farallons, and forage through the festival arts and crafts - Whatever your pleasure, you're sure to have a very good time! The parade starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and festival hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. It's lively, it's legendary, and it's a loverly great time for one and all! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Stockton

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:33:46 GMT

When it's Springtime, I crave Asparagus!

Stockton Asparagus Festival Spears;
(CC) Kris Vera-Phillips

Asparagus is one of those things (like tomatoes, artichokes, and avocadoes) that are best enjoyed during their growing season! And nothing says Springtime for me like the Stockton Asparagus Festival! From Asparagus Alley - where you'll savor the Festival's signature delicacy, Battered and Deep-fried Asparagus, along with such delish treats as Asparagus Tri-tip Sandwiches and Asparagus Burritos, - to entertainment that includes Music of the Doobie Brothers, Americon Idol finalist Bucky Covington, and Tyson the Skateboarding Bulldog... From the new Chef of the Fest cooking demonstrations and the Iron-Chef-style competition, to Spear-Its of the Valley where you can sample the Festival specialty drink, the Chelada... From the World Famous Deep Fried Asparagus-eating Contest (Can Joey Chestnut do it again?), to the Home and Garden Expo... This is my favorite food festival of all time - so head over to Stockton April 27th through the 29th, for the time of your life! The Stockton Asparagus Festival was named "Best of the West Food Fest"
by Sunset Magazine for a reason! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: San Francisco

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:30:48 GMT

The 55th San Francisco International Film Festival...

SF International Film Festival;
Photo Courtesy of SF Film Society

...begins April 19th and runs through May 3rd - 15 days of World Cinema films, documentaries, and works by new directors, in addition to live and onstage musical presentations, and shorts - 200 features in all. Add the glam crowd, Awards Night, and several special events with accompanying parties to the mix, and you're sure to find something to your liking! It's been the happening Spring event in San Francisco since 1957 and it just keeps getting bigger and better every year! Here's an Idea - Let's take in a Picture Show! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

Discover Northern California

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:10:53 GMT

Your online guide to exploring Northern California travel. For all the best places-to-go and things-to-do, come along and Discover Northern California with us!

California Nut Festival

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:28:59 GMT

The California Nut Festival in Chico invites you to enjoy a celebration of nutty fun! Chico; it's where California nuts are grown!

April Event: Chico

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:43:27 GMT

They'rrrrrre Baaaaack -
Right on Schedule!

Baby Almonds; (CC) Joanne Fong

Chico's California Nut Festival took a reorganizational hiatus recently while they transitioned from a week-long event to a one-day-focal festival, but they promised to be back bigger and better than ever. Judging from last year's event, they're living up to that promise! The festival now centers around a single event that brings local farmers, restaurateurs, artists, musicians, Chicoans, and visitors alike together to celebrate Chico's nuts! You'll find luscious food and wine tastings, the beautiful works of plein air artists in oils, pastels, watercolors, and more, plus musical performances from the likes of the Blue Merles and Mood Swing - just to name a couple. Chef Demos this year are presented by Patrick Mulvaney of Sacramento fame, and best-selling cookbook author, Holly Clegg! So join us in Chico on Saturday, April 21st, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Patrick Ranch - It's sure to be the Mutt's Nuts of an event! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: National Parks Fee-Free Days

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:07:46 GMT

What a great idea!

Lassen Volcanic NP;
CC Stephen Coles

Several of the US National Parks in Northern California - including Whiskeytown Unit National Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Yosemite National Park - are participating in fee-free days, meaning the fees normally charged for entrance to the parks will be waived. Here are the fee-free dates for 2012:

January 14-16 (Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday weekend)
April 21-29 (National Park Week)
June 9 (Get Outdoors Day)
September 29 (Public Lands Day)
November 10-12 (Veterans Day weekend)

And many National Park food, transportation, and lodging concessioners are also offering special experiences and discounts to visitors, making fee-free days an even better bargain! The next event takes place April 21st through the 29th (10 days, this time!), so... bundle up if necessary, get outdoors, and enjoy your National Parks! More good news:
"Many of your 394 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee!" To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Davis

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:42:30 GMT

Picnic Day at UCDavis Saturday, April 21st, marks the 98th annual Picnic Day at the University of California Davis campus. Imagine, 98 years worth of Open Houses - inviting anyone and everyone to come and see what it is that you do! Talk about pushing 100! But UCDavis has every reason to be proud of its accomplishments as you'll find out by way of over 200 events taking place all over campus. Some of the highlights are The Battle of the Marching Bands, the Chemistry Magic Show, and the Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Demo. But my favorite is the Doxie Derby - color-coded Dachshunds (Doxies) racing for all they're worth to find their owners! More than 50,000 people attend UCDavis Picnic Day each year, but don't worry - there's plenty of room for everyone and hundreds of opportunities to have a good time! So bring your own lunch or buy your eats on campus,
but come on out and have a picnic! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

Discover the World Adventures

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:44:35 GMT

Are you a World Traveler? (By definition, the world includes the United States and even California, LOL!) Share your Discover the World adventures here!

April Event: Red Bluff

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:42:58 GMT

More than just a Rodeo!

Red Bluff Round-up Calf Roping;
Photo Courtesy of Red Bluff Round-up Assn

The 91st Annual Red Bluff Round-up promises to be "More than just a Rodeo" with its parade through downtown on Saturday, and its wild horse races that climax each day's rodeo events! The history of rodeos in Tehama County goes all the way back to the 1918 Clough Ranch Picnic, when Tehama County cattlemen gathered up to celebrate the end of the Spring Round-up with a picnic, saddle bronc and wild steer rides, bulldogging and roping contests. Nowadays the Round-up includes a bowling tournament, foot racing, the street dance, a golf tournament... I guess it really is more than just a rodeo! Round-up events begin April 18th with the Open 4D Barrel Race, and end with the final Wild Horse Race on April 22nd, with a chock-full cowboy-good-ol'-time in between! Ride 'em, Cowboys and Cowgirls! -
(CowPersons??? - NAAAH!!!) To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

April Event: Arcata

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:24:35 GMT

From Shore Birds to the Snowy Owl - It's a Birder's Paradise!

Gotwit Drawing;
Courtesy of GodwitDays.com

Godwits are long-billed, long-legged, migratory wading birds that were once popular British tablefare. While we don't eat them much here in Northern California, we do love to spot them on our birding trips! But there's more than Godwits to the Godwit Days Bird Festival in Arcata, which runs from April 19th through the 20th - with over 100 field trips, lectures, workshops and boat excursions to choose from, covering such diverse ecosystems as coastal redwoods, bays, marshes, and mudflats, you'll have the opportunity to see a wide range of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, vultures, hawks and falcons, owls, ground birds... the possibilities are endless! Some of the not-to-be-missed events: the Dawn Chorus - Arcata Marsh Field Trip; the Humboldt Bay Boat Tour; the Godwit Mystery Tour; and the Stone Lagoon Kayak Bird and Wildlife Watching Tour! Check out the link below for more detailed information about this spectacular birding festival! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June

Shasta County California

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:15:26 GMT

Shasta County California is home to Lake Shasta, Mount Lassen Volcanic National Park, Turtle Bay, and the Sundial Bridge...

April Event: Redding

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:20:20 GMT

Revisiting the Days of Back Seat Bingo and Bent Eights

Hotrod with Reflection;
(CC) Dave Elmore

What's buzzin, cuzzin? It's Kool April Nites, Daddy-O! So grab your Cats and your Dolly and burn rubber on up to Redding April 14-22 for chrome-plated cruisin' with the Hotties! Old fashioned burgers... bobby sox and ponytails... classic hotrods and show and shines... you'll find all that and more including a true-blue, genuine Cruise, plus concerts every nite! It's made in the shade that you'll have a blast from the past
at Kool April Nights! To find more April Events and Festivals: April through June