Southern California towns have long-established traditions of hosting celebrations and events, from waterfront festivals to urban fiestas honoring the area's Hispanic roots. Dancing, dining, boating and fishing are favorite activities at many of these festivals, and admission to most of them is free to the public.
Organized and presented by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce in San Diego County, the Oceanside Harbor Days festival is held over a weekend in early fall. This annual event is a celebration of the town of Oceanside and its harbor. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of food as well as arts and crafts exhibits. Family activities include pirate rides, a fishing derby, Polynesian revue, boat parade and pancake breakfast. Music and entertainment are presented on two stages. A Nail 'n' Sail competition in which competitors first build small primitive wooden boats and then attempt to navigate them with oars is a popular event. Food and merchandise vendors are located throughout the festival. Public transportation to the harbor area is available to alleviate parking problems.
Oceanside Harbor Days
928 North Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054
760-722-1534
oceansidechamber.com
The Long Beach Bayou Festival, in existence since the 1980s, is held on the last weekend of June. Its biggest attraction is the Louisiana-style music consisting of blues, Cajun and zydeco performed by a variety of musicians on two different stages. The festival is held in the Rainbow Lagoon Park in downtown Long Beach. Creole food stands, dancing areas, and arts and crafts vendors add to the enjoyment. Plenty of parking is available at designated areas. This festival does require admission, and tickets can be purchased in advance or at the gate.
Long Beach Bayou Festival
3505 Long Beach Blvd. Suite 2G
Long Beach, CA 90807
562-424-0013
longbeachfestival.com
The Oxnard Salsa Festival started in the early 1990s, and has become an annual event in late July. It features plenty of spicy food and salsa dance music in Oxnard's Plaza Park. Running and walking competitions, known as the Salsa Dash, are held earlier in the month throughout downtown Oxnard and the Henry T. Oxnard National Register Historic District. This weekend festival has free admission and parking. Its main attraction is the live entertainment featuring Southern California salsa bands on stage in front of a large dance floor. The festival also has a salsa food competition with an amateur division, and a professional division for restaurants and salsa purveyors at a salsa tasting tent.
Oxnard Salsa Festival
c/o the Oxnard Downtowners
P.O. Box 1892
Oxnard, CA 93032
805-247-0197
oxnardsalsafestival.com
