10 min readSep 18, 2026

Top 5 Biggest Concerts in California September 2026, Ranked

September in California usually means one thing: summer is technically over, but nobody has told the weather, the beaches or the concert calendar. And late September 2026 is particularly ridiculous in the best possible way. Pearl Jam is closing out a beach festival in Dana Point. Bruno Mars is beginning a five-show run at SoFi Stadium. Usher and Chris Brown are taking over the same stadium days earlier. San Francisco gets Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire.

And if you are willing to cross the state line, Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age are waiting in Las Vegas. So, yes, concerts in California September 2026 are stacked.

But buying a ticket is only half the battle. The other half is figuring out where to park without donating half your paycheck to a garage, when to arrive, what transportation actually works and whether that "quick walk from the hotel" is really quick. Here are five of the biggest late-September shows to have on your radar and the practical details worth knowing before you go.

Pearl Jam at Ohana Festival 2026, Dana Point - September 27

Pearl Jam. The Pacific Ocean. Late September in Dana Point. Some concert combinations simply make sense. Ohana Festival returns to Doheny State Beach from September 25–27, with Pearl Jam closing the festival on Sunday. Across the weekend, the lineup spreads dozens of performances across multiple stages, turning a beachfront state park into one of Southern California's biggest music destinations. The catch? A beach is a wonderful place for a concert and a considerably less wonderful place for thousands of cars.

Ohana Festival Parking, Shuttles and Doheny State Beach Parking

If you are still thinking, "We'll just drive down and find something," this is your friendly intervention. Festival parking is limited, and the parking options listed through Ohana have been in heavy demand. That makes transportation something to plan before festival morning, not while sitting in traffic on Pacific Coast Highway. Depending on current festival arrangements, alternatives may include the Ohana Festival shuttle, rideshare and parking farther from Doheny State Beach followed by a walk.

Arriving early also gives you much more room to recover if your first parking plan fails. If you're searching for Doheny State Beach parking specifically, remember that you're competing not only with concertgoers but with normal weekend beach traffic. Festival transportation arrangements can change, so check the official Ohana information shortly before leaving for Dana Point.

Ohana Festival 2026 Tickets, Ticket Prices and Set Times

Ohana isn't exactly a "$30 ticket and see what happens" weekend. Published ticket tiers started at approximately $199 for one-day GA and $639 for one-day VIP, while three-day options started around $535 for GA and $1,620 for VIP. At the very top end, the Ultimate VIP package for two was listed from $10,299. Yes, you read that last number correctly. For $10,299, you are officially allowed to tell everyone you are "going to Ohana" in a much fancier tone of voice. Buy-now-pay-later options have also been offered at checkout, along with group-ticket options for parties of 10 or more.

The bigger issue this close to the festival, however, may be availability rather than the original Ohana Festival ticket prices. And don't build your Sunday around an imaginary Pearl Jam start time. Ohana Festival set times were not confirmed in the material available when this guide was prepared. Check the official festival schedule before you travel.

Who Is Performing at Ohana Festival 2026 and What Could Pearl Jam Play?

This is not a weekend where you arrive five minutes before the headliner. Friday's major names include Eddie Vedder, Maná, Billy Idol, Bad Religion and Courtney Barnett. Saturday brings Tyler Childers, Alabama Shakes, Jon Batiste, Men I Trust and The Front Bottoms. Sunday's lineup includes Pearl Jam, Fontaines D.C., Pixies, Rilo Kiley and Tom Odell. And yes, Eddie Vedder fans get an especially good weekend. As for the Pearl Jam setlist 2026 searches already happening online, don't mistake predictions for confirmation. Pearl Jam has an enormous catalog and can change things substantially from night to night.

Still, longtime concert statistics show Even Flow, Black, Jeremy, Daughter and Given to Fly among the band's frequently performed songs. Think of those as songs worth brushing up on not a leaked Ohana setlist.

Bruno Mars at SoFi Stadium 2026 - September 30

Apparently one night at SoFi wasn't enough.

Or two.

Or three.

Bruno Mars begins a five-show SoFi Stadium run on Wednesday, September 30, as part of The Romantic Tour. The September 30 show begins at 7:00 p.m., with additional SoFi dates on October 2, 3, 6 and 7. Anderson .Paak is also billed as DJ Pee.Wee for the September 30 show. Five shows at one of America's largest stadiums is a fairly convincing way of saying Los Angeles wants Bruno Mars.

How to Get to SoFi Stadium: Parking, Metro and Rideshare

Here's the first rule of how to get to SoFi Stadium: don't wait until you're staring at the stadium from inside a traffic jam to make a plan. SoFi uses assigned parking zones, and your parking pass corresponds to a particular zone and entry route. The stadium specifically tells drivers to follow the directions for their assigned zone rather than simply heading toward whichever entrance appears first. Parking should be purchased online before arrival; SoFi says event-day prices increase on site.

That little detail can save a surprisingly large headache. A parking pass is not a magical "enter anywhere" card. Public transportation can also be useful. For NFL events, SoFi directs passengers to the Metro C or K Line and the LAX/Metro Transit Center, where game-day shuttle service connects to the stadium. Because transit arrangements can differ for concerts, confirm service for September 30 rather than assuming the football schedule applies. The same rule applies to rideshare: check SoFi's current event transportation instructions before leaving. In other words, your pre-concert checklist should be: phone, ticket, parking or transit plan, and someone in the group who actually remembers where the car is.

Bruno Mars SoFi Stadium Tickets, Dates and Show Length

The complete SoFi run is:

September 30
October 2
October 3
October 6
October 7

The September 30 concert starts at 7:00 p.m. SoFi currently lists tickets as on sale, but the stadium event page does not provide one fixed ticket-price range.

That's important because searches for Bruno Mars SoFi Stadium tickets can produce wildly different numbers. Prices can change with seat location, demand, the particular night and how close you are to the show day. So compare what is actually available when you're ready to buy rather than treating an old "tickets from..." number as today's price. And don't schedule dinner for 9:15 because somebody online told you exactly how long the concert lasts. Tour pacing can change. Give the evening room to breathe. Nobody wants to leave during the song they spent three months hoping to hear because they made an aggressively optimistic restaurant reservation.

Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas - September 26

California has enough going on, but Las Vegas apparently refused to sit this weekend out. Foo Fighters bring the Take Cover Tour 2026 to Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, September 26, with Queens of the Stone Age joining them. Lots open at 3:00 p.m., doors open at 4:00 p.m., and the event starts at 5:30 p.m. That 5:30 start deserves attention. This is not one of those shows where everyone casually appears at 8:45 and assumes nothing important has happened.

Can You Walk to Allegiant Stadium From the Strip, or Should You Park?

Yes, you can walk to Allegiant Stadium from the Strip.

In fact, depending on where you're staying, it can be one of the easiest options. The Hacienda Bridge provides pedestrian access from Las Vegas Boulevard toward Allegiant Stadium. The stadium describes the route as less than one mile from Las Vegas Boulevard, with the bridge portion taking roughly 10–15 minutes to walk. It closes to vehicle traffic for pedestrian access on game days and select event days. If you're driving instead, buy parking in advance and pay attention to the lot on your pass.

Allegiant warns that its parking lots have no re-entry, and event parking can be purchased in advance through SpotHero. Rideshare pickup and drop-off is in Lot N on Dean Martin Drive, while general and taxi pickup/drop-off is near Diablo Drive and Procyon Street. Accessible drop-off is available in Lot B near Gate 2. The RTC Deuce also runs along Las Vegas Boulevard, with a stop near Mandalay Bay and the Hacienda Bridge.

So the real question isn't "Can I walk?" It's "Do I want to spend the end of a Foo Fighters concert looking for my parking lot or walking back toward a Las Vegas hotel?"

Take Cover Tour Tickets, Doors and Start Time

Saturday, September 26. Lots at 3:00. Doors at 4:00. Music starts at 5:30. Put those times in the group chat now. The official Allegiant Stadium event listing confirms the show is on sale but doesn't publish a simple fixed ticket-price range.

With Queens of the Stone Age appearing as direct support, arriving late would be a particularly expensive way to discover that "opening act" doesn't always mean "band I don't care about." If you're traveling from California for the weekend, sort out the hotel and your walk-or-park decision early. A room near the south end of the Strip can turn the Hacienda Bridge into part of the plan rather than another transportation problem.

Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire at Chase Center - September 26

San Francisco gets a different kind of Saturday night. Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire play Chase Center on September 26 at 7:30 p.m., bringing two catalogs with enough recognizable songs to make "I only know a few of their hits" a dangerous claim. This is the kind of co-headline pairing where sitting down between songs may become more theoretical than practical. And because the show is at Chase Center in Mission Bay, your transportation strategy deserves almost as much thought as your seats.

Chase Center Parking Cost, Garages and Mission Bay Transit

If you're researching Chase Center parking cost, there is one detail you need to understand first: event parking and ordinary daytime parking are not the same thing. Chase Center currently says its garage at 99 Warriors Way charges $7 per hour, up to $35, during the public-parking period on an event day. But those vehicles must leave before the event begins. Event parking starts two hours before the event and currently carries an additional $75 entry rate on top of any public-parking fees already accrued. Event rates can vary, so check again for your specific concert.

Translation: this is not the night to drive into Mission Bay and improvise. The venue recommends reserving parking ahead because spaces are limited. It also warns that the Chase Center Garage closes at midnight and does not allow overnight parking. For many Bay Area concertgoers, public transportation deserves serious consideration instead. Chase Center is in one of those locations where avoiding the car can turn the post-concert experience from "Why haven't we moved?" into "That was surprisingly painless."

Tickets, Seating Tiers and Price Ranges

Unlike Bruno Mars' five-night SoFi run, Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire have one Chase Center date on this September calendar: Saturday, September 26. That means you don't have the luxury of deciding Tuesday looks cheaper or Thursday fits the schedule better. When comparing tickets, think beyond price alone. Floor seats put you closest to the stage and the energy, but they don't automatically provide the best sightline for every person. Lower-bowl seats can offer a great balance of proximity and elevation, while upper-bowl tickets can make sense for fans who mostly want to be in the building without turning concert night into a major financial event.

For a show built around decades of familiar songs, there isn't necessarily a bad philosophy here. Just don't wait until you've emotionally committed to a seat before checking what it actually costs.

Usher and Chris Brown at SoFi Stadium - September 25 and 26

Before Bruno Mars moves into SoFi for five shows, Usher and Chris Brown get the keys. The R&B Tour reaches SoFi Stadium on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, with both shows scheduled for 7:30 p.m. SoFi describes the tour as a co-headlining stadium run. Then, just four days after the first R&B Tour show, Bruno Mars begins his own run. So if Inglewood traffic seems unusually musical that week, now you know why.

The R&B Tour 2026 Tickets, Dates and Prices

The tour has been moving through major stadiums, and SoFi currently lists tickets and suites as available for both September 25 and 26. One useful warning: don't assume every city receives exactly the same supporting lineup or guest appearances. Stadium tours can change supporting performers from market to market.

The same goes for ticket prices. There isn't one useful universal number for The R&B Tour 2026 tickets because inventory, seating sections and demand change constantly. If both Los Angeles nights work for you, compare the actual seat inventory for September 25 and 26 before choosing. Sometimes the difference between two otherwise identical evenings is simply that one has much better seats left in your budget.

Parking and Getting Into SoFi Stadium on Back-to-Back Nights

The same SoFi parking rules mentioned earlier apply here: buy parking ahead, follow the zone and gate attached to your pass, and arrive with the pass ready on your phone. But two consecutive shows create one extra opportunity for confusion.

A parking purchase is tied to its event. If you're attending both nights, don't assume Friday's parking arrangement magically carries into Saturday. And after a 7:30 p.m. stadium show, thousands of people will have the same brilliant idea at roughly the same moment: "Let's call an Uber." If transit is practical for your group, investigate it before show day. If you're driving, give yourself extra time both entering and leaving Hollywood Park. If you're using rideshare, don't schedule something immediately after the concert that depends on escaping the stadium district in 12 minutes. That is optimism California traffic has not earned.

The biggest challenge with concerts in California September 2026 may not be choosing what to see. It may be figuring out how to get there without spending the opening song circling a parking structure. For Ohana, make your Dana Point transportation plan before festival day. At SoFi, buy parking early and follow the assigned zone and gate. For Foo Fighters in Las Vegas, decide whether the Hacienda Bridge makes more sense than driving. At Chase Center, compare reserved parking with public transit before automatically reaching for the car keys.

And remember that concerts are wonderfully unpredictable. Ticket inventory changes. Transportation plans get updated. Supporting acts can vary. Festival set times appear. Parking sells out. Check the official festival, artist or venue page again before you leave. Because there are few sadder sights than someone dressed perfectly for a concert, sitting beautifully in traffic while the first song is already playing.

Why LEGOLAND California Is One of California’s Best Family Trips

California has no shortage of attractions. From beaches and national parks to world-famous theme parks, families have endless options. So why choose LEGOLAND California? Because it understands something important: kids do not need the biggest attraction to have the biggest adventure. Sometimes the most memorable moments come from smaller experiences driving a LEGO car for the first time, meeting a favorite character, building something unique, or watching a child proudly show off a creation they made themselves. Located in Carlsbad, the resort includes LEGOLAND Theme Park, LEGOLAND Water Park, SEA LIFE Aquarium, LEGOLAND Hotel, and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. With more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions, families can easily spend multiple days exploring.

The resort is especially popular with families with children ages 2–12 because many attractions are designed specifically for younger visitors. And if you visit during special seasons, LEGOLAND California adds another layer of excitement with events like Brick or Treat and holiday celebrations.

LEGOLAND California Tickets: Choosing the Right Experience for Your Family

A great theme park day usually starts before you ever walk through the entrance. The right ticket can shape the entire experience. Some families want a classic day of rides and attractions. Others want the full resort experience with water adventures, ocean exploration, and extra time to slow down. LEGOLAND California offers several ticket options, allowing visitors to choose between the LEGOLAND Theme Park, SEA LIFE Aquarium, LEGOLAND Water Park, annual passes, and vacation packages. For families visiting for the first time, a combination ticket can be a convenient option because it allows you to experience more than just the main park.

Current listed starting prices include:

Kids tickets starting at $39 and adult tickets starting at $69 for LEGOLAND Theme Park admission with free SEA LIFE Aquarium entry.
Kids tickets starting at $64 and adult tickets starting at $99 for LEGOLAND Theme Park and Water Park admission with free SEA LIFE Aquarium entry.

These prices are starting points and may vary depending on the date, availability, and current offers. Families planning a longer stay can also consider vacation packages that combine accommodations and park access. Some packages include hotel stays, two-day Hopper tickets, and daily breakfast options, making trip planning easier for visitors traveling from outside the area.

How Many Days Do You Need at LEGOLAND California?

One of the most common planning questions is whether one day is enough. For families with younger children, one day can cover many of the highlights. However, adding extra time allows you to enjoy the park at a slower pace instead of rushing from one attraction to another.

A multi-day visit can be especially useful if you want to combine:

LEGOLAND rides
Water Park attractions
SEA LIFE Aquarium
Hotel experiences
Seasonal events

The goal is not to check every attraction off a list. It is to create a trip where everyone has time to enjoy the experience.

LEGOLAND California Rides: From First Drives to Galactic Adventures

Every theme park has its signature moments. At LEGOLAND California, those moments often come from watching children experience something they can control themselves driving their first LEGO vehicle, flying through a family coaster, or exploring a world built entirely from imagination. The park features more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions designed for different ages, interests, and height requirements.

Some popular LEGOLAND California rides include:

Galacticoaster – a space-themed family coaster experience
The Dragon – a classic LEGO castle adventure
Driving School – where young visitors can get behind the wheel
LEGO NINJAGO The Ride – an interactive adventure inspired by LEGO NINJAGO
LEGO Technic Coaster
G-Force Test Facility

Families should review height requirements before planning their route through the park. Some attractions have minimum height requirements, age guidelines, or adult accompaniment rules. A helpful tool for planning is the LEGOLAND California app, which provides attraction information, wait times, dining details, show schedules, and other planning features.

Best LEGOLAND California Rides for Toddlers

One of LEGOLAND California’s biggest advantages is that younger children are not simply watching from the sidelines. The park includes attractions designed specifically for toddlers and younger visitors, including:

Launch & Land
Junior Driving School
DUPLO Playtown
DUPLO Little Dino Trail
LEGOLAND Express

For families with children of different ages, this balance makes planning much easier. Older kids can enjoy more adventurous rides while younger visitors still have plenty of attractions created with them in mind.

LEGOLAND California Hotel: When the Adventure Continues After the Park Closes

For many families, the best vacations are the ones where the excitement does not completely disappear when the park closes. That is where staying at a LEGOLAND California hotel can make the experience feel even more special. The resort offers the LEGOLAND Hotel, LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, and nearby Partner Hotels, each offering different options for families who want convenience and themed experiences. The LEGOLAND Hotel turns an overnight stay into part of the adventure with:

LEGO-themed rooms Separate sleeping areas for children Play areas A disco elevator Brick Boogie dance floor Arcade games Treasure hunts Heated pool Nightly entertainment

LEGO-themed rooms
Separate sleeping areas for children
Play areas
A disco elevator
Brick Boogie dance floor
Arcade games
Treasure hunts
Heated pool
Nightly entertainment

Meanwhile, the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel brings a different atmosphere with princess, wizard, and knights-and-dragons themes, interactive areas, outdoor movies, and family activities. Room themes include LEGO City, LEGO DUPLO, LEGO NINJAGO, LEGO Friends, Pirate, and Adventure options at the LEGOLAND Hotel. The Castle Hotel offers Royal Princess, Magic Wizard, and Knights & Dragons rooms. For children, the hotel is not simply where they sleep. It becomes another chapter of the vacation story.

LEGOLAND California Water Park: A Refreshing Side of the Resort

California sunshine is one of the biggest reasons families visit the state. Adding a water adventure makes the trip even better. The LEGOLAND California Water Park gives families another way to experience the resort with attractions designed for children ages 2–12 and their families.

Visitors can explore attractions such as:

Build-A-Raft River
DUPLO Splash Safari
DUPLO Splash Pad
Joker Soaker
Twin Chasers
Orange Rush
Splash Out

The variety makes it easy for different ages to enjoy the water area. Younger children can explore gentle splash zones, while older kids can enjoy larger slides and interactive attractions. Families looking for a more relaxed experience can reserve Water Park cabanas. Available options include:

Standard cabanas starting at $200 for up to six guests

Premium cabanas starting at $250 for up to six guests

Deluxe cabanas starting at $300 for up to eight guests

Cabanas include features such as towels, bottled water, tote bags, wristband access, and host service.

SEA LIFE Aquarium at LEGOLAND California: A Different Kind of Adventure Beneath the Surface

Not every memorable vacation moment needs flashing lights, roller coasters, or a countdown before a ride begins. Sometimes, the best experiences happen when everyone slows down for a while. Located inside the LEGOLAND California Resort, SEA LIFE Aquarium gives families a chance to explore the underwater world through interactive exhibits, marine life displays, and educational experiences. The aquarium features more than 350 species and over 5,000 marine creatures, creating a completely different atmosphere from the excitement of the theme park. Families can discover ocean habitats, learn about marine animals, attend educational talks, watch feeding demonstrations, and enjoy hands-on experiences.

For younger visitors especially, SEA LIFE Aquarium adds another layer to the trip. It turns curiosity into a learning experience where seeing a real sea creature can be just as exciting as riding a coaster. It is also a great option for families who want to balance their day. After hours of exploring rides and attractions, a quieter aquarium visit can be the perfect change of pace.

Planning Your LEGOLAND California Family Trip: Small Details That Make a Big Difference

A successful theme park vacation is rarely about having the most complicated schedule.It is usually about knowing what matters most. Before arriving at LEGOLAND California, families should consider a few important details:

Choose Your Must-Do Experiences First

With rides, shows, water attractions, and the aquarium available, trying to do everything in one visit can become overwhelming.

Instead, decide what your family is most excited about:

Favorite rides
LEGO experiences
Water Park activities
SEA LIFE Aquarium
Character encounters
Seasonal events

A flexible plan usually creates a better experience than rushing from one attraction to another.

Check Height Requirements Before You Visit

One of the easiest ways to avoid disappointment is checking ride requirements ahead of time. LEGOLAND California attractions have different height, age, and adult-accompaniment guidelines, so reviewing these details before your visit can help families create a realistic plan.

Use the LEGOLAND California App

The park app can make navigating the day easier by helping families view attraction information, wait times, schedules, dining options, and planning tools. For families traveling with multiple children, this can save valuable time and reduce the classic vacation debate:

“Where should we go next?”

Visiting LEGOLAND California as a Group: Keeping Everyone Together

Family trips become even more memorable when grandparents, cousins, friends, or multiple families join together. But group travel also creates a new challenge: How do you keep everyone moving in the same direction? A group visit to LEGOLAND California requires more coordination from arrival times and parking to keeping everyone together after a long day at the park.

For larger groups, organized transportation can simplify the experience by creating one shared schedule instead of managing multiple cars, separate arrivals, and different pickup plans. Instead of spending vacation time comparing parking locations or searching for missing family members, everyone can start and end the day together. For families traveling from nearby California cities or planning a larger group outing, transportation planning can be just as important as choosing the right tickets. A great LEGOLAND California family vacation is not about trying to complete every attraction in a single day. It is about creating moments your family will remember long after the LEGO bricks are packed away.

Where to Celebrate California Wine Month in 2026

September is California Wine Month, which basically means the state spends 30 days reminding everyone that grapes can have very successful careers. California Wine Month runs September 1–30, with wine events happening across several regions. Among the season's California fall festivals, LAWineFest returns to Burbank September 12–13, bringing wineries together for a big weekend of tasting. If you're driving, off-site parking is $16 and includes a complimentary shuttle.

That same weekend, Two Harbors Wine Fest takes place September 12 on Catalina Island. Just remember that Catalina adds an extra planning step: unless someone in your group owns a yacht and has been suspiciously quiet about it, you'll need to arrange boat transportation separately. For anyone planning group travel in California, that extra connection is worth sorting out before everyone starts making their own transportation plans.

The Lodi Grape Festival 2026 follows September 17–20, with official-lot parking available for $12. Then come Alexander Valley Wine Week from September 21–27 and the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival from September 24–27. Together, they make September a strong month for California winery events and a terrible month to tell your wine-loving friends, “There's nothing going on.”

Monterey Jazz Festival 2026

Some music festivals require glitter, questionable footwear, and three days of pretending you’re perfectly comfortable sleeping outdoors. Monterey Jazz Festival 2026 takes a different approach. Now in its 69th year, the festival runs September 25–27 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, with single-day tickets and three-day packages available.

Monterey Jazz Festival Lineup and Schedule

The Monterey Jazz Festival lineup is stacked with major names. Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter perform For Miles, while Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra appears with Wynton Marsalis and special guest Cécile McLorin Salvant. Other scheduled performers include Meshell Ndegeocello, Charles Lloyd, Ravi Coltrane, and dozens more.

Performances run across several stages Friday through Sunday, so this is less of a “watch one concert and leave” situation and more of a choose-your-own-jazz-adventure. The festival notes that performers and schedules can change, so groups should check the latest schedule before finalizing their day.

Monterey Jazz Festival Tickets, Parking, and Entry

Before buying Monterey Jazz Festival tickets, pay attention to the difference between Grounds and Arena admission. Grounds tickets include the smaller performance stages, food vendors, shops, and festival facilities but do not include Arena headliners. Arena tickets add access to the Jimmy Lyons Stage and headline performances.

And now for the sentence nobody enjoys reading: on-site Monterey Jazz Festival parking at the fairgrounds is listed as sold out. Off-site parking is available at Monterey Peninsula College, with shuttle service running during festival hours. The festival also uses a clear-bag policy and offers lawn-chair rentals. In other words, organize the parking before everybody is in three different cars texting, “Where are you?”

Mill Valley Film Festival 2026: What Groups Should Know

Love movies but not the part where everyone spends 20 minutes arguing over what to watch? Mill Valley Film Festival 2026 gives your group a much better reason to gather around a screen. CAFILM Education lists its in-theater and online MVFF49 educational programming for October 2–9, 2026. Keep in mind that these dates apply specifically to the education program, not necessarily the complete public festival schedule.

School groups get a particularly good deal: selected screenings are free for students in grades 1–12, colleges, and universities. Some programs may also include filmmaker Q&As and curriculum resources because occasionally watching a movie really does count as school. For general attendees looking for Mill Valley Film Festival tickets, a six-pack costs $86 for CAFILM members and $108 for the public. A 12-pack costs $172 for members and $216 for the public. Vouchers work for regularly priced programs and can even be shared with friends. General-public ticket redemption begins September 17 at noon. Among the Bay Area film festivals 2026, this is one worth keeping on your fall calendar.

What Are Some of the Best Things to Do in California in October?

Celebrate avocados, apparently. The 40th Carpinteria Avocado Festival 2026 takes over Linden Avenue in downtown Carpinteria from October 2–4. Friday runs from 1–11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m.–10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. And despite the name, the avocado festival California experience involves considerably more than standing around admiring guacamole.

The California Avocado Festival Carpinteria lineup includes more than 60 bands across three stages, plus food vendors, arts and crafts, and commercial vendors. Festival proceeds support the Carpinteria Education Foundation and Future Farmers of America. It is one of those wonderfully specific California traditions that sounds slightly made up until you arrive and discover thousands of people are equally enthusiastic about avocados. The selected official festival information does not provide confirmed parking, shuttle, or ticket details, so groups should check the event's current visitor information before traveling.

San Diego Food and Wine Festival 2026

By November, some states are preparing for freezing temperatures. San Diego is preparing lunch. The San Diego Food and Wine Festival 2026 runs November 1–8 and brings together a full week of culinary events, tastings, dinners, and special experiences.

San Diego Food and Wine Festival Schedule

The biggest weekend events begin with Icons + Legends on November 6 from 6–9 p.m. Then comes the Grand Tasting on November 7 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., followed by the Grand Fiesta on November 8 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. The wider San Diego food festival 2026 program also includes experiences such as a Día de Muertos Gala, Baja Culinary Expedition, chef dinners, and wine lunches. In other words, arriving hungry is not poor planning here. It is strategy.

Tickets and Weekend Packages

There are several ways to approach San Diego Food and Wine Festival tickets. The FOMO Four Pack includes four tickets for one selected Grand Weekend day. A two-day package covers the Grand Tasting and Grand Fiesta, while the full-weekend package adds Icons + Legends. Because pricing and availability can change, check the official event pages before purchasing particularly if you're coordinating a larger group.

Final Thoughts: Planning Group Travel to Fall Events in California

California's fall calendar makes choosing the event easy. Choosing who gets control of the playlist on the drive there may be harder. September brings wine festivals and the Monterey Jazz Festival. October delivers film screenings and an entire weekend dedicated to avocados. November finishes things off with one of San Diego's major culinary celebrations.

For group travel in California, compare more than the event itself. Look at driving distances, ticket types, parking availability, shuttle arrangements, and whether your group needs to arrive together. And that last point becomes surprisingly important