From film festivals to food and wine extravaganzas, spring is in full bloom. The following are some must-visit spring festivals in Northern California.
April 4 to April 7: Pebble Beach Food & Wine
Pebble Beach
The premier food and wine celebration in Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach Food & Wine festival brings together 125 global chefs, 150 wineries, mixologists, sommeliers and more for a celebration taking place over the course of four days. This indulgent spring festival in Northern California will feature an assortment of daily experiences, including meet-and-greets with celebrity chefs, tastings, a golf tournament, seminars and more for gourmands. Each experience will take place from noon to 4 p.m. for VIPs and 1 to 4 p.m. for general admission.
Cost: Tickets are $475 for general admission and $675 for VIP per day (or $850 for the whole weekend for general admission and $1,200 for VIP).
Tickets: pebblebeachfoodandwine.com.
April 6: 16th Annual Wildflower and Nature Festival
Oroville
Celebrate the beauty of nature at the 16th Annual Wildflower and Nature Festival in Butte County. This family-friendly event will spotlight the county’s natural resources and local purveyors with educational exhibits, arts and crafts, live music performances and food vendors. The festival is hosted by the Feather River Recreation and Park District and will take place at Riverbend Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Tickets: www.frrpd.com.
April 13, April 14, April 20 and April 21: Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
San Francisco
Back for its 57th year, Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival has returned to San Francisco with cultural programming and a grand parade to honor the beauty and traditions of Japanese culture. This annual celebration features Bonsai art pieces, traditional tea ceremonies, dance performances, meet-and-greets with Akita and Shiba dogs, doll making, rounds of Igo (a traditional board game), martial arts, music performances, origami demonstrations and much more to truly experience the culture. The grand finale of this spring festival in Northern California is the Grand Parade, taking place on the streets of Japantown. The parade will feature a lively display of Taiko drummers, dancers and decorative floats. The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Cost: Free, subject to purchases.
Tickets: sfcherryblossom.org.
April 20: California Nut Festival
Durham
Savor the flavors of Northern California at California Nut Festival, celebrating locally-grown and produced food and beverages utilizing nuts. This unique spring festival in Northern California will feature gourmet food offerings, wine, beer, cider and coffee samples, nut-inspired cooking demonstrations, live music on two outdoor stages, a wonderful art show and artisan fair and more. New this year, California Nut Festival will host a Nutty Chef Competition where local chefs will go head-to-head crafting a nut-based plate. The festival will benefit the historic Patrick Ranch Museum and take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: $35 in advance and $40 at the door for adults and $15 for kids. ages 7 to 12.
Tickets: www.californianutfestival.com.
April 24 to April 28: 67th San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco
The longest-running film festival in America, the 67th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival) has returned as it showcases a diverse selection of films from around the world. This iconic spring festival in Northern California will feature screenings, panel discussions and special events celebrating the art of filmmaking. These include international and locally-crafted documentaries, narratives, shorts and more.
Cost: Tickets are $20 for general admission, $19 for students/seniors and $16 for SFFILM Members.
Tickets: sffilm.org.
April 27: Chico Spring Jam 2024
Chico
Groove to the rhythm of spring at Chico Spring Jam 2024, back for its third year. This family-friendly music festival is a tribute to classic rock bands, including Heart, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, Van Morrison, Traveling Wilburys, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and others. This lively music festival will also host local craft brews, an assortment of food trucks, kids’ games and more activities for everyone in the family. Chico Spring Jam 2024 will take place from 1 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Early bird general admission is $35 and early bird VIP is $90. $25 for kids, ages 11 to 17; free admission for kids 10 and under.
Tickets: bluesky.strideevents.com.
May 11: Taiwanese American Cultural Festival
San Francisco
The West Coast’s largest celebration of Taiwanese American culture is back for its 31st year in San Francisco’s Union Square. This family-friendly spring festival in Northern California will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and allows locals to experience Taiwanese Americans’ vibrant culture through traditional lion dance performances, street food (think beef noodle soups and pearl milk tea!), exhibits, arts and crafts and more.
Cost: Free, subject to purchases.
Tickets: tap-sf.org.