What began in 1984 as a small gathering of local blues enthusiasts is now a thriving festival for blues lovers from all over the country. Held annually every May in an outdoor 300-seat theater tucked away in a shady forest, the Topanga Blues Festival bills itself as a no-frills festival for fans of hardcore blues.
Previous years have paid tribute to such legends as T-Bone Walker. The festival offers several dining options, as well as a beer garden. Children's activities are also provided at this family-friendly event.
Topanga Blues Festival
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga, CA 90290
(310) 455-2322
scbsevents.org
Located about 300 miles north of San Francisco, Eureka, California, is host to the Blues by the Bay Festival held annually every September. The festival runs for two days in a park overlooking the bay and showcases more than a dozen blues bands and musicians, such as Otis Taylor and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
The festival offers non-reserved seating on the grass or on beach chairs, arts and crafts booths and a variety of food and micro-brew beers from local breweries.
Blues by the Bay
523 5th St.
Eureka, CA
(707) 445-3378
bluesbythebay.org
Held annually over Memorial Day weekend each May, the Sacramento Jazz Festival and Jubilee is one of the largest in the state. Previous years' festivals have showcased an assortment of jazz, from smooth jazz to Dixieland, in 24 venues offering more than 450 sets of music from 70 bands -- many of whom are internationally known, such as Arbors "Statesmen of Jazz" and Cornet Chop Suey.
The festival kicks off with a parade and offers activities and events for the whole family over the course of the weekend, such as dance contests and Sunday morning gospel concerts.
Sacramento Jazz Festival and Jubilee
2787 Del Monte St.
West Sacramento, CA 95691
(916) 372-5277
sacjazz.com
Mammoth Mountain is known by most people as a winter ski destination, but come summer time, jazz lovers flock to this 4 square mile tourist destination for the annual Mammoth Lakes Jazz Jubilee held every July.
Begun in 1989, this four-day-long festival features a variety of jazz from swing to Latin soul. Reserved tables are available around the dance floors at many of the venues.
Attendees can visit the musical instrument petting zoo, where they can try their hand at several instruments and attend dueling piano and guitar sets. A jazz camp for musicians ages 13 to 17 years culminates in the younger musicians getting to play with some of the featured bands.
Mammoth Lakes Jazz Jubilee
P.O. Box 909
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
(760) 934-2478
mammothjazz.org