36 upcoming · 18 past
Upcoming events
Lake Shasta houseboat season 2026
Redding (Shasta Lake, Shasta-Trinity NF)
Northern California's houseboat capital — Shasta Lake near Redding.
Good fit: Boat · RV · Trucks & vans
Lake Tahoe boating season 2026
South Lake Tahoe / Tahoe City (Lake Tahoe, CA–NV)
Alpine blue-water boating high in the Sierra Nevada.
Good fit: Boat · RV · Trucks & vans
today
Labor Day Weekend 2026
All US
Labor Day weekend — last summer RV peak before fall pricing dip.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 7d
Adventure Van Expo — Big Bear
Big Bear Lake, CA
Walk-through adventure vans and conversions in the San Bernardino mountains
Good fit: Trucks & vans · Off-road · RV
in 20d
Monterey Jazz Festival 2026
Monterey, CA (Monterey County Fairgrounds)
The world's longest continuously running jazz festival — three days on the oak-shaded Monterey Fairgrounds.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans · Classic touring
in 42d
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2026
Half Moon Bay, CA (Main Street)
The 'Pumpkin Capital of the World' coastal festival — a giant-pumpkin weigh-off and Main Street arts show.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 79d
Thanksgiving Week 2026
All US
Thanksgiving week — family-trip RV demand surge.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 91d
MLS Cup Final 2026
Host venue not yet announced
MLS Cup Final 2026 — host venue is the top-seeded conference finalist. PickRV publishes RV playbook within 24 hours.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 118d
Tournament of Roses Parade + Rose Bowl Game
Pasadena
Rose Parade + Rose Bowl Game New Year's Day.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 139d
Grand National Roadster Show 2027
Pomona, CA
America's Most Beautiful Roadster trophy + nine buildings of hot rods
Good fit: Classic touring · Trucks & vans
in 147d
King of the Hammers 2027 (Race Week)
Johnson Valley OHV Area (BLM, San Bernardino County, CA)
King of the Hammers 2027 — Race Week in Johnson Valley, 8 days of ultra4 + UTV + bike + EV races.
Good fit: Off-road · RV · Trucks & vans
in 158d
Yosemite Horsetail Firefall 2027
Yosemite National Park
Firefall window — Horsetail Falls glows like lava at sunset.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 162d
Pro Football Championship LXI — SoFi Stadium LA
Inglewood (SoFi Stadium)
Pro Football Championship LXI at SoFi Stadium. Dockweiler State Beach + Bolsa Chica RV-friendly.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 163d
California Desert Wildflower Window 2027
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park / southern deserts
Desert floors that can erupt in color after wet winters — a window worth watching, honestly framed.
Good fit: RV · Towable · Trucks & vans
in 198d
Spring Break — Southern California Coast
San Diego / Orange County beaches
California coast spring break — beachfront state-park RV sites from San Diego to OC.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 216d
Desert Music + Country Festivals 2027
Indio (Empire Polo Club)
Two Desert Music Festival weekends + Country Music Festival country fest. RV camping is THE way to do Indio.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 230d
Country Music Festival 2027
Indio (Empire Polo Club)
Country Music Festival 2027 — country music at Empire Polo Club, post-Desert Music Festival weekend.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 231d
NORRA Mexican 1000 2027
Baja California, Mexico (U.S. staging: San Diego, CA)
The 'Happiest Race on Earth' — a multi-day vintage + modern off-road rally down the Baja peninsula.
Good fit: Off-road · Trucks & vans · RV
in 266d
Memorial Day Weekend 2027
All US (peak demand)
Memorial Day weekend — first big RV-rental peak of the year.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 271d
Pro Basketball Finals 2027
Host cities not yet announced
Pro Basketball Finals 2027 — same TBD playbook. Stay subscribed to PickRV Pro Basketball Finals alerts.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 300d
Independence Day Weekend 2027
All US
July 4 weekend — peak summer RV-rental demand.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 320d
San Diego Comic-Con 2027
San Diego
SDCC 2027 — pop culture's biggest weekend.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 335d
Outside Lands 2027 — San Francisco
San Francisco (Golden Gate Park)
Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park. San Francisco RV Resort + Half Moon Bay State Beach.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 363d
Labor Day — Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe (North + South Shore)
Labor Day at Tahoe — warm water and the last full summer lake weekend.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans · Boat
in 385d
MCAS Miramar Air Show 2027
San Diego (Marine Corps Air Station Miramar)
One of the largest military air shows in the country — jet teams over San Diego.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 415d
Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Season, California Coast 2027-2028
Pismo Beach / Pacific Grove (central coast groves)
Thousands of monarchs clustering in coastal groves — a walkable winter wildlife window.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans · Towable
in 474d
Christmas Week — Lake Tahoe Ski Country
South Lake Tahoe
Christmas at Tahoe — winterized rig basecamp for the Sierra ski week.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 517d
King of the Hammers 2028 (Race Week)
Johnson Valley OHV Area (BLM, San Bernardino County)
King of the Hammers Race Week — Ultra4 + UTV + EV racing inside a self-built desert RV city.
Good fit: Off-road · RV · Trucks & vans
in 587d
Desert Music + Country Festivals 2028
Indio (Empire Polo Club)
Desert Music Festival 2028 — RV camping in the polo fields.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 601d
Country Music Festival 2028
Indio (Empire Polo Club)
Country Music Festival 2028 — Indio polo fields, post-Desert Music Festival weekend 2.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 603d
Big Sur International Marathon 2028
Big Sur to Carmel (Highway 1)
26.2 miles up a closed Highway 1 — routinely called the most scenic marathon in America.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 630d
Memorial Day — Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe (South Shore)
Memorial Day at Tahoe — alpine-lake season opener on the South Shore.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans · Boat
in 665d
July 4th — Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe (South Shore)
July 4th at Tahoe — alpine-lake fireworks and peak Sierra summer demand.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans · Boat
in 678d
2028 LA Games — Opening Ceremony
Los Angeles (multi-venue)
Summer Games Los Angeles. RV camping at Dockweiler Beach + Bonelli Park as private bookings.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 684d
San Diego Comic-Con International 2028
San Diego (San Diego Convention Center, Gaslamp Quarter, CA)
SDCC 2028 (expected late July) — Thu-Sun at the Convention Center; confirm dates on comic-con.org.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
in 710d
Adaptive Games 2028 — LA
Los Angeles (multi-venue)
Adaptive Games 2028 — LA. Accessible RV rentals available — coordinate with PickRV concierge.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
See 18 past events
Tournament of Roses Parade + Rose Bowl Game
Pasadena
Rose Parade + Rose Bowl Game New Year's Day.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
King of the Hammers — Johnson Valley CA
Johnson Valley OHV (BLM land)
King of the Hammers — 1-week off-road racing + RV city on BLM land.
Good fit: Off-road · RV · Trucks & vans
Death Valley Dark Sky Festival 2026
Furnace Creek (Death Valley NP)
Death Valley Dark Sky Festival — one of darkest skies in US.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
Pro Football Championship LX — Santa Clara CA
Santa Clara (Levi's Stadium)
Pro Football Championship LX at Levi's Stadium. Sanborn County Park + San Mateo RV Park nearby.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
Horsetail Firefall window
Yosemite National Park
Two-week sunset phenomenon when Horsetail Falls glows like lava
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans · Off-road
Desert Music + Country Festivals
Indio
Two festival weekends + Country Music Festival country fest. RV camping is THE way to do it.
Deep-dive availableGood fit: RV · Trucks & vans
Country Music Festival 2026
Indio (Empire Polo Club)
Country Music Festival 2026 — country fest immediately after Desert Music Festival weekend 2.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
Memorial Day Weekend 2026
All US (peak demand)
Memorial Day weekend — first big RV-rental peak of the year.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
Pro Basketball Finals 2026
Host cities not yet announced
Pro Basketball Finals 2026 — host cities TBD until June. PickRV publishes RV-park playbook within 24 hours of conference finals end.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
West Hollywood Pride 2026
West Hollywood (Santa Monica Blvd)
WeHo Pride — Memorial Day weekend in West Hollywood.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
2026 international soccer tournament — Los Angeles matches
Inglewood (SoFi Stadium)
SoFi Stadium hosts marquee international soccer tournament matches. Dockweiler State Beach RV camping ~15 min.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
2026 international soccer tournament — San Francisco/Bay Area matches
Santa Clara (Levi's Stadium)
Levi's Stadium hosts international soccer tournament. Trailer Tel San Jose + Sanborn County Park RV-friendly.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
San Francisco Pride Parade 2026
San Francisco (Market St + Civic Center)
SF Pride Parade — Market Street + Civic Center weekend.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
Independence Day Weekend 2026
All US
July 4 weekend — peak summer RV-rental demand.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
San Diego Comic-Con 2026
San Diego (Convention Center + Gaslamp)
San Diego Comic-Con — Convention Center + Gaslamp takeover.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
Outside Lands 2026 — San Francisco
San Francisco (Golden Gate Park)
Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park. San Francisco RV Resort + Half Moon Bay State Beach.
Good fit: RV · Trucks & vans
Monterey Car Week
Monterey / Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance + Laguna Seca + Quail. Classic-touring rig peak demand.
Good fit: Classic touring · RV
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Pebble Beach, CA
Concours Sunday on the 18th green — the crown of Monterey Car Week
Good fit: Classic touring · RV
Plan it by rig
Upcoming California events with per-class planning pages — pick the event, then the rig you'd drive.
FAQ
What major events happen in California in 2026-2028?
California hosts 54 events on PickRV's curated calendar — 36 upcoming. Top categories: Music festivals, Cultural, National Parks, Sports, Off-road, Seasonal, Boating, RV rallies.
When should I book an RV for California events?
Demand-multiplier 4.5×+ events need 6-12 months lead time. Mid-tier (3.5-4×) need 3-5 months. Seasonal windows 2-4 months. Each event page lists exact recommended lead-time in weeks.
Are PickRV's California event listings accurate?
Yes. We cite official event organizer, .gov, NPS, or NOAA sources on every entry. We do not invent attendance figures — we cite the official figure or omit it. Safety + legal disclaimers required for every elevated-risk event.
California rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 9.75% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Permit required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-06:00
Explore California
The Circuit
California tour runs
Real events in California, chained by the calendar into dated runs — every drive day accounted for, one book-by per window.
- The Desert Winter RunJan 17 – Mar 1, 2026 · QUARTZSITE → LAKE HAVASU CITY (LAKE HAVASU, AZ–CA) · 4 STOPS · ARIZONA
- The West Coast Summer RunJun 27 – Jul 12, 2026 · SAN FRANCISCO (MARKET ST + CIVIC CENTER) → LAS VEGAS (T-MOBILE ARENA + STRIP VENUES) · 3 STOPS · CALIFORNIA
- The Low Desert RunJan 15 – Feb 15, 2027 · QUARTZSITE → PHOENIX / SCOTTSDALE / TUCSON LOOP · 3 STOPS · ARIZONA
Nearby & related
Keep planning California
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of California trip planning.
- California RV rental costFuel · camping · tax, sourced
- California RV-friendly campgroundsHookups, rig limits, booking tips
- RV rental companies in CaliforniaLocal hosts & outfitters, verified
- Campervan & van rentals in CaliforniaVan-life routes, rules & rigs
- RV rentals in CaliforniaPickRV Wiki · 6 min read
- California Pacific Coast Highway 1 RVPickRV Wiki · 12 min read
- National recreation areasBig-water recreation guides
- Estuary reservesQuiet coastal reserves