California Fairs and Festivals

Fairs and festivals give individuals an excellent opportunity to spend time outdoors while perusing local shopkeepers' wares and fare. The following pages contain listings of fairs and festivals throughout the state.

What is a fair?: In Roman times, fairs were holidays on which there was an intermission of labour and pleadings. In later centuries, on any special Christian religious occasion (particularly the anniversary dedication of a church), tradesmen would bring and sell their wares (even in the churchyards). Such fairs then continued annually, usually on the feast day of the patron saint to whom the church was dedicated. This custom was kept up until the reign of Henry VI, by which time there were a great many fairs kept on these patronal festivals, for example at Westminster on St. Peter's day, at London on St. Bartholomew's.*

Today a fair includes an exhibition of farm products, arts and crafts, manufactured goods, and food products that are typically accompanied by competitions and entertainment such as concerts, demolition derbys and dances.

What is a festival?: Festivals, in the ancient world, included a day (or days) set aside by a city, state, or country for the worship of gods. Although festivals were always in some aspect religious, no rigid distinction was made between religious and secular activities, and they were frequently occasions of general merrymaking. Feasting, athletics, play-acting, and bawdiness were all considered appropriate constituents of certain festivals.*

Today a festival includes exhibitions of individuals' wares (typically arts and crafts) a variety of food products, carnival-like rides, games, concerts, dances and other festivities. Very much like a fair, festivals are typically smaller in size but have the same types of activities and products.

If your California city's fair or festival is missing from these lists, please feel free to Contact Me with updated information and I will post it as soon as possible.

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