Find Upcoming Festivals Near You

Raise your hand if you love to celebrate for any reason and in any season! It could be a much-awaited get-together with your loved ones or an exotic food festival in your town. Fairs and festivals are events that everyone looks forward to year round, regardless of their age or background. Exciting competitions, colorful parades, carnival rides, and fried treats tend to lift your soul and help immerse you in the local culture.

Every state has at least one spectacular event on the calendar that attracts people from around the world and offers opportunities to meet like-minded adventurers. Another notable thing about these annual events is their rich history; most of the harvest festivals and winter and summer solstices we celebrate today have been celebrated for thousands of years!

Each state has its own culture, identity, and traditions and it influences the local holidays and celebrations as well. If you want to see communities come together to honor art, music, food, historical figures, and other aspects of a particular state, attending these fairs festivals is a great idea.

With that, we have compiled a list of the most popular state festivals in the US where you can enjoy the best of what the local community has to offer.

Novato Festival of Art, Wine, and Music in Novato, California

This summer festival is held in downtown Novato between Seventh Street and Redwood Boulevard. It’s a family-friendly affair with something to do for everyone, no matter how old you are. For children, there are face paintings, games, and a dedicated play area.

Adults can have their own good time with an extensive variety of local beers and wines, including the award-winning beer from Moylan’s micro-brewery. You can accompany it with gourmet artisan fares like pulled pork sandwiches and calamari or traditional festival treats such as corn dogs and kabobs. There are always plenty of booths filled with handcrafted jewelry, apparel, inspired artwork, and other unique treasures.

Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival in Los Altos, California

Downtown Los Altos throws a 2-day event showcasing the distinctive handcrafted works of artisans and artists from over 13 states. You’ll also get to choose vintages from local wineries along with a variety of food cuisines including Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and All-American favorites like roasted corn, hot links, sausages, various sweets, and more. Local bands and singers perform free concerts throughout the festival. They also have pretty exciting carnival rides and entertainment for kids inside the Kidzone.

Cotati Accordion Festival in Cotati, California

The annual Cotati Accordion Festival is a quite popular event held over 2 days in La Plaza Park in downtown Cotati. The multi-generational, multi-cultural accordion extravaganza plays music from many genres, including western, zydeco, classical, rock, Venezuelan, Irish, jazz, folk, and more. They have two main stages which also feature a Zydeco Dance Party, a Jam Tent, and Ray’s Deli Stage.

More than 60 vendors come to Cotati Accordion Festival to sell accordions, crafts, food, beer, and wine. As we said, this is truly a multi-cultural event which means they serve food to appease every palate – be it a vegan, vegetarian, kosher, or something else.

Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama

Started in 1703, the Mardi Gras carnival in the port city of Mobile is the oldest fair in America. It runs from mid-January to February and features dozens of grand balls, parades, arts and craft shows, food booths, live music, and all-around revelry. Over 850,000 people attend this legendary event every year.

Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska

This is the tenth oldest footrace in the country and has been held every 4th of July since 1915. Both amateur and elite trail runners race up the side of Mount Marathon through waterfalls, along cliffs, and with spectacular vistas of southeastern Alaska. If you don’t want to climb up and down the treacherous mountain, don’t worry, you can still partake in the fireworks, scrumptious street food, and handmade crafts offered by the local artisans.

Spring Training Cactus League in Glendale, Arizona

This pre-season baseball camp has become one of the most popular events in Arizona in the last few years. Held in the month of March (sometimes, April), you can watch your favorite team play in the greater Phoenix area and gorge on as many smoked BBQ sandwiches and mac and cheese helmets as you want.

Riverfest in Little Rock, Arkansas

The 3-day annual music festival is held on Memorial Day weekend along the Arkansas River and brings some of the biggest rock stars to downtown Little Rock. There’s live music, arts, food, drinks, and a whole lot of fun to be had over the course of a long weekend at the end of May.

West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval in Los Angeles, California

On October 31st every year, the City of Angels hosts the world’s biggest Halloween-themed street party, drawing hundreds of thousands of people and completely shutting down main thoroughfares. The event includes patio parties, costume contests, musical concerts, drag-queen shows, and more. If you like Halloween, this is an absolute must-attend festival for you.

Great American Beer Fest in Denver, Colorado

The Brewers Association hosts GABF every year – either in late September or early October – which represents the largest collection of American beer. More than 800 breweries serve thousands of people with the most extensive collection of beers. But keep in mind that the event usually sells out within a few hours so make sure to book your tickets in advance.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Norwich, Connecticut

Nobody celebrates St. Paddy’s Day like Norwich. Hundreds of thousands of people come to the town every March for the mile-long parade, food trucks, and live music. If you’re hankering for some Irish food and culture, this is the place to be.

Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware

While this festival is not very old – it only started in 2012 – it has already become one of the most renowned music festivals in the world. It’s a 3-day event usually held in September at the 105-acre festival ground in the woodlands of Dover.

Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida

In 2020, the Strawberry Festival in Florida was the fourth most-attended event in the country with over 500,000 visitors. This 10-day fair occurs each spring – at the height of the strawberry season – and features live entertainment from popular bands, carnival rides, and of course, many kinds of strawberry delicacies.

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival in Atlanta, Georgia

The ultimate fest for foodies, this food and wine festival takes place over four days in August or September. It is an excellent place to learn about southern food delights through all-inclusive tasting tent experiences and intimate chef dinners. More than 150 chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and vendors participate to give visitors a wonderful time.

Aloha Festivals in Hawaii

What started in 1946 has now become a world-famous series of annual fairs and festivals to celebrate the local Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. Aloha Festivals are a month-long treat held in September throughout all the Hawaiian Islands. The events range from floral parades to block parties to buffet-style feasts and much more. If you’re looking for trip ideas before the holiday season begins, Hawaii in September is an excellent idea.

Boise Music Festival in Boise, Idaho

What’s a better way to welcome summer than a full day of carnival rides, games, musicians, and art performers? The Boise Music Festival is held in June and attracts the biggest crowds of the year to town for a day full of fun. If you’ve ever wanted to attend a major music festival that also combines the vibes of a good old-fashioned state fair, head over to Boise this summer.

Taste of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois

Who else can host the largest food festival in the world but Chicagoans who are known for their love of great food? Nearly 100 restaurants set up shop in Grant Park along the scenic lakefront, allowing visitors to taste food from well-known local vendors (like Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria) to award-winning chefs. The event is held in July and also features live music performances.

Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, Indiana

What is it about fried foods that Indiana does sooo well? Head over to the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center that’s spread across 250 acres and find out for yourself! The fair begins in the last week of July and lasts throughout most of August. The deep-fried sugar cream pie and deep-fried chicken and waffle sandwich are favorites among the visitors.

Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa

Another oldie, but goodie, the Iowa State Fair has been held annually since 1854 as an agricultural and industrial expo. With an abundance of concerts, rides, and food, this 11-day festival is a good way to familiarize yourself with Midwestern hospitality.

Wichita Riverfest in Wichita, Kansas

The first week of June sees the Wichita community come together along the Arkansas River to compete in kickball games, kayak races, dodgeball tournaments, human foosball, cardboard regatta, and much more. As if that wasn’t enough, the 9-day extravaganza also features hot balloon rides!

Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky

Even those who have no interest in horses have heard about the most prominent horse race in the country since 1875. It’s one of the three triple-crown races that are known to feature the best horses in the world. The Kentucky Derby has become popular for its parade, parties, and fashion contests. For the best experience, consider booking a ticket that includes food and drinks. The cheesecake-on-a-stick and Mint Juleps here are legendary.

Mardi Gras in Louisiana, New Orleans

New Orleans Mardi Gras is all about spectacular parades, music, dancing, floats, picnics, and excitement. And did we say costumes? The most unbelievable, magnificent, and wildest costumes you’ll see anywhere! While major parades take place in the Mid-City and Uptown districts, most tourists center their celebrations on Bourbon Street.

Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine

For those looking for an opportunity to stuff their face with freshly caught, buttery-soft lobster must attend this annual summer festival in Rockland. You’ll not only be treated to non-stop lobster dinners, but also cooking contests, Ferris wheel rides, lobster crate races, musical performances, and a giant parade. Not a bad idea for your next trip!

Mayfair in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Each spring, the entire Harvard Square turns into a street carnival for the annual Mayfair celebration. There’s live music, dancing, street art, crafts, food, and entertainment for all ages. The live music covers pretty much every genre you can think of – rock, jazz, R&B, indie, reggae, and more.

Detroit Jazz Festival in Detroit, Michigan

This Labor Day tradition welcomes some of the biggest names in jazz music to Motor City. It has been happening for over 40 years and continues to be the perfect event to wrap up the summer season. In addition to world class jazz music performed on multiple stages, the festival also has special events like jazz talks for music enthusiasts who want to learn more about the history and legacy of America's greatest music contribution.

Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Held since 1984, Musikfest is the largest non-gated, free music festival in America; you’ll still need to buy tickets for certain big-name shows. Beyond the music, there are free art installations, dance performances, and comedy shows that are sure to be the highlight of your summer.

Don’t see your state in this list? Don’t worry, we have a dedicated web page for various states on our website, describing some of the most popular fairs and festivals held in each state.

Are you looking for accurate and up-to-date information about your favorite festivals and events in the United States and Canada? If so, you've found the largest, most trusted source of festival information online. FestivalNet is the best place online to find the latest festival news and a detailed schedule of upcoming events.

Here at FestivalNet, we update and expand our massive event list every single day, so you can be sure that you have current details every time you search. Our database of over 26,000 festivals includes events of all kinds, so don't be shy – use our simple (but detailed) search tool to find the markets, fairs, or festivals that are perfect for you.

Ways to Search for an Upcoming Festival

Using our event finder is simple, and there are several ways to search. Here are just a few ways to get the most out of your searches.

Search by City and Zip Code

Often, our members will search for events in the city they live in, one close by, or one they'll be visiting. Finding a nearby event by using our city and zip code search is simple. A zip code is required so we recommend entering that in first, and then the city will be automatically detected on the results page.

Search by Month

If you're planning ahead, searching by month can be an easy way to get a bird's eye view of what's coming up in your area. Nowadays people's weekends tend to fill up fast, so getting "must go" events on the calendar early can be helpful so you don't double book. You'd hate to miss your favorite festival because you told someone you can help them move out of their apartment that weekend! Searching by month is the perfect way to avoid that.

Set Your Radius

No matter which search methods and criteria you choose to utilize, you'll be able to use our "Within Miles Of" drop-down menu to pick the distance you're willing to travel from your chosen city and zip code.

Other Search Options

There are a few other options you can use for more specific searches. They are as follows:

Events with Music Only: This is exactly what it sounds like. If you're searching for music festivals and other events that center around music, check this box to find all of your musical options easily.

Show Cancelled: You can check the "Show Cancelled" box if you're looking to see if an event is no longer happening. Remember that here at FestivalNet we have a robust database of over 26,000 events that's updated every single day, so we're a great resource to stay up to date on cancellations.

Juried Events: When an event is "juried", it means that there is a formal selection committee that requires participants to submit images or examples of their products. From there, the selection committee (also known as a jury) reviews the work of all those who submitted and chooses the exhibitors for the event. Juried events vary greatly in their standards, but overall it's a rule of thumb that a juried event will have some benefits for both attendees and exhibitors. If you're an exhibitor you can usually count on less repetition from other vendors and artists. And if you're an attendee you can generally expect a certain level of quality and variety in the exhibitors overall. Check this box if you want your search results to only contain Juried Events.

Virtual Shows: On the bottom left of our search tool you can find the words "Virtual Shows." When you click on this, you'll be taken to our dedicated page for the most exciting virtual events of the year. If you can't travel and are stuck at home, this might be just the thing for you. FestivalNet offers an incredible variety of some of the most anticipated virtual festivals, shows, workshops, and more.

Searching for Things to Do During Trips

If you have travel plans for the summer, spring break, or just a long weekend, it's easy and fun to explore some local festivals on your journey. All you need to do is plug in the city and zip code of where you'll be visiting and choose a travel radius. You can then use the dates and times you're interested in to work any cool events into your travel plans.

This method works well with family vacations and group trips, but can also work exceptionally well with work travel. And whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, finding the perfect festival in a location you're already visiting is an incredible way to get the most out of your trip.

Adventurous Searching - Explore an Unknown Festival

For those of you who are more adventurous, there are some search methods that you can use to explore the unknown and find bold, new experiences. By using the search settings in creative ways you can find all sorts of festivals and events. Here are a few ways to be adventurous:

Choose Month – No Preference: By leaving the "Choose Month" field set to "No Preference" you're looking into the future, searching for events that you'll want to attend later in the year. For this search type to work, your radius can't be any higher than 200 miles (which we recommend – remember, our goal is to be adventurous!). You'll also need to choose a zip code and state. When you conduct this search, you're looking for a festival you think is worth trying in the future. Be daring and try something new!

Radius – Within 500 Miles: For this search, the idea is to find a festival that you'll travel to – up to 500 miles to be exact. Set the "Within Miles Of" field to 500 miles. Now, choose your starting city and zip code (where you'll be traveling from – this will typically be your home address). You'll also need to choose a month. Keep in mind that you will have to plan transportation and accommodations, so also consider looking at least a month or two out, and check the next few months for events. Remember that 500 miles will often take you over state lines, so be ready to travel to unfamiliar locations. Once you choose a festival that catches your eye, reverse engineer your travel plans and schedule to attend.

What Sorts of Festivals Can You Find?

The sheer amount of variety available when it comes to festivals will likely surprise you – some people like to say "there's a festival for everything." But having said that, there are also some staple types of festivals in the world of events. Consider searching for a festival by its type to really zero in on a topic that you're passionate about. Here on FestivalNet, we have all sorts of events in our database, but some of the most popular types are:

Music festivals
Art festivals
Crafts festivals
Food festivals
Book fairs
Health and Wellness festivals
Farmers' Markets
Home and Garden festivals
Independent festivals
Seasonal and Holiday festivals
Fan conventions
And many, many more

As you can see, there's no shortage of categories when it comes to the types of festivals you can attend, but that is only the beginning...

Categories Within Categories

Something else to remember is that there are some festivals that are a mash-up of one or more types. For example, a craft beer fest may have quite a lot of live music. An arts and crafts fair might have participation workshops. A music festival might also feature local dancers. So how do you conduct a search? The good news is that events that could fit into multiple categories should show up in multiple searches. But as you can see, there can be all sorts of fun mash-ups.

Have an Event You Want Listed?

If you're an event promoter and are looking for the absolute best way to get your event some exposure, look no further. You can list your event here for free. That's right, absolutely free. Our site gets more than 1,300,000 visitors each month and having your event on our site is an incredible way to build awareness.

Vendors and Exhibitors

Our site isn't just for attendees. In fact, we also work with:

Vendors, artists, performers, and other event participants.
Event promoters looking to plan and market their event.

For those wishing to participate in a festival, use our search tools to gain access to our extensive event listings and open the door to getting booked.

For event promoters, in addition to having your event listed for free, there's also the "Promoters" section of our website where you can find more information and tips to putting on a good festival. Furthermore, you can also use our search feature to take a friendly look at the competition.

Find What You're Looking for on FestivalNet

No matter what type of festival you're looking for in the US or Canada, you'll find it on FestivalNet. We've been serving the festival community for over 25 years, and continue to provide the most extensive and detailed list of events that is updated every single day.

Whether you're looking for music festivals, craft shows, fine arts events, expos, or anything else, our database will have it. Thank you for choosing FestivalNet to help you find your next incredible festival.