{"id":3841,"date":"2023-11-01T11:36:31","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T11:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goldenbricksevents.com\/main\/2023\/11\/01\/the-29-best-u-s-outdoor-festivals-in-2023-from-music-and-sports-to-food-and-film\/"},"modified":"2025-07-04T21:03:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T21:03:15","slug":"the-29-best-u-s-outdoor-festivals-in-2023-from-music-and-sports-to-food-and-film","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goldenbricksevents.com\/main\/2023\/11\/01\/the-29-best-u-s-outdoor-festivals-in-2023-from-music-and-sports-to-food-and-film\/","title":{"rendered":"Refuge Outdoor Festival named “The 29 Best U.S. Outdoor Festivals in 2023” from Outside Magazine"},"content":{"rendered":"

(This article excerpt was taken from Outside Online Magazine<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Refuge Outdoor Festival<\/h3>\n

Carnation, Washington \/ August 18 to 20, 2023<\/p>\n

\"firemaking\"
Fire-making workshop at the Refuge<\/span> (Photo: Golden Bricks Events\/Refuge Outdoor Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Held at Tolt MacDonald Park in the mountain-ringed, river-cut Snoqualmie Valley east of Seattle, this three-day campout<\/a> celebrates the diverse experiences of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color in the outdoors, although it\u2019s open to all. The events on tap honor the myriad ways we find connection in nature, with a schedule that carves out equal space for those who crave adrenaline or those who would rather seek a quieter experience. Tons of traditional recreation activities are on offer, including mountain biking, hiking, fishing, stargazing, and birding, but attendees can also get their groove on at a silent disco or join an array of workshops on outdoor skills, poetry, and spirituality. Just like with any campout, however, the secret sauce is the community formed around the campfire each night.<\/p>\n

\"yoga
Morning yoga at the Refuge<\/span> (Photo: Golden Bricks Events\/Refuge Outdoor Festival)About the author:<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shawnt\u00e9 Salabert is a SoCal-based outdoor and travel writer who generally prefers listening to sweet birdsong instead of thumping bass while out in nature. That said, she\u2019s been a music festival nerd since the tender age of five, when she caught her first concert (Huey Lewis and the News) at Milwaukee\u2019s 55-years-strong Summerfest.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

\"woman
The author in her other natural world<\/span> (Photo: Courtesy Shawnt\u00e9 Salabert)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sure, you might feel a little party-pooped after the busy holiday season, but right now is the best time to drum up ways to fill your 2023 festival card. To help, we\u2019ve pulled together our top picks for some of the most fun, varied, and can\u2019t-miss outdoor and outdoor-oriented experiences across the United States over the next 12 months. Whether you\u2019re an adventure junkie, a culture vulture, a music nerd, a party animal, a diehard foodie, or a parent of toddlers, we promise there\u2019s something entertaining here for everyone.<\/p>\n

JANUARY<\/h2>\n

Saint Paul Winter Carnival<\/h3>\n

Saint Paul, Minnesota  \/ January 26 to February 5<\/p>\n

\"winter
Saint Paul Winterfest parade<\/span> (Photo: Lew Vogel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Launched in 1886, in jubilant defiance of a bunch of visiting East Coast journalists who ripped on the state capital as an uninhabitable midwestern Siberia, this frigid fete<\/a>\u2014the oldest wintertime festival in the U.S.\u2014is a raucous celebration of the season. Ruled by an appointed King Boreas, and Aurora, Queen of the Snows, and backed by a royal court of nearly two dozen equally fantastic characters, the carnival has a vaguely Nordic, sorta Greek mythological backstory to get lost within, if that\u2019s your thing. But really, all you need to know is that Minnesotans take their winter fun seriously and are seriously competitive. If you want to play along, lace up for an icy running series, angle for bass and walleye during an ice-fishing tournament, scour the streets in a citywide scavenger hunt, join an all-ages jigsaw-puzzle contest, and flex your follicular prowess in a burly beard competition. If spectating is more your thing, enjoy a casual stroll through Vulcan Snow Park to admire frosty sculptures on display.<\/p>\n

\"snow
Stroll through the snow sculptures in Vulcan Park.<\/span> (Photo: Lew Vogel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sundance Film Festival<\/h3>\n

Park City, Utah \/ January 19 to 29<\/p>\n

\n
\"park
Park City, Utah, and the Sundance Film Fest<\/span> (Photo: Jemal Countess\/Courtesy Sundance Institute)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

An offshoot of the Sundance Institute, the creative-arts nonprofit founded by legendary actor-director Robert Redford, this event<\/a> isn\u2019t just the largest indie film fest in the nation, but one of the most venerated, awash in Oscar bait. While offerings run the topical gamut, it has always featured plenty of adventure-oriented and environmentally conscious gems\u2014An Inconvenient Truth<\/em> premiered here in 2006, and critically acclaimed documentaries like Chasing Ice<\/em>, Crip Camp<\/em>, and Meru<\/em> have followed suit. Offscreen, a plethora of panels, parties, and meet and greets round out the action, and nearby resorts offer a powdery alternative to hours in the theater. While this year\u2019s event is the first in-person gathering after a pandemic-driven two-year hiatus, you can also screen entries from the comfort of home\u2014although you\u2019ll be a lot less likely to bump into, say, Issa Rae or Jason Momoa when you get up for popcorn.<\/p>\n

Honorable January Mentions:<\/h4>\n

FEBRUARY<\/h2>\n

Anchorage Fur Rendezvous<\/h3>\n

Anchorage, Alaska \/ February 23 to March 5<\/p>\n

\"Anchorage\"
People compete in the Running of the Reindeer, the Fur Rendezvous, Anchorage. <\/span>(Photo: Lance King\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Known to its faithful as the Fur Rondy,<\/a> or just Rondy, this tradition began in 1936 to mark the arrival of fur-trading season and give folks a way to shake off some cabin fever. While you can still eyeball (and purchase) an array of pelts during its three-day trade fair, this is your chance to interact with locals in lively ways over ten days. Find a spot to watch any stage of the multiday World Championship Sled Dog Race, get out there and try to beat Dasher and Dancer in a footrace during the Running of the Reindeer, or sidle up to see a bag-flinging throwdown at the Alaska Cornhole Championships. For something quirkier, strap on a pair of classic metal snowshoes for a chilly softball tourney, or wrangle your best wrangle your best toilet-on-skis (people are literally plopping toilets and outhouses onto a pair of skis for this race) and go for gold in the World\u2019s Largest Outhouse Race.<\/p>\n

Fire and Ice Winterfest<\/h3>\n

Lava Hot Springs, Idaho \/ February 4 to 5<\/p>\n

\"rafts
You\u2019re ready for the Polar Bear Float, right?<\/span> (Photo: Lava Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re the kind of person who enjoys chugging Fireball and getting cozy in the sauna after a day spent frolicking in the snow, make a beeline for southeastern Idaho to experience both extremes of the temperature scale. The festival\u2019s<\/a> Polar Bear Float involves donning a wacky costume, then settling in on an inflatable for a brisk quarter-mile cruise down the Portneuf River. Luckily, opportunities abound to thaw out and relax with cozier pursuits, such as wine-tasting events, a torch-light ski run, and a fire-dancing show. To experience the best of both worlds, however, brave souls strip down to their Speedos for the Running of the Bulls, a mad dash through town that ends, mercifully, with a sizzling soak at the natural hot-spring pools.<\/p>\n

Honorable February Mentions:<\/h4>\n

MARCH<\/h2>\n

Flash Foxy Climbing Festival<\/h3>\n

Bishop, California \/ March 17 to 19<\/p>\n

\"women
Flash Foxy is a women\u2019s climbing and bouldering event in Bishop, California. (Photo: Vikki Glinskii\/Flash Foxy\/@heyflashfoxy)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What was created in 2016 as a small gathering for female rockhounds has evolved into a celebration of community and climbing that now includes genderqueer, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people. The main draw of this festival<\/a> is, of course, the excellent climbing scattered around the eastern Sierra\u2019s jaw-droppingly scenic Payahuunadu region (also known as the Owens Valley), with clinics and workshops offered for all levels of experience. The event maintains deep ties to the local Bishop Paiute community and area businesses and organizes beneficial stewardship projects such as crag clean-ups.<\/p>\n

While Bishop is renowned for its bouldering, you can route climb here, too. This Intro to Trad class looks pretty fun. <\/span> (Photo: Jenn Flemming\/Flash Foxy\/@heyflashfoxy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

National Cherry Blossom Festival<\/h3>\n

Washington, D.C. \/ March 20 to April 16<\/p>\n

\n
\"cherry
The National Cherry Blossom Festival <\/span> (Photo: National Cherry Blossom Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Banish the winter blahs with a trip here<\/a> to witness the vibrant emergence of spring, as nearly 4,000 cherry-blossom trees around our nation\u2019s capital hit their pretty peak in a massive explosion of pink and white blooms. A 2.1-mile loop around the Tidal Basin reservoir puts you right in the floral action, but peel yourself away to revel in the sights and sounds of the PetalPalooza arts and music shindig, admire a different kind of colorful display at the Washington Monument\u2019s Blossom Kite Festival, and check out various cultural happenings around town that celebrate the long history of goodwill between the U.S. and Japan. In fact, the seeds of this whole petal-peeping gala were planted way back in 1909, when Yukio Ozaki, mayor of Tokyo, gifted 2,000 trees to Washington, D.C., to honor the countries\u2019 growing friendship.<\/p>\n

Check out the Petalpalooza music and arts festival.<\/span> (Photo: National Cherry Blossom Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sedona Mountain Bike Festival<\/h3>\n

Sedona, Arizona \/ March 3 to 5<\/p>\n

\"mountain
Clear out the winter cobwebs at the Sedona Mountain Bike Festival.<\/span> (Photo: Corie Spruill)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not that you need an excuse to pull out your mountain bike, but there\u2019s no better place to bid adieu to the dreary gray of a long winter than the sun-soaked red rock of Sedona. A loaded schedule of group rides at this event<\/a> presents the perfect opportunity to explore the nearly 250 miles of world-class singletrack laced throughout the nearby Coconino National Forest, with many trails launching straight from town. At night, kick back with your new dirt-covered besties in a craft-beer garden, settle in for a film screening, or boogie down at a concert. Ride hard, party hard.<\/p>\n

Honorable March Mentions:<\/h4>\n

APRIL<\/h2>\n

Gathering of Nations Powwow<\/h3>\n

Albuquerque, New Mexico \/ April 27 to 29<\/p>\n

\n
\"traditional
Gathering of Nations Powwow (Photo: Will Huston 2022 Courtesy of Gathering of Nations Limited)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once a small, hyperlocal celebration of culture, the Gathering of Nations<\/a> has grown to become the largest powwow in North America, drawing upward of 700 tribes from the United States and Canada. While the traditional drummers, singers, and dancers are all Indigenous, everyone is welcome to enjoy festivities that include contemporary music, an extensive arts and crafts market, a Horse and Rider Regalia parade, and the Miss Indian World pageant, which is less a contest than a means of preserving and elevating Native heritage. Come here hungry\u2014the food court brims with tasty bites, including favorite dishes like mutton stew and fry-bread tacos.<\/p>\n

High Water Festival<\/h3>\n

North Charleston, South Carolina \/ April 15 to 16<\/p>\n

\"music
High Water from up high<\/span> (Photo: Grant Hodgeon\/High Water)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Held at the bucolic Riverfront Park on the banks of the Cooper River, and helmed by the Carolinian alt-country duo Shovels and Rope, this intimate indie-music festival<\/a> is now in its fifth year. The lineup is small but mighty, with an emphasis on rootsy, homegrown sounds and regional acts. This year\u2019s marquee names include Wilco, Angel Olsen, Big Boi, Orville Peck, and Lucius. Low Country cuisine shares top billing; if you\u2019re feeling adventurous, sign up for an oyster-education class and learn how to shuck and slurp the briny mollusks.<\/p>\n

\"oyster
Oyster-education class, High Water Festival<\/span> (Photo: Roger Ho\/High Water)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vermont Maple Festival<\/h3>\n

Saint Albans, Vermont \/ April 28 to 30<\/p>\n

Looking for something sweet, sticky, and traditional as heck? Tap (ahem) into the all-ages fun at this 50-plus-year-old celebration<\/a> of \u201cthe official flavor of Vermont.\u201d The good stuff takes center stage, of course, with cooking and maple-syrup contests, and plenty of opportunities to indulge in divine confections. This is also an active event, where you can lace up for the 8.5-mile Sap Run, stroll through a maple-themed art show, enjoy kid-friendly entertainment at Taylor Park, and tour a family-run sugarhouse that boils up liquid magic from nearly 30,000 local trees.<\/p>\n

Honorable April Mentions:<\/h4>\n

MAY<\/h2>\n

Dominion Energy Riverrock<\/h3>\n

Richmond, Virginia \/ May 19 to 21<\/p>\n

The western U.S. steals a lot of the outdoor-rec thunder, but this massive music-and-adventure sports bash<\/a> serves it up hot in the Mid-Atlantic. Spread across various parks and trail systems along the roiling James River, Riverrock cranks up the fun with a stacked schedule of trail races, climbing contests, mountain-bike competitions, and fishing tourneys. You can also peruse art installations, take in an indie-rock-heavy concert lineup, watch doggos catch some vert at the Subaru Ultimate Air Dogs event, give back through stewardship events, stretch out with some yoga, or try your hand at activities including kayaking and slacklining.<\/p>\n

Mountainfilm<\/h3>\n

Telluride, Colorado \/ May 25 to 29<\/p>\n

\"Telluride\"
The annual, venerable Mountainfilm, Telluride, kicks off summer.<\/span> (Photo: Alison Osius)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If there\u2019s one word that appears more times than you can count on the Mountainfilm<\/a> website, it\u2019s \u201cinspiring.\u201d But honestly, that\u2019s an apt descriptor. Once focused squarely on mountain-based adventure storytelling, the festival has grown into a much broader showcase for indie films from around the world that uplift spirits and spark thought and action. While screenings pop up around the country, it\u2019s worth showing up in person for the flagship event to bask in the (sorry<\/em>) inspiring company alone. Past speakers have ranged from environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill to groundbreaking climber Lynn Hill, acclaimed climate author Bill McKibben, and Arctic photographer Subhankar Banerjee.<\/p>\n

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival<\/h3>\n

New Orleans, Lousiana \/ April 28 to May 7<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let the name fool you\u2014you don\u2019t need to own a single Miles Davis record to enjoy this sonic buffet.<\/a> It might sound like sacrilege, but even though the lineup usually includes a pretty stellar top billing (last year The Who, Willie Nelson, and Lionel Ritchie headlined), the true heart of this musical bacchanal beats on its smaller stages and in tents, where local legends and knockout upstarts abound. Sway to the good vibes at the gospel tent, get down at the larger stages to regional icons like Big Freedia and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and if you\u2019re feeling frisky, wander over to the Fais Do Do area and let someone sporting a crawfish-patterned outfit guide you on the dance floor. Between sets, fuel up on a smorgasbord of southern delights that might just be the best grub on offer at any music festival in the States.<\/p>\n

Honorable May Mentions:<\/h4>\n

JUNE<\/h2>\n

GoPro Mountain Games<\/h3>\n

Vail, Colorado \/ June 8 to 11<\/p>\n

\"dog
The DockDogs Outdoor Big Air competition is always a favorite at the GoPro Mountain Games, Vail, Colorado.<\/span> (Photo: Cyrus McCrimmon\/Denver Pos<\/em>t\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For most folks, the word Vail is probably synonymous with epic powder days or back bowls, but the Mountain Games<\/a> prove that playtime in the Rockies shines just as brightly in the summer sun. Pros and amateurs alike compete in almost a dozen different disciplines\u2014mountain biking, climbing, paddle sports, trail running, fly-fishing, and even disc golf\u2014angling to nab a share of the $130,000 kitty. But the fun isn\u2019t limited to humans; adventure pups can test their mettle in trail runs, swimming events, a DockDogs Big Air competition, and a slew of canine-friendly parties. In the evenings, the Mountains of Music concert series draws rootsy headliners; last year\u2019s picks included Gov\u2019t Mule, Grace Potter, and the Wailers.<\/p>\n

Waynestock Outdoor Adventure and Music Festival<\/h3>\n

Fayetteville, West Virginia \/ June 8 to 11<\/p>\n

\"band
The Waynestock fest at the New River Gorge is for outdoor adventure during the day, music at night. Here, The Roof, a band from Pittsburgh, appears on the outdoor stage. (Photo: Mandy Ritter)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This down-home affair,<\/a> which kicked off in the late 1990s as nothing more than a bunch of friends (including, you guessed it, a guy named Wayne) enjoying an annual rafting trip, is now a celebrated jamboree, a mash-up of a backyard Bonnaroo and an adventure-sports summer camp. A ticket snags you a spot at a communal campsite, where festivities involve nightly bonfires, local brews, and an assortment of regional bands that tend toward the jammier side of things. During the day, choose your own adventure, with options on or near the New River Gorge. Set off on your own or sign up with local guides to tackle the area\u2019s famed whitewater, rip through the forest along endless singletrack, or rope up to ascend one of the estimated 3,000 routes lining the steep sandstone cliffs. They don\u2019t call it the Endless Wall for nothing.<\/p>\n

\"river
Someone gets tossed! Daytime river rafting is a Waynestock staple, as are hiking, biking, and climbing at this many-years-long grassroots event.<\/span> (Photo: Chris Rider Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Honorable June Mentions:<\/h4>\n

JULY<\/h2>\n

Lumberjack World Championships<\/h3>\n

Hayward, Wisconsin \/ July 20 to 22<\/p>\n

\"lumberjacks\"
The Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin: lumberjacks and lumberjills compete in sawing, chopping, speed climbing, log rolling, boom-running and more. <\/span> (Photo: Joel Lerner\/Xinhua\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each summer, flannel-clad masses flock to a tiny lumber town in the Wisconsin Northwoods to get their Paul Bunyan on at this celebration<\/a> of all things timber. It\u2019s high profile enough that major TV networks often stream the action, as the Olympics of the Forest draws an international field of ax-wielding competitors vying for a share of a roughly $50,000 pot in woodsy tests of agility, precision, and brute strength. There\u2019s chopping and sawing, of course, but the biggest treat for spectators might be watching folks speed-race up 90-foot-tall cedar poles or attempt to outlast their nemeses in a wet and wild log-rolling competition.<\/p>\n

Newport Folk Festival<\/h3>\n

Newport, Rhode Island \/ July 28 to 30<\/p>\n

\"music
Newport folk festival welcomes the Ballroom Thieves.<\/span> (Photo: Adam Kissick)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Held at the idyllic harborside Fort Adams State Park, this historic concert series<\/a> pays homage to the countless forms of American folk music. That doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re in for pure plucking; after all, this is the festival where Bob Dylan plugged in to go electric for the first time, much to the annoyance of purists. The original iteration featured icons like Pete Seeger, Odetta, and a then teenaged Joan Baez in her debut performance. Some of the legends still pop up today\u2014and part of the fun is that they\u2019re not always announced in advance. Last year\u2019s event featured a surprise festival-closing appearance by Joni Mitchell in her first performance in over two decades. Grab tickets early; they often sell out before the lineup is revealed.<\/p>\n

Honorable July Mentions:<\/h4>\n

AUGUST<\/h2>\n

Maine Lobster Festival<\/h3>\n

Rockland, Maine \/ August 2 to 6<\/p>\n

\"woman
Giving her all: Lisa Bailey-Carroll at the LobsterFest lobster-eating contest. We\u2019d rather try to run across the floating crates.<\/span> (Photo: John Patriquin\/Portland Press Herald<\/em>\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There might be no better place in the world to stuff your face with an ocean\u2019s worth of crustaceans than this blowout<\/a> on the North Atlantic seaboard. Put down stakes at the seductively named Main Eating Tent, where thousands of pounds of fresh Maine lobster are served every which way\u2014boiled in butter, swirled into a bisque, stuffed into gooey mac and cheese, spread across a toasted roll, and more. If you\u2019re feeling creative, live out your best Iron Chef<\/em> fantasies as part of the amateur seafood-cooking contest. Then take a break at the Marine Experience Tent, where you can handle and learn about local sea critters, or cheer for your favorites at a pageant where competitors vie for the coveted title of Sea Goddess. Shake off the lobster overload by signing up for the festival\u2019s fun-run series, or try your luck at the International Great Crate Race, where participants attempt to blast across a line of wobbly floating boxes without tipping into the drink.<\/p>\n

Refuge Outdoor Festival<\/h3>\n

Carnation, Washington \/ August 18 to 20<\/p>\n

\"firemaking\"
Fire-making workshop at the Refuge<\/span> (Photo: Golden Bricks Events\/Refuge Outdoor Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Held at Tolt MacDonald Park in the mountain-ringed, river-cut Snoqualmie Valley east of Seattle, this three-day campout<\/a> celebrates the diverse experiences of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color in the outdoors, although it\u2019s open to all. The events on tap honor the myriad ways we find connection in nature, with a schedule that carves out equal space for those who crave adrenaline or those who would rather seek a quieter experience. Tons of traditional recreation activities are on offer, including mountain biking, hiking, fishing, stargazing, and birding, but attendees can also get their groove on at a silent disco or join an array of workshops on outdoor skills, poetry, and spirituality. Just like with any campout, however, the secret sauce is the community formed around the campfire each night.<\/p>\n

\"yoga
Morning yoga at the Refuge<\/span> (Photo: Golden Bricks Events\/Refuge Outdoor Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Honorable August Mentions:<\/h4>\n

SEPTEMBER<\/h2>\n

Afropunk Festival<\/h3>\n

Brooklyn, New York \/ TBD<\/p>\n

Santigold performs at Afropunk Brooklyn, Commodore Barry Park, Brooklyn, New York.<\/span> (Photo: Cynthia Edorh\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inspired by a 2003 documentary film of the same name that explored Black punk-rock culture, this arts-and-music festival<\/a> transcends boundaries to celebrate Blackness in all its forms. While you\u2019ll still spot plenty of guitars on stage, the eclectic lineup has formerly included genre-busting performers like Erykah Badu, the Roots, H.E.R., Doechii, and Janelle Monae. Between sets, indulge in a massage, stretch out in a yoga class, join a meditation practice, shop in a massive craft market, take a drum lesson, or just post up with a drink and admire the mind-blowing fashions on parade.<\/p>\n

Aloha Festivals<\/h3>\n

Oahu, Hawaii \/ TBD<\/p>\n

Forget winter break\u2014the best time to visit Hawaii is in September, when the archipelago vibrates with aloha spirit during a monthlong, statewide celebration<\/a> of culture and heritage. While dozens of events happen around the islands, the three signature happenings take place in Honolulu. The Royal Court Investiture kicks things off in old-school style with a coronation that pays homage to Hawaiian nobility of yore. Choose a lei, browse traditional crafts, and snack on tasty grindz (street food, in Hawaii) at Waikiki Hoolaulea, a massive block party that shuts down the beach\u2019s main drag. Head back later for the Floral Parade, where in a centuries-old practice, P\u2019au riders pass by on horseback, their long skirts billowing in a blaze of color.<\/p>\n

The Floral Parade, Aloha Festivals<\/span> (Photo: Courtesy Aloha Festivals)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ohana Festival<\/h3>\n

Dana Point, California \/ September 29 to October 1<\/p>\n

You might not be able to hear them over the music, but the crashing waves of the Pacific serve as backdrop for this three-day celebration<\/a> of sun and sound, held at SoCal\u2019s Doheny State Beach. The lineup is usually pretty heavy on indie and alt-rock\u2014which should come as no surprise, since it\u2019s curated by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder.. Considering that last year\u2019s headliners included Stevie Nicks, Jack White, and Pink, however, the offerings are eclectic enough to give most festival-goers a reason to head-bob. Train your ears on something a little different at the Storytellers Cove stage, where conservation-minded adventurers, artists, and athletes share inspiring tales; past speakers have included freediver Kimi Werner and pro surfer Greg Long. At the end of the day, your ticket dollars go to an array of local and national nonprofits working toward environmental and social justice.<\/p>\n

Honorable September Mentions:<\/h4>\n

OCTOBER<\/h2>\n

Dirtybird Campout<\/h3>\n

Modesto, California \/ TBD<\/p>\n

The Dirtybird Campout is wild.<\/span> (Photo: Don Idio\/Divisuals)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you always wanted to attend summer camp as a kid\u2014and don\u2019t mind doing it a few decades later\u2014here\u2019s<\/a> your chance. This rowdy bacchanalia, with every action set to a backdrop of thumping music, is something like what you\u2019d get if you crossed Wet Hot American Summer<\/em> with an EDM festival. Campers are faced with a wide array of ways to pass the time, from traditional camp activities (see: capture the flag, kayaking, archery, making friendship bracelets) to those that are a bit more inventive, such as twerking classes, drag shows, lap-dancing contests, and an opportunity to wake and bake with your favorite counselors at the Ganja Garden.<\/p>\n

\"camp
Welcome to Camp Dirtybird. Buckle up.<\/span> (Photo: Ivan Meneses\/ai.visuals)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival<\/h3>\n

San Francisco, California \/ TBD<\/p>\n

Funded by a banjo-loving venture capitalist who just wanted to bring a little finger-plucked joy to Bay Area music lovers, this<\/a> might just be the best darn absolutely free, completely noncommercial concert event in the world. While acclaimed folk stars like Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, and Buddy Miller have graced its stages, the \u201chardly\u201d in the fest\u2019s name alludes to the fact that the genres aren\u2019t limited to just bluegrass. Grab some friends, spread out a blanket, and settle in for a series of sonic delights. Past artists have included Henry Rollins, Big Freedia, Elvis Costello, and M. Ward.<\/p>\n

Salmon Days<\/h3>\n

Issaquah, Washington \/ October 7 to 8<\/p>\n

They say you can\u2019t go home again, but try telling that to the thousands of Chinook, coho, and sockeye salmon that swim back upriver each year to spawn in the cool waters of Issaquah Creek, east of Seattle. The whole town turns out to revel in their return with a family-friendly roster of events<\/a> that include a welcome parade, fish hatchery tours, fun runs, a DockDogs competition, and an aquatic-themed sidewalk chalk contest. If you can stomach the thought of noshing on these hometown heroes, the local Kiwanis Club also hosts a barbecue of alder-grilled salmon.<\/p>\n

Honorable October Mentions:<\/h4>\n

NOVEMBER<\/h2>\n

Blk Out Retreat and Boulderfest<\/h3>\n

Chattanooga, Tennessee \/ TBD<\/p>\n

The many smiles of the BLK Out Boulder Fest<\/span> (Photo: Kalyn Jacobs)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tiffany Blount founded the Black Girls Boulder climbing club as a way to create community and draw more Black women into the sport; the Blk Out Retreat and Boulderfest<\/a> builds on that promise. Open to all, but centered on Black climbers of all genders, the beginner-friendly event takes place in and around the Crash Pad, an adventure-oriented hostel in downtown Chattanooga. Attendees can hop a shuttle to the Wauhatchie Boulders for guided climbing, attend outdoor-film screenings, share in a group dinner, pitch in with stewardship projects, and join conversations and workshops to build skills and open horizons.<\/p>\n

\"men
Expert bouldering at the all-abilities-friendly Blk Out Retreat and Boulderfest, Chattanooga. Beginners are welcome.<\/span> Left to right: Mario Morante, Chris Lespinasse, Kai Lightner, and Tyler Liggins. (Photo: Kalyn Jacobs)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Florida Seafood Festival<\/h3>\n

Apalachicola, Florida \/ November 3 to 4<\/p>\n

Billed as the state\u2019s oldest maritime event, this festival<\/a> of the fruits de mer<\/em> takes place on the Gulf of Mexico, in a town that touts itself as the Oyster Capital of the Southeast. That\u2019s good news for bivalve lovers, who descend in droves to shuck and slurp. Beyond that, choose from a range of gustatory delights like fried shrimp, crab cakes, steaming paella, and boiled crawfish. Take a break from stuffing your maw at a host of family-friendly events, including a parade, a blessing of the local fleet, the Redfish Run 5K, and Blue Crab Races, where the crustaceans make a mad dash for glory.<\/p>\n

Honorable November Mentions:<\/h4>\n

DECEMBER<\/h2>\n

Indio International Tamale Festival<\/h3>\n

Indio, California \/ December TBD<\/p>\n

It\u2019s best to arrive at this sprawling street fair,<\/a> billed as the largest tamale festival in the world, with an empty stomach. Unlike food events where celebrity chefs draw big crowds, the stars here are everyday people, with street vendors and home cooks alike slinging thousands of sweet, savory, and salsa-smothered masa creations. It\u2019ll be tough to pry yourself away from their steamy wares, but a host of distractions provide (almost) equal temptation. Enjoy dozens of performers on stages scattered around town, cheer on masked luchadores<\/em> competing in traditional Mexican wrestling matches, and try not to lose your lunch while whooping it up on an array of carnival rides. Stick around for the Mercadito de Noche, a night market that sparkles with holiday light displays.<\/p>\n

Ullr Fest<\/h3>\n

Breckenridge, Colorado \/ TBD<\/p>\n

\"Bre\"
Now that\u2019s a really long shotski, in Breckenridge, Colorado.<\/span> (Photo: Louie Traub\/Courtesy Breckenridge Tourism Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your local weather anchor might read the forecast, but only the mighty Norse god Ullr knows the score. Each year the wintry faithful don Viking helmets and raise a glass to praise his glory in hopes of a ski season for the record books. While the mythology might seem a little suspect, the partying is solid, especially when you consider the event<\/a> organizers\u2019 2022 quest to draw over 1,300 people to partake in the world\u2019s longest shotski. There are also comedy shows, an ice-skating extravaganza, and a parade, where inventive float builders have a chance at a $1,000 prize. Remember, though\u2014this whole thing is about honoring the mighty Ullr; be sure to toss a Christmas tree on the fest\u2019s ritual bonfire to appease him so that your calendar may be stacked with endless powder days.<\/p>\n

Sledding down Main Street, Breck. There are a parade, giant bonfire, costumes, and\u2014oh yes\u2014skiing and snowboarding.<\/span> (Photo: Breckenridge Tourism Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Honorable December Mentions:<\/h4>\n


Shawnt\u00e9 Salabert is a SoCal-based outdoor and travel writer who generally prefers listening to sweet birdsong instead of thumping bass while out in nature. That said, she\u2019s been a music festival nerd since the tender age of five, when she caught her first concert (Huey Lewis and the News) at Milwaukee\u2019s 55-years-strong Summerfest.
<\/em><\/p>\n

\"woman
The author in her other natural world<\/span> (Photo: Courtesy Shawnt\u00e9 Salabert)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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