California Official Visitor's Guide 2022 - 68

FROM TOP: COURTESY CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL; CHRISTOPHER ALLWINE/COURTESY PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS
unique events
California Strawberry Festival
139 CALIFORNIA
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Oxnard
You're probably familiar with strawberry
margaritas and chocolate-dipped strawberries,
but this May celebration may be your fi rst
chance to taste strawberry-infused tamales,
beer, nachos, and pizza. Traditionalists can build
their own shortcakes or enter the strawberrypie-eating
contest (no utensils allowed).
Pageant of
the Masters
140 INTERNATIONAL
SURF FESTIVAL
L.A.'s South Bay
Top athletes wow the crowds in this four-city
festival, but they're not pros competing for
big money. Local lifeguards are the stars, with
teams competing in events like the Lifeguard
Medley Relay, a pier-to-pier swim, and a sixperson
beach volleyball tournament. The cities
of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo
Beach, and Torrance take turns hosting events.
141 INDIO INTERNATIONAL
TAMALE FESTIVAL
Indio
Indulge in tamale goodness at Indio's homage
to this beloved Mexican dish.Taste the
creations of more than 70 tamale vendors. Go
traditional with pork, beef, or chicken, or go
maverick with blueberry cream, pineapple, or
pumpkin. The festival made it into the Guinness
Book of World Records in 1999 for the largest tamale-40
feet long and over a foot in diameter.
142 PAGEANT OF
THE MASTERS
Laguna Beach
Local residents dress up in costumes and
pose in front of elaborate stage sets, creating
living imitations of classical paintings and
statues at this festival in Orange County.
They're accompanied by an orchestra,
sophisticated stage lighting, and live narration.
Tickets sell out way in advance for this summer
spectacle, which runs simultaneously with the
Festival of the Arts.
143 FESTIVAL OF WHALES
Dana Point
Bring your kids to this family-friendly
cetacean celebration to fuel their dreams of
becoming marine biologists when they grow
up. The March festival includes a whale-themed
parade and 5K run, sand-castle-building workshops,
cardboard dinghy races, marine
mammal lectures and exhibits, and of course,
whale-watching cruises. You have a great chance
of seeing gray, humpback, or minke whales.
144 FESTIVAL OF THE SEA
San Diego
San Diego's bayfront Embarcadero brings
the era of nineteenth-century tall ships to
life every Memorial Day weekend as majestic
vintage ships parade across San Diego Bay
and fi re their cannons in mock battles. On land,
maritime fans enjoy great food and beer, plus
nautical-themed attractions: presentations
on sailing history, pirate shows, and tours of
historic vessels.
145 DEATH VALLEY
'49ERS ENCAMPMENT
Death Valley
Bring your fi ddle, banjo, or mandolin to this
six-day celebration of the Gold Rush pioneering
days, when wagon trains passed through
Death Valley on their way to the goldfi elds. Test
your skills at gold panning, wheelbarrow races,
or liars' contests; go for a wagon ride pulled by
Belgian draft horses; browse through the craft
booths; or just kick back and listen to the musicians
fi ddling and yodeling like it's 1849.
68 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

California Official Visitor's Guide 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2022