n Audubon Canyon Ranch Bolinas Lagoon Preserve — Open through July 13. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. By appointment on weekdays. Hosts one of the largest great blue heron, great egret and snowy egret nesting sites.

  • 25th annual California Strawberry Festival — 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. May 18. Oxnard. Live musical entertainment, more than 300 arts and crafts booths, food vendors, contests, the Strawberry Promenade and more. Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. 888-288-9242, http://strawberry-fest.org.

  • 48th annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival — 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 18, Agoura. Featuring more than 100 contestants, folk singing, international folk dancing, folk arts booths, children's music, crafts and more. Paramount Movie Ranch on Cornell Road near Agoura. Free-$12. 818-382-4819, www.topangabanjofiddle.org.

  • 35th annual Sacramento Jazz Jubilee — May 23-26. Live entertainment, a parade, open jam sessions and more. Downtown Sacramento. 916-372-5277, www.sacjazz.com.

  • 10th annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival — May 30-June 8. Ten days of live concerts and various venues throughout the area. Visit www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org. for tickets and a complete schedule of events. 707-433-4644.

  • 4th
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    annual Lavender Festival — June 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29, Cherry Valley. Workshops, live music, children's activities, food and more. $3-$5, 12 and younger free. www.123farm.com/flyer.htm.

  • 2008 Ojai Wine Festival — 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. June 8. Tastings, food, live entertainment, arts and crafts and more. Lake Casitas Recreational Area, Ojai. Free-$35. 800-648-4881, www.ojaiwinefestival.com.

  • 2008 Ironstone Concert Series — June 13-Oct. 4, Murphys. Performers includes Sheryl Crow, Chris Isaak, Willie Nelson and more. Visit the Web site for a complete schedule. Ironstone Vineyards, 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys. Tickets: 209-551-8497, www.ironstonevineyards.com.

  • 20th annual Live Oak Music Festival — June 13-15, Santa Barbara County. A three-day concert and camping event featuring live entertainment, arts and crafts, kids activities and more. Live Oak Camp, 20 minutes west of Santa Barbara. www.liveoakfest.org.

  • 2008 Sushi & Sake Festival — 10 a.m.-7 p.m. June 14, Long Beach. Food, music, traditional Japanese dance, sake tasting, sushi-making demonstrations, taiko drumming, sumo demonstrations, and more. Seawalk Village at the Queen Mary, Long Beach. $20. 310-320-7827.

  • Ninth annual Lavender Festival — 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 14-15, Sonoma. Crafts, farm tours, talks and demonstrations, food and more. Sonoma Lavender Barn, 8537 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood. www.sonomalavender.com.

  • 36th annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival — July 10-Aug. 17. Visit the Web site for a complete schedule of events. $22-$67. Tickets: 888-327-4697, www.laketahoeshakespeare.com.

  • Santa Barbara French Festival — July 12-13. A Bastille Day celebration with cancan dancers, artists in berets and the Poodle Parade, French food offerings and more. Oak Park, 300 W. Alamar Ave., Santa Barbara. Free. 805-564-7274, www.frenchfestival.com.

  • California World Festival — July 17-20, Grass Valley. Featuring eight stages of music and dance from around the world, camping, workshops, international food, crafts, and kids activities. Grass Valley Fairgrounds. 530-891-4098, www.californiafestival.com.

  • California Peach Festival — July 18-19, Marysville. A wide variety of peach foods, live music, singers, children's activities and more. D Street, downtown Marysville. Free. 530-671-9600, www.capeachfestival.com.

  • Gilroy Garlic Festival — July 25-27. An "Iron Chef"-style competition, Gourmet Alley Demonstration Stage, and all the garlic infused food you can imagine. Christmas Hill Park, 7100 Miller Ave., Gilroy. Free-$12. 408-842-1625, www.gilroygarlicfestival.com.

  • 31st annual Twain Harte Summer Arts & Wine Festival — July 26-27. Arts and crafts, live entertainment, a vintage car show and more. Downtown Twain Harte. Free. 209-533-3473.

  • Bear Valley Music Festival — July 26-Aug. 10. An outdoor musical experience under the shade of a large 1,250-seat tent. 800-458-1618, www.bearvalleymusic.org.

  • Sierra Summer Festival — Aug. 5-9, Mammoth Lakes. Concerts feature classical music from small ensembles, both vocal and instrumental, to an 80-piece symphonic orchestra. 760-924-3650, www.sierrasummerfestival.org.

  • 10th annual Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival — Aug. 8-10. Live music, Silent Movie Night, two gala festival concerts, a youth concert and more. $55-$65, 16 and younger free with paying adult. 209-223-0867, www.suttercreekragtime.com.

  • 4th annual Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest — Aug. 16-17. Visit www.RenoTahoeBluesFest.com. for a complete schedule of concerts and events. Rancho San Rafael Park, Reno. Tickets: 775-787-8497.

  • Great Reno Balloon Race — Sept. 5-7. More than 100 balloons from around the world. Rancho San Rafael Regional park, Reno. www.renoballoon.com.

  • 17th annual NatureSweet Carmel Tomatofest — 12:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 14. Tomato tastings, food, wine, gardening demonstrations, live music, dancing and more. Quail Lodge Resort, Carmel. $85-$95. 800-965-4827, www.tomatofest.com.

  • 51st annual Monterey Jazz Festival — Sept. 19-21. Live music on nine stages, tributes, special events and more. $35-$220. 925-275-9255, www.montereyjazzfestival.org.