Outdoor SoCal

Huntington Beach Longboard Classic 2025
2025-07-26 - 2025-07-30 | CA
The Huntington Beach Longboard Classic is a longboard‑only contest held each summer on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier. Now a regular stop on the World Surf League Longboard Tour, it features separate men’s and women’s draws where competitors collect ranking points while demonstrating traditional footwork and noseriding. Spectators can watch free of charge from the pier or the sand, and the beach footprint remains smaller and more laid‑back than the nearby shortboard events.
The event window generally lands in early August, with heats running about 8 a.m.–5 p.m. across four days as part of the broader U.S. Open of Surfing festival. Shade is limited and parking around the pier fills quickly, so visitors are encouraged to arrive early, pack sun protection, and consider bikes or rideshare. Every heat is streamed live on the WSL website and app for those following from afar.

The Boardroom International Surfboard Show 2025
2025-10-11 - 2025-10-12 | Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA, United States
The Boardroom International Surfboard Show is an annual event held in Del Mar, California, focused on the history, craft, and culture of surfboard making.
The Board Room Surf Show attracts surf enthusiasts from all over the world and provides a platform for surfboard shapers, manufacturers, and designers to showcase their products and interact with surfers, fans, and industry professionals. Attendees can expect to see a wide range of surfboards, from classic longboards to high-performance shortboards, and everything in between.
In addition to surfboard displays, the event features live shaping demonstrations, seminars, and workshops on surfboard design and technology, surfboard auctions, and a swap meet. The show also includes an art exhibit showcasing surf-inspired artwork, photography, and memorabilia.
The Board Room Surf Show is a great opportunity for surfers, enthusiasts, and industry professionals to come together to share their passion for the sport and stay up to date on the latest trends and developments in surfboard design and technology.

Banff Mountain Film Festival 2026 - San Luis Obispo
2026-01-23 - 2026-01-24 | CA
The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings a selection of films from the annual Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival to audiences around the world. Known for highlighting stories of exploration, outdoor adventure, and environmental issues, the tour stops in hundreds of locations across more than 40 countries each year.

The films, which range from extreme sports to conservation efforts, are selected from the festival’s lineup of award-winning entries and audience favorites. Featuring stories from diverse landscapes and cultures, the tour offers a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of adventurers, athletes, and storytellers.
Tour stops in Southern California for 2026 include:
January 23–24, 2026San Luis Obispo, CA – Live to Play📞 (513) 409-0009📧 slo.banff@mountaingear.com
February 24–25, 2026Santa Barbara, CA – UCSB Arts & Lectures at the Arlington Theatre📞 (805) 893-3535📧 info@artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
February 28 – March 1, 2026San Diego, CA – Great Adventure Productions📧 gapspecialevents@gmail.com
March 3, 2026Pasadena, CA – California Institute of Technology, Caltech Alpine Club📞 (610) 392-2570📧 akeebler@caltech.edu
March 10–11, 2026Costa Mesa, CA – Orange Coast College Library📞 (714) 432-0202 ext. 21058📧 cmorgan@occ.cccd.edu
April 26, 2026Irvine, CA – Irvine Barclay Theatre📞 (949) 854-4646📧 tickets@thebarclay.org

Banff Mountain Film Festival 2026 - Santa Barbara
2026-02-24 - 2026-02-25 | CA

Banff Mountain Film Festival 2025 - San Diego
2026-02-28 - 2026-03-01 | CA

Banff Mountain Film Festival 2025 - Pasadena
2026-03-03 | CA

Banff Mountain Film Festival 2026 - Costa Mesa
2026-03-10 - 2026-03-11 | CA

Archipelago Ride 2026
2026-04-25 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Gravity Heights Brewing, 9920 Pacific Heights Blvd, San Diego, CA, 92121, United States
The Archipelago Ride, organized by the San Diego Mountain Biking Association, is a unique mountain biking festival that takes riders on a journey through several trail systems in San Diego. Full Arch Ride:

Distance: Approximately 45 miles
Elevation Gain: Almost 4500 feet
Route: A point-to-point epic from San Marcos to Gravity Heights Brewing in Mira Mesa

Half Arch Ride:

Distance: Approximately 24 miles
Elevation Gain: Over 1800 feet
Route: A point-to-point ride from Black Mountain Open Space Park to Gravity Heights Brewing in Mira Mesa
Electric mountain bikes are allowed on the Half Arch

Both rides are designed for intermediate riders with appropriate conditioning, and require riders to tackle serious terrain and elevation gains. The ride concludes with a Finish Line Luau held at Gravity Heights Brewing in Mira Mesa, where riders can socialize, enjoy food and drinks, and celebrate their accomplishments.
Note: Registration for the Archipelago Ride fills up quickly, so it’s recommended to sign up early to secure a spot.
Here’s a video from SDMBA video from the 2022 ride:

Banff Mountain Film Festival 2026 - Irvine
2026-04-26 00:00 | CA

Switchfoot Bro-Am 2026
2026-06-11 - 2026-06-13 | CA
The Switchfoot Bro-Am is an annual surfing and music festival held in San Diego that raises money to provide grants to organizations that provide services to homeless, at-risk and disadvantaged youth.
The summer festival is two events a benefit party and a concert/beach party. The benefit party brings together professional athletes, musicians, artists, and philanthropists to raise money for the charity.

International Surf Festival
2026-07-29 08:00 - 2026-08-02 17:00 | CA
The International Surf Festival, held annually in the South Bay beach cities, promotes physical fitness and celebrates the world’s top lifeguard service. Organized by BEACHSPORT.org, the Chambers of Commerce, and local city departments, the festival features participants ranging from ages 8 to late 80s.
Signature events include the Judge Taplin Lifeguard Medley Relay, the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim, and the Charlie Saikley 6-Man Volleyball Tournament. Additional activities include surfing and bodysurfing contests, beach runs, paddleboard races, dory races, and youth events. The festival also hosts international lifeguard teams.
The festival kicks off with a dinner featuring the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Medal of Valor award ceremony. The International Surf Festival is a non-profit 501(c)(4) corporation.

Bike the Bay 2026
2026-08-23 | CA
Bike the Bay is an annual fun ride where riders cruise around San Diego Bay and cross over San Diego’s iconic Coronado Bay Bridge.

The 25-mile ride is open to everyone, non-competitive, and mostly flat, making it accessible for riders of a wide range of fitness levels. San Diego Mountain Biking Association also hosts an optional off-road option of the ride, an 8-mile loop around the Otay Valley Regional Park.

Bike the Bay Route

The ride starts and finishes at Embarcadero Marina Park in downtown San Diego. Riders follow Bayshore Bikeway and travel through the towns of National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, and Coronado along the route.

For the mountain bike option, mountain bikes or cross bikes are recommended as there is gravel and loose dirt on this optional route. Proceeds from off-road option go to SDMBA to help improve trail access for mountain biking around San Diego County.

Grizzly 100 & Big Bear Mountain Biking Gran Fondo 2026
2026-09-05 | Big Bear Lake, CA, United States
The Grizzly 100 & Big Bear Mountain Biking Gran Fondo comprise a single-day mountain biking event in the San Bernardino Mountains at Big Bear Lake. The event offers races for all levels of riders.
The Big Bear Gran Fondo Mountain Bike ride offers five different routes to fit all levels of riders. From the tame 20k Skyview which takes you up the Snow Summit Scenic Sky Chair to the 50k Skyline course, you’ll enjoy the best riding that Big Bear has to offer.

If you’re looking for a suffer fest, the Grizzly 100 might be up your alley. The Grizzly National Ultra Endurance Race course offers epic technical riding on some of Southern California’s best single track right in the heart of the San Bernardino mountains. This race draws some of the top mountain bikers from around the world.

Sand Sports Super Show 2026
2026-09-18 - 2026-09-20 | Orange Count Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA, United States
The Sand Sports Super Show is an annual off-road expo that takes place at the Orange County Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California, typically held in September. Organized by Bonnier Corporation, the event is the world’s largest expo dedicated to dune and dirt sports.
This three-day event gathers hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees, showcasing various sand rails, ATVs, UTVs/Side x Sides, and related accessories and apparel. It provides a platform for enthusiasts to explore the latest in off-road sports technology and gear. Exhibitors at the event include manufacturers of vehicles, safety gear, and performance parts, along with various service providers from the sand sports industry.
The show not only highlights the products but also serves as a networking hub for both trade professionals and recreational users, offering numerous opportunities for attendees to engage directly with leading brands and experts in the field. The event is also known for its dynamic atmosphere with live demonstrations and interactive sessions, making it a notable date in the calendar for anyone passionate about sand and off-road sports​

Filthy Fifty Mountain Bike Race 2026
2026-10-31 | CA
The 12th Annual Filthy 50+ is a mountain bike ride scheduled for Saturday, October 31, 2026, taking place in and around San Dieguito River Park and Black Mountain Park in northern San Diego County. The event features two primary distance options—a 30-mile route and a 50-plus-mile route—both starting from the San Pasqual Staging Area near Bandy Canyon Road in Escondido. The 30-mile course follows an out-and-back format, while the longer route continues into Black Mountain Park and includes additional trail segments arranged in a lollipop-style loop.
The course travels across a mix of wide multi-use trails and narrower singletrack, with terrain described as generally fast and flowing and suitable for a range of riding abilities. Routes are fully marked, and multiple feed stations are positioned along the course. Because the trails remain open to the public during the event, riders are expected to share the route with hikers, equestrians, and other trail users, particularly in areas with switchbacks and limited sightlines.
In addition to the main rides, the event includes a short kids’ ride held earlier in the morning, with on-site and online registration available. The Filthy 50+ typically offers multiple rider categories based on distance, age, and equipment, as well as timing and results tracking. Registration is expected to open in summer 2026 and will close once capacity is reached or shortly before the event date.

Here’s a video about the 2022 race:

Jeep Jamboree Death Valley 2026
2026-11-05 - 2026-11-07 | CA
The Jeep Jamboree in Death Valley is an annual off-road event that brings together Jeep enthusiasts from all over the world to explore the rugged terrain and scenic vistas of Death Valley National Park. Joining a team of expert guides, participants visit points of interest such as Titus Canyon, Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, Badwater Basin, The Racetrack, and Harmony Borax Works. The journey will include some great low-range off-roading as they travel across the back roads of this unique and rugged landscape.
The event is fully guided, with experienced Jeep Jamboree guides leading the way and providing support and assistance as needed. The Jeep Jamboree in Death Valley covers a variety of terrain, including rocky trails, sandy washes, and steep climbs, with views of the park’s unique geology and natural features. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the history and geology of Death Valley National Park, with guided tours and educational sessions throughout the weekend.

Quadrantids Meteor Shower 2026 - Southern California
2026-12-02 - 2026-12-03 | CA
The Quadrantids meteor shower, often one of the year’s most intense, is active from December 28, 2025, through January 12, 2026, with peak activity expected during the night of January 2–3. The Quadrantids are known for their brief but potentially intense peak, which can last as little as six hours. Under ideal dark-sky conditions, the shower can produce relatively high meteor rates, though this potential is often limited by winter weather and timing.
In 2026, viewing conditions will be significantly affected by a full moon on January 3, which will greatly reduce visibility. Moonlight is expected to obscure all but the brightest meteors, bringing expected viewing rates to fewer than 10 meteors per hour even in dark locations. While Quadrantid meteors typically do not leave long-lasting trails, the shower is known for producing occasional bright fireballs that may still be visible despite the moonlight.
The Quadrantids are visible from Southern California, which lies well within the Northern Hemisphere viewing range for this shower. The radiant is located high in the northern sky, making the shower best observed after midnight and into the pre-dawn hours. Observers in Southern California may still see some activity during the peak window, particularly brighter meteors, weather and moonlight permitting.

While the peak is relatively short-lived, it offers a spectacular celestial show, with the potential for up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. These meteors are known for their bright, colorful fireballs that can streak across the night sky.
Tips for Optimal Viewing:

Find a Dark Spot: Head to a location away from city lights, such as a local mountain or desert area.

Look Northeast: The radiant point of the shower, from which the meteors appear to originate, is in the northeastern sky. Lie flat on your back with your feet facing northeast and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible

Be Patient: Allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for the best viewing experience.

Where Do Meteors Come From?

Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids. When these objects come around the sun, the dust they emit gradually spreads into a dusty trail around their orbits. Every year the Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.

E-Dirty Cross MTB Race 2026
2026-12-05 | Sycamore Canyon Goodan Ranch, 13920 Hwy 67, Lakeside, 92040, United States
E-Dirty Cross is an annual Southern California electric mountain bike race organized by Quick-n-Dirty Mountain Bike Racing.

The event, in its fifth year, features a variety of terrain, including singletrack, fire roads, jumps, and rock features. The race is open to riders of all levels and ages, with categories for expert, sport, beginner, school boys and girls aged between 12-15, and men and women aged 16 and over.

The race is limited to Class 1 E-Bikes, which are low-speed pedal-assist electric bikes that require pedaling to power the bike and will stop providing assistance when the speed reaches 20 mph.

Dirty 30 XL Fondo Mountain Bike Race 2026
2026-12-05 | Lake Hodges, 20175 Lake Drive, Escondido, CA, 92029
Dirty Thirty is mountain bike race (and other distances) hosted by Quick-n-Dirty at Lake Hodges, in Escondido, California. The race features 30 and 60-mile classes on a figure-8 course layout built for both drop bar (gravel bike) and mountain bikes.
