SHASTA UNFILTERED: North State Events Guide – Late April & May 2026 (By County)
- Rex Ballard
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Spring in the North State is packed with chrome, cowboys, music, mushrooms, and small-town vibes. Here’s the straight-shooting rundown of the biggest public events left in April and all of May 2026. Events are grouped by county, with the earliest ones listed first inside each section. Dates current as of April 13—always confirm on official sites for tickets, weather, or changes. We’ve added direct weblinks for every event so you can get full details, tickets, and schedules instantly.
Shasta County
Kool April Nites Classic Car Extravaganza – April 17–26 Northern California’s biggest classic car blowout takes over Redding for 10 straight days of show & shines, downtown cruises, poker runs, drive-in movies, drag racing at Redding Motorsports Park, and vendor-filled parties. Most events are free to watch—just bring a lawn chair and enjoy the rumble. More info & full schedule: koolaprilnites.com
Shasta Bike Month & Bigfoot Adventure Challenge – All of May (May 1–31) Get outside all month with free community bike rides, mileage challenges, and the ongoing Bigfoot Adventure Challenge—log your hikes, bikes, or runs on local trails for prizes and bragging rights. Perfect for families and fitness folks. Shasta Bike Month details: visitredding.com/events-in-redding-ca/shasta-bike-month-and-challenge/ Bigfoot Adventure Challenge: bigfootadventurechallenge.com
Roots & Rhythm Festival & Redding Rodeo Launch Party – May 9 Double-header day in Redding: Roots & Rhythm (Shasta Land Trust music festival) plus the Redding Rodeo launch party with live music, food, mutton bustin’, and Western entertainment to kick off rodeo week. Roots & Rhythm Festival tickets & info: eventbrite.com/e/roots-rhythm-festival-2026-tickets-1981969468032 Redding Rodeo launch details: See below.
78th Annual Redding Rodeo – May 13–16 Four nights of full-throttle PRCA rodeo action at the Redding Rodeo Grounds—bulls, broncs, barrel racing, and family-friendly Western entertainment right by the river. Tickets & full info: reddingrodeo.com
Tehama County
105th Annual Red Bluff Round-Up – April 17–19 One of America’s largest three-day PRCA rodeos hits the Tehama District Fairgrounds with world-class bull riding, saddle broncs, barrel racing, team roping, and kid events. Saturday brings the big downtown parade (10 a.m.) plus a headline concert with country star Corey Kent that night. Tickets & full info: redbluffroundup.com
106th Annual Tehama District Fair – April 30–May 3 Classic county fair vibes with carnival rides, livestock exhibits, flower shows, destruction derby, freestyle motocross, live music, junior livestock auction, and all the fried food you can handle. Full schedule & tickets: tehamadistrictfair.com
Siskiyou County
Siskiyou Humane Society Northern Lights Ball – April 18 Elegant black-tie fundraiser gala at Mount Shasta Resort benefiting the local animal shelter. Dinner, live auction, cocktails, music, and a glowing Northern Lights theme. Tickets & details: givebutter.com/c/shsgala
Dogwood Daze Festival – May 1–3 (Dunsmuir) Low-key spring celebration in historic Dunsmuir featuring live music, artisan vendors, food trucks, plant sales, and family activities set against blooming dogwood trees along the Sacramento River. A beautiful, relaxed community weekend. Full event info: dunsmuir.com/events/dogwood-daze
McCloud Mushroom Festival – May 23–24 The 22nd annual Mushroom, Music & Wine Festival draws crowds to McCloud for foraging demos, 100+ vendors, live music, wine tasting, mushroom-themed food, and workshops at the base of Mt. Shasta. One of the quirkiest and tastiest events of the season. Details & vendor info: mccloudchamber.com/mushroomfestival
Ongoing Across All Counties Weekend farmers’ markets in Redding, Red Bluff, Yreka, Mount Shasta, Etna, and Corning run throughout April and May—fresh produce, crafts, and live music every Saturday. Shasta County markets: healthyshasta.org/farmers-markets/
For even more North State happenings, check VisitRedding.com/events, DiscoverSiskiyou.com/events, or RedBluffChamber.com. North State weather flips fast—pack layers and check for updates. Which one are you hitting first? Let us know in the comments.
