8 Quirkiest California Towns To Visit In 2025

As one of the largest, most populous, and most diverse states in the Union, California has no shortage of quirky communities. Yet some are more suited for a 2025 visit than others. For instance, a tiny NorCal town is set to have its annual Bigfoot festival in July; a Sierra Nevada settlement is to celebrate spiders just before Halloween; and a SoCal community is to present its canine mayor at virtually all major upcoming events. Learn about those and other quirky Cali towns before visiting them in 2025.

Willow Creek

Planted in the same forest where history's most convincing "Sasquatch" footage was recorded in 1967, Willow Creek is called the "Bigfoot Capital of the World." Yet even before Patterson and Gimlin put that creature on film and the Six Rivers National Forest on the map, this backwoods town was so swamped with sightings it began hosting a Bigfoot festival. Still going strong after 65 years, Bigfoot Daze is to run on Saturday, July 12, 2025, and feature food and craft vendors, live music, a car/motorcycle show, and a parade. In between festivities, make sure to browse the Willow Creek-China Flat Museum & Bigfoot Collection, which, in addition to Squatch-ifacts, houses a large number of logging, mining, forging, and agricultural relics.

Cotati

According to a plaque overlooking La Plaza Park, Cotati is one of only two American communities with a hexagon-shaped plaza. According to accordions, that hexagonal plaza is the best place to hear those polarizing instruments, especially in August for the Cotati Accordion Festival. Over two days, dozens of accordionists "serenade" thousands of spectators to raise money for local school music programs.

But before you listen to strange tunes for a good cause on August 16 and 17, look at strange dogs for a good cause in neighboring Santa Rosa. On Friday, August 8, 2025, the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest is to deface Santa Rosa for the first time after moving from Petaluma, where it had run for decades. Beyond crowning an ugliest dog (2024's winner was an 8-year-old Pekingese named Wild Thang), the contest raises awareness for not-so-attractive pups yet to be placed in loving homes.

Coarsegold

Coarsegold has such a heart of gold that, for well over 20 years, its marquee event has been dedicated to tarantulas. Each October before Halloween, this Sierra foothills town honors its eight-footed neighbors as they emerge from their dens for mating season. Since townsfolk have not always welcomed tarantulas (many still do not), the Coarsegold Tarantula Awareness Festival "aims to dispel the myths surrounding tarantulas and educate the public about their importance to the ecosystem." It does this with tarantula demonstrations, tarantula races, hairy leg contests (for both sexes), and a grand finale tarantula derby. Even if you visit Coarsegold on a non-festival day (2025's edition is set for Saturday, October 25), you can still celebrate spiders at the Coarsegold Tarantula Exhibit within the Coarsegold Historic Village.

Avalon

Forget about visiting Avalon by car. That is not just because it is the sole incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island, but because full-size vehicles are banned for all tourists and many residents. To preserve the island city's sanctity, two residential vehicle permits must be surrendered or revoked for a new one to be issued. So, unless you were the lucky Avalonian pulled off the absurdly long waitlist, you must tour Avalon by foot, taxi, plane, boat, bus, bike, golf cart, or another type of "autoette" (gas vehicle less than 130 inches or electric/low-speed vehicle less than 138 inches). Which form of transport will you use to attend the Catalina Festival of Art in September or the Buccaneer’s Weekend in October? You will not have to worry about getting to the Step Brothers-inspired Catalina Wine Mixer since it already happened in May.

Fort Bragg

Treated by several decades of relentless waves, a seaside garbage dump at Fort Bragg became a treasure chest for the pickin' of tourists. Dubbed Glass Beach but actually comprised of three glass beaches at former dump sites, including one in MacKerricher State Park, they are bedecked with sea glass ranging from "rubies" made from tail lights to "sapphires" made from apothecary bottles. Because of past pillaging that has lessened their luster, the glass beaches are somewhat protected. Collecting is banned inside the park and discouraged outside of it. Find but try not to keep Fort Bragg's sea glass in between sampling the World’s Largest Salmon BBQ in July and chopping it up at Paul Bunyan Days in August/September.

Solvang

A Danish city that somehow found itself in Southern California, Solvang can solve your European FOMO. Among its Den-marks to check off your list are the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art, Hans Christian Andersen Park, Danish Mill Bakery, and Copenhagen Sausage Garden. But Solvang's biggest attraction is Danish Days, a multi-day festival featuring everything from Danish pastries to Danish beer to Danish music to Danish stories to Danish history lessons to Danish crafts to Danish toys (Lego). Its 88th edition is set to run from Friday, September 19 to Sunday, September 21, 2025. Denmark it on your calendar to LEGO of your FOMO.

Idyllwild

Idyllwild is an unincorporated community in the San Jacinto Mountains. Because it is unincorporated, it cannot have an official mayor. Because it cannot have an official mayor, it has an unofficial mayor who is officially the cutest official in America. Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller III is the incumbent "mayor" of Idyllwild, the latest in a line of golden rulers (droolers?) dating to a 2012 non-human election and fundraiser that netted over $31,000. Still worth their weight in gold, Max and his council mutts (Vice Mayor Meadow I, Deputy Co-Mayor Mikey, and Deputy Co-Mayor Mitzi) attend hundreds of private and public events throughout the year. Even after surviving an assassination attempt from a rogue pooch, Max and co. are expected to appear at the 4th of July Parade, Great Pumpkin Carnival in October, and Tree Lighting Ceremony in November. Provide some mayoral butt scratches.

Gilroy

Set to return to Gilroy after a four-year hiatus, the Gilroy Garlic Festival is arguably the stinkiest but awesomest food fest in America. It has attracted and repelled people since 1979 with garlic calamari, garlic sandwiches, garlic fries, garlic bread, garlic ice cream, and other unique garlic products. 2025's edition is scheduled to run from Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27. If needing an antidote for garlic breath, hit up the beer gardens or wine tent, or else sample surrounding wineries like Kirigin Cellars and Sarah’s Vineyard. Besides being the "Garlic Capital of the World," Gilroy is on the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail.

Rush to the Golden State to see its quirkiest community events in 2025. Start with Idyllwild's golden retriever-minted 4th of July Parade, head to Willow Creek's Bigfoot Daze on July 12, graze at Gilroy's Garlic Festival in late July, attend Cotati's Accordion Festival and Fort Bragg's Paul Bunyan Days in August, slide into Solvang's Danish Days in September, boat into Avalon's Buccaneer’s Weekend in October, and finish your trip at Coarsegold's Tarantula Awareness Festival right before Halloween. How is that for a quirky Calitinerary?