It’s mid-July, so not only should that lingering ring in your ear courtesy of this year’s fireworks bombardment finally be gone, but you also hopefully find yourself making peace with the fact that summer’s end is on the horizon. Luckily, in Southern California, few things migrate out of a necessity to adapt to the changing seasons—least of all our selection of music festivals. At the start of festival season (April), we released our “16 Best Music Festivals in Southern California,” now it’s time to take you through the end of the year with the second half of the best music festivals in Southern California.

Catering to every genre—from EDM to punk and everything in between—and endurance level, those looking for a three-day weekend party or a single-day nostalgia fest will find both. Don’t sleep on any of these lineups!

This feature was produced by Sandra Burciaga Olinger, and written by David Sosa

Hard Summer

When: August 3-4th, 2024
Where: Hollywood Park Grounds at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Who’s Performing: Disclosure, FISHER B2B Chris Lake, Nelly Furtado, REZZMAU5, Major Lazer, Jamie xx, Subtronics, Mochakk, Zeds Dead, Tchami x Malaa, Chase & Status, Sofi Tukker DJ Set, Eli Brown, Matroda, Channel Tres, and more.
Why You Should Go: Hard Summer has always been the place where EDM goes to get rowdy, and this year, they’ve put together a characteristically massive and stacked lineup. The return to Inglewood at the Hollywood Park Grounds around SoFi Stadium should also improve the space and the distance attendees need to drive to reach the festival.

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

Splash House

When: August 9-11th & August 16-18th, 2024
Where: Palm Springs, CA
Who’s Performing: (Weekend One) Body Hi by Alesso, Gorgon City b2b Green Velvet, NITTI, The Blessed Madonna, and more. (Weekend Two) MEDUZA, Patrick Topping, Girl Math with VNSSA and NALA, Bijou, and more.
Why You Should Go: A three-day pool party in Palm Springs where you split your time between a resort and a music festival? Count us in! Split over two weekends this year, Splash House is where you go to vibe in an oasis of chill electronica spun by some of the most talented DJs and artists to do it. It’s also exactly the kind of event you go all in for and their hotel packages are absolutely the best way to do that. Choose from one of three different resorts—the Renaissance, Margaritaville, and Saguaro—which will function as your paradise away from paradise as you go from the festival to the after-parties.

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

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Happy Sundays

When: August 24-25th, 2024
Where: Zaferia District in Long Beach, CA
Who’s Performing: Mike Watt & The Missingmen, Shamon Cassette, Soft Palms, Sego, Zzzahara, Jagged Baptist Club, Nutt, Dream Phases, Fartbarf, M.O.T.O., Sweat, Buzzed Lightyear, Mood, Laena Myers, Auxilio, Hex Code, Robber, Gazoota, Asi Fui, and more.
Why You Should Go: A celebration of Long Beach’s music scene—complete with a killer lineup, comedy acts, a series of aerospace talks, and a tattoo pop-up—what’s not to love? And did we mention it’s free? This is a festival you go to simply because you’re free and now that it’s expanded into two days you’re spoiled for choice! Let a local band melt your face all while supporting small businesses and independent venues. The success of equitable events like this is in the hands of attendees which means any hopes of transforming Happy Sundays into a week-long, city-wide festival is contingent on your support!

Tickets are FREE, but you should RSVP!

Fool In Love

When: August 31st, 2024
Where: Hollywood Park Grounds at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Who’s Performing: Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Al Green, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Durand Jones & The Indications, LA LOM, Thee Sacred Souls, Trish Toledo, Mayer Hawthorne, and more.
Why You Should Go: This one would seriously make an excellent late Mother’s or Father’s Day (or both) gift! Fool in Love’s sprawling lineup features everything from legends of the past to a new generation of artists and bands keeping the flames of R&B, soul, jazz, and the myriad Latin styles/traditions burning. It’s the very definition of a festival created to spotlight all those oldies but goodies. Even if you only catch a fraction of the names on the poster you’ll have lived through the highpoints of numerous decades past—tapping into a nostalgia that you owe to your parent’s car radio for giving you.

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

I Love RnB

When: September 7th, 2024
Where: Grand Park in Los Angeles, CA
Who’s Performing: Omarion, Ja Rule, Mario, Monica, Bow Wow, Jagged Edge, Pretty Ricky, Fabolous, and more.
Why You Should Go: Plenty of R&B throwbacks on this list and the aptly named I Love RnB is another that’s looking to draw crowds with some blasts from the past. Its manageable lineup size means you won’t need to go running from stage to stage to catch the next act, leaving you more time to soak up drinks and the suave sounds of the late 90s and early 00s. See which tickets are still available.

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

Freestyle Festival

When: September 8th, 2024
Where: Grand Park in Los Angeles, CA
Who’s Performing: Lisa Lisa, Vanilla Ice, Expose, Tiffany, Robin S, Crystal Waters, The Cover Girls, Sweet Sensation, Connie, Lisette Melendez, and more.
Why We Love Freestyle Festival: Spend an afternoon in downtown Los Angeles and witness a resurrection of 80s talent. As the lineup poster for Freestyle Festival points out, the artists and bands they’ve wrangled together are responsible for some of the decade’s iconic, timeless, and continuously rediscovered jams. Expect superstar pop hits, funk, and plenty of freestyles!

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

CRSSD

When: September 28-29th, 2024
Where: Waterfront Park in San Diego, CA
Who’s Performing: Disclosure, Gesaffelstein, BLOND:ISH, Four Tet, Gorgon City, 999999999, NEIL FRANCES, TOKiMONSTA, Soul Wax, Boris Brejcha, Idris Elba, and more.
Why You Should Go: CRSSD rules over San Diego Bay as a premiere destination for electronic music lovers. Past festivals have had their share of successes, complications, and rebounds, yet what consistently makes this a must-attend event is its idyllic location and its consistently incredible lineup. Last year, CRSSD caught our attention with five stellar female DJs and producers we deemed required viewing. The spring version iteration made a splash with fans and we expect the 2024 fall edition to blow away expectations once again—and how can they not with both Disclosure and Gesaffelstein?

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

Ohana

When: September 27-29, 2024
Where: Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA
Who’s Performing: Pearl Jam, Neil Young + Crazy Horse, Garbage, Alania Morissette, IDLES, Jenny Lewis, Gabriels, Kim Gordon, La Lom, and more.
Why You Should Go: All you need to do is attend Ohana just once to discover the most ideal music festival experience you’ll ever have. I had the privilege of attending Ohana back in 2019 and I’ve never found such a tranquil vibe at any multi-day event since. You just can’t beat a red-hued California ocean sunset that’s soundtracked by the sounds of rock luminaries of the past and present! Grab your favorite Hawaiian shirt and order something sweet but soaked in rum—Ohana 2024 is going to be your summer haven in the fall.

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

Palm Tree Fest

When: October 5-6th, 2024
Where: Dana Point, CA
Who’s Performing: Martin Garrix, OneRepublic, Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers, Ayokay, Balthvs, Cannons, Chelsea Cutler, Flamingoasis, Harry Hudson, Madame Gandhi, and Out In Front
Why You Should Go: On the heels of Ohana comes Palm Tree Fest, the latest music festival to seemingly make Dana Point its home for the foreseeable future. Boasting a tight but eclectic and powerhouse lineup of electronic and alternative acts, the event caters to those looking to spend their fall pretending it is still summer: soaking up the sun, curated cocktails, and music under the shaded comfort of VIP cabanas. This would make a great compromise for anyone pining for a downsized version of CRSSD, one that will still deliver the beachside party of your dreams, albeit at a much chiller pace with its one-stage, and has the added benefit of being closer to home (depending on where you live in SoCal).
What Tickets Are Left: Tickets for Palm Tree Fest go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 2nd at 10am PST. Register for the presale that opens Wednesday, July 31st at 12pm PST.

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

Desert Daze

When: October 10-13th, 2024
Where: Lake Perris, CA
Who’s Performing: Jack White, The Mars Volta, Cigarettes After Sex, Alex G, De La Soul, Thundercat, 100 Gecs, Liz Phair, Fleet Foxes, The Kills, Beach Fossils, DIIV, Charlotte Adigery with Bolis Pupul, Say She She, Hinds, Sasami, and more.
Why You Should Go: Forget Burning Man, forget Coachella—Desert Daze is the superior desert music festival. This longtime Southern California favorite initially went by the name of Moonblock Party and was once even held in Joshua Tree, but what hasn’t changed is its commitment to immersing attendees in an audio-visual dreamscape of art and music. If you’ve never been (or are just looking to reminisce) we filmed a mini-documentary of the festival in 2015 that highlights everything we love about Desert Daze. Not only is this year’s lineup wonderfully stacked, but there will also be a slew of special guests (like Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill), anniversary celebrations (Death From Above 1979 and Temples), curated performances, talks, and large-scale art installations. If you’re craving a magical time in the desert this is the festival to go to!

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

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Camp Flog Gnaw

When: November 16-17th, 2024
Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Who’s Performing: TBA
Why You Should Go: With the promise to return in the fall, Camp Flog Gnaw sold out in record time once again even without a lineup drop, proving once again that Tyler, The Creator has manifested a true Los Angeles tradition with his hip-hop/alt-R&B leaning festival. After previously taking over the L.A. Coliseum, the return to Dodger Stadium means they’ve got another larger-than-life experience cooking up for attendees, complete with its signature carnival rides and games—and some pretty sweet VIP package perks! If you were lucky enough to snag tickets, take a look at some of our coverage from previous years, which will give you a good idea of just what kind of spectacle to expect once November rolls around!

Camp Flog Gnaw tickets are sold out but you can sign up for the waitlist OR get resale tickets through VividSeats where they offer a 100% buyer guarantee.

Besame Mucho

When: December 21st, 2024
Where: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
Who’s Performing: Shakira, Juanes, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Paulina Rubio, Los Tigres del Norte, Elvis Crespo, Gloria Trevi, and many more.
Why We Love Besame Mucho: We consider this in many ways a sister festival to Fool in Love—combine the two—and you’ll get a festival that boasts some of the most iconic names in R&B and Latin music. Besame Mucho fills out the majority of the latter and features a lineup that would have your parents at the very front of the stage, pressed up against the barricade, wailing along to the music they also instilled an undying love for in you. The 2023 festival was a resounding success and this year organizers are looking to one-up themselves—both in terms of the star-studded lineup and scope, even revealing an Austin, Texas-based version of the event earlier this year—and what better place to hold a celebration of the sounds of Latin culture than Dodger Stadium?

See which tickets are still available. For the best pricing, we recommend comparing ticket prices on VividSeats, which offers a 100% buyer guarantee.

If you’re traveling from out of State or out of the U.S. to attend one of the many music festivals Southern California has to offer, we highly recommend you book your travel sooner rather than later to get the best prices.

For the best flight deals, we highly recommend you compare and book cheap flights with Skyscanner.

Our go-to for the best hotel prices is always Hotels.com, but we have also found epic deals via Hotwire. We recommend comparing the two to find the best price that fits your hotel needs.

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