Biggest Inland Empire Events

Three Biggest Inland Empire Destination Events

These are three of the region's biggest event draws, with travel, ticket, parking, hotel, and trip-planning details.

• Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Indio - International - April - The Inland Empire's most internationally recognized event, held at Empire Polo Club in Indio across two April weekends. Source: AEG Worldwide Next date not yet confirmed
• BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells - International - Late winter to early spring - The Inland Empire's largest annual sporting event and one of the biggest tennis events in the world, held at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Source: BNP Paribas Open Scheduled: Feb 28-Mar 14, 2027 Annual event guide
• Stagecoach Festival Indio - International - April - A major country-music festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, immediately after the Coachella weekends. Source: AEG Global Partnerships Scheduled: Apr 23-25, 2027 Annual event guide

Three Major Inland Empire Traditions

For Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Chino, Redlands, and nearby western IE communities, these are especially recognizable annual traditions.

• Mission Inn Festival of Lights Riverside - Regional - Late November through early January - One of the Inland Empire's best-known holiday events: visual, walkable, family-friendly, and useful for locals and visitors planning Downtown Riverside nights. Source: The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa Scheduled: Nov 21-Dec 31, 2026 Annual event guide
• Route 66 Cruisin' Reunion Ontario - Regional - September - One of the best-known western Inland Empire destination events, built around classic cars and Downtown Ontario. Source: GOCALEvents Next date not yet confirmed
• National Orange Show Fair San Bernardino - Regional - Spring - San Bernardino's legacy regional fair and one of the Inland Empire's most recognizable historic annual events. Source: National Orange Show Next date not yet confirmed

More Annual Event Guides

Open an event for typical timing and planning details, then confirm current-year dates, schedules, parking, and tickets with the organizer.

• Mission Inn Festival of Lights Riverside - Regional - Late November through early January - One of the Inland Empire's best-known holiday events: visual, walkable, family-friendly, and useful for locals and visitors planning Downtown Riverside nights. Source: The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa Scheduled: Nov 21-Dec 31, 2026 Annual event guide
• Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Indio - International - April - The Inland Empire's most internationally recognized event, held at Empire Polo Club in Indio across two April weekends. Source: AEG Worldwide Next date not yet confirmed
• BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells - International - Late winter to early spring - The Inland Empire's largest annual sporting event and one of the biggest tennis events in the world, held at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Source: BNP Paribas Open Scheduled: Feb 28-Mar 14, 2027 Annual event guide
• Stagecoach Festival Indio - International - April - A major country-music festival at Empire Polo Club in Indio, immediately after the Coachella weekends. Source: AEG Global Partnerships Scheduled: Apr 23-25, 2027 Annual event guide
• Route 66 Cruisin' Reunion Ontario - Regional - September - One of the best-known western Inland Empire destination events, built around classic cars and Downtown Ontario. Source: GOCALEvents Next date not yet confirmed
• Temecula Rod Run Temecula - Regional - Spring - Old Town Temecula's signature classic-car weekend, with a Friday cruise and Saturday Show & Shine. Source: City of Temecula Scheduled: Apr 30-May 1, 2027 Annual event guide
• Modernism Week Palm Springs - International - February - Palm Springs' signature design and architecture festival, with tours, programs, homes, talks, and desert-modernism events. Source: Modernism Week Scheduled: Feb 11-21, 2027 Annual event guide
• Upland Lemon Festival Upland - Regional - June - A major western Inland Empire street festival with live music, carnival rides, vendors, food, and family activities. Source: Upland Lemon Festival Next date not yet confirmed
• National Orange Show Fair San Bernardino - Regional - Spring - San Bernardino's legacy regional fair and one of the Inland Empire's most recognizable historic annual events. Source: National Orange Show Next date not yet confirmed
• Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest Big Bear Lake - Regional - September through November - A long-running mountain destination event with German food, music, contests, family activities, and fall-weekend travel demand. Source: Visit Big Bear Scheduled: Oct 30-Nov 1, 2026 Annual event guide
• Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival Redlands - Regional - Summer - A free summer performing-arts tradition and one of Redlands' best-known recurring cultural events. Source: Redlands Bowl Next date not yet confirmed
• Beaumont Cherry Festival Beaumont - Regional - Late May to early June - Beaumont's major annual community festival, with carnival energy, food, entertainment, vendors, and a community parade. Source: Beaumont Cherry Festival Next date not yet confirmed
• Norco Fair Norco - Regional - Labor Day weekend - Horsetown USA's volunteer-run Labor Day weekend fair, with community competitions, vendors, entertainment, and family programming. Source: Norco Fair Next date not yet confirmed
• Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade Palm Desert - Regional - October - A signature El Paseo desert tradition with decorated carts, marketplace booths, food, entertainment, and classic community-parade energy. Source: Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade Next date not yet confirmed
• Fontana Days Festival Fontana - Regional - June - Fontana's large annual festival and parade season, with carnival, food, community programming, and long local history. Source: Fontana Chamber of Commerce Scheduled: Jun 3-6, 2027 Annual event guide

Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival caution

The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is not currently listed as an active annual event. Riverside County terminated the Lake Skinner agreement effective April 30, 2026, and the 2026 Lake Skinner dates were rescinded. Source: Valley News

Annual Event City Lists