Don't miss our editors' picks for the season's best happenings for foodies, art buffs, music lovers, and more.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland OR, June - Oct
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a stunning showcase of pantaloons and farthingales, draws 400,000 visitors. The action centers on the Elizabethan stage, an eye-popping ode to the playwright's Globe Theatre. osfashland.org
SFJazz Summerfest, Palo Alto, CA, June 14 - Aug 16
Get ready for all the funky, soulful, smooth music you can handle. At SFJazz Summerfest, top local musicians from the Bay area delight crowds every Thursday over ten weeks. In past years, greats like the Scott Amendola quartet (pictured) have played. sfjazz.org/sfjazz-summerfest
Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Telluride, CO, June 21-24
Mornings at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival begin with a blast of bagpipes, as campers flood the gates in a landgrab. Roughing it does have its advantages, though: Fingerpickers like Tim O'Brien are known to sneak into the campgrounds for fireside jams. bluegrass.com
Utah Shakespeare Festival, Cedar City, UT, June 21-Oct 20
Dive into the world of Shakespeare with plays like Hamlet and other classics. Highlights include "The Anatomy of a Season," backstage tours, and production seminars. bard.org
Aspen Music Festival, Aspen, CO, June 28 - Aug 19
Set in the imperial Colorado Rockies, this eight-week educational festival will bring out your inner Mozart. Orchestral concerts, opera, and kids' programs are just a few of the events offered. Don't miss this year's performances, including a Gershwin tribute. aspenmusicfestival.com
Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe, NM, Jun 29 - Aug 24
The Santa Fe Opera will host soprano Amanda Echalaz in Tosca this season. Means nothing to you? The in-seat translation screen should come in handy. santafeopera.org
Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Beach, CA, July 1 - Aug 31
Art buffs are sure to love one of the most unique artistic interpretations in the nation.The Pageant of the Masters is one of the Laguna Festival of Arts' most famous attractions, where real people pose as counterparts in original art pieces, recreating the work in an interesting, three-dimensional way. foapom.com
High Sierra Music Festival, Quincy, CA, July 5-8
It's like summer camp for adults. Celebrate this roots-focused show with more than 50 performers over 4 days. Not only can you hear awesome performances by My Ben Harper, Galactic, and Built to Spill with 10,000 others, but the venue also offers opportunities to swim, fish, and hike in the quaint mountain town of Quincy, so don't forget your bathing suit. highsierramusic.com
North American Indian Days, Browning, MT, July 12-15
Take in one of the largest Blackfeet tribal events in Native American culture. From every region in the United States and Canada, Native Americans come to share their heritage and perform traditional drumming, dancing contests, and more. If you're lucky, you might even get to hide out in an authentic teepee. visitmt.com
Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, CA, July 13 - Aug 10
Soak up the sun in the iconic SoCal county, with live music, rodeo shows, a decked-out carnival, wine tasting, and lots more. ocfair.com
Oregon Berry Festival, Portland, OR, July 20-21
Berry-lovers unite! Head on over to Portland's Ecotrust Building and sample berries galore in pies and jams, or sip on a fresh blueberry soda. The free event features live entertainment, a berry cook-off between Portland chefs, and more. oregonberryfestival.com
Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne, WY, Jul 20-29
Cheyenne Frontier Days has been rippin' and snortin' since 1897. Days start with pancakes and end with a rock or country show. In between: all manner of bucking broncos, bull riders, historical reenactments, and carnival rides. cfdrodeo.com
Renegade Craft Fair, San Francisco (July 21-22) and Los Angeles (July 28-29)
Get creative at the Renegade Craft Fair, with locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The best vendors of indie-craft and DIY goods from the Golden State and beyond will be selling everything from jewelry, to paper goods, to bath products. And be sure to pick up tasty bites from local L.A. food trucks. renegadecraft.com/san-francisco; renegadecraft.com/los-angeles
ALL 26 SUMMER EVENTS IN THE WEST
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