Tournament of Roses, Pasadena. A spectacular parade down Colorado Boulevard, with lavish floats, music, and extraordinary equestrian entries, followed by the Rose Bowl Game. Call tel. 626/449-4100 for details, or just stay home and watch it on TV (you'll have a better view). January 1.

Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Palm Springs Desert Resorts. 2001 marks the 42nd year (and Bob's 98th birthday) of this weeklong PGA golf tournament, which raises money for charity and includes a celebrity-studded Pro-Am. For spectator information and tickets, call tel. 888/MR-BHOPE or 760/346-8184. January.

AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Pebble Beach. A PGA-sponsored tour where pros are teamed with celebrities to compete on three world-famous golf courses. Call tel. 800/541-9091 or 831/649-1533. One week early January.

Chinese New Year Festival and Parade. The largest Chinese New Year festival in the United States is in San Francisco. The celebration includes a Golden Dragon parade with lion dancing, marching bands, street fair, flower sale, and festive food. Call tel. 415/982-3000 or 391-9680. Usually early to mid-February.

L.A.'s celebration is colorful as well, with dragon dancers parading through the streets of downtown's Chinatown. Chinese opera and other events are scheduled. For a schedule, contact the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at tel. 213/ 617-0396.

National Date Festival, Indio. Crowds gather to celebrate the Coachella Valley desert's most beloved cash crop with appropriately themed events like camel and ostrich races, the Blessing of the Date Garden, and festive Arabian Nights pageants. Plenty of date-sampling booths are set up, along with rides, food vendors, and other county-fair trappings. Call tel. 800/811-3247 or 760/863-8247. Two weeks in February.

Mustard Festival, Napa Valley. Celebrating the blossom of yellow-petaled mustard flowers, which coat the valley during February and March, the event was originally conceived to drum up interest in visiting during this once-slow season. The festival has evolved into 6 weeks worth of events ranging from a kick-off gourmet gala at the CIA Greystone to a wine auction, golf benefit, recipe and photography competitions, and plenty of food and wine celebrations. For information and a schedule of events, call tel. 707/259-9020 or 707/938-1133, or visit online at www.mustardfestival.com. Throughout February.

Return of the Swallows, San Juan Capistrano. Each St. Joseph's Day (March 19), visitors flock to this charming village for the arrival of the mission's loyal flock of swallows that will nest and remain until October. The celebration includes a parade, dances, and special programs. Call tel. 949/248-2048 for details. Usually the weekend closest to March 19.

Santa Barbara International Film Festival. For 10 days each March, pretty Santa Barbara does its best impression of Cannes. There's a flurry of foreign- and independent-film premieres, personal appearances by noted actors and directors, and symposia on hot cinematic topics. For a rundown of events, call tel. 805/ 963-0023. Early March.

Nabisco Dinah Shore, Rancho Mirage. This 31-year-old LPGA golf tournament takes place near Palm Springs. After the celebrity Pro-Am early in the week, the best female pros get down to business. For further information, call tel. 760/324-4546. Other special-interest events for women usually take place around the Dinah Shore, including the country's largest annual lesbian gathering. Last week of March.

Redwood Coast Dixieland Jazz Festival, Eureka. Three days of jazz featuring 12 of the best Dixieland groups, including a variety of jam sessions. Call tel. 707/ 445-3378. Late March.

San Francisco International Film Festival. One of America's oldest film festivals, featuring more than 100 films and videos from more than 30 countries. Tickets are relatively inexpensive, and screenings are very accessible to the general public during 2 weeks early in the month. Call tel. 415/931-FILM.

Toyota Grand Prix, Long Beach. An exciting weekend of Indy-class auto racing and entertainment in and around downtown Long Beach, drawing world-class drivers from the United States and Europe. Contact the Grand Prix Association at tel. 800/752-9524 or 562/981-2600. Mid-April.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire, San Bernardino. One of America's largest Renaissance festivals, this annual happening is set in Glen Helen Regional Park in L.A.'s relatively remote countryside. Performers (and many attendees) dress in 16th-century costume and revel in this festive re-creation of a medieval English village. For ticket information, phone tel. 800/52-FAIRE. Weekends from late April to Memorial Day.

Ramona Pageant, Hemet. A unique outdoor play that portrays the lives of the Southern California Mission Indians. The play was adapted from Helen Hunt Jackson's 1884 novel Ramona. Call tel. 909/658-3111 for details. Late April to early May.

Del Mar National Horse Show. Horse-and-rider teams compete in national championships at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Call tel. 858/792-4288 or 858/755-1161 for more information. Late April to early May.

Cinco de Mayo. A weeklong celebration of one of Mexico's most jubilant holidays takes place throughout the city of Los Angeles. The fiesta's carnival-like atmosphere is created by large crowds, live music, dances, and food. The main festivities are held in El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park, downtown, with other events around the city. Phone tel. 213/485-6855 for information.

There's also a Cinco de Mayo celebration in San Diego, featuring folkloric music, dance, food, and historical reenactments. Held in Old Town. Call tel. 619/296-3161 or 619/220-5422 for more information.

Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee, Angels Camp. The event inspired by Mark Twain's story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Entrants from all over the world arrive with their frog participants. There's also a children's parade, livestock competition, rodeo, carnival, and fireworks. Call tel. 209/736-2561. Third weekend in May.

Bay to Breakers Foot Race, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. One of the city's most popular annual events, it's really more fun than run. Thousands of entrants show up dressed in their best Halloween-style costumes for the approximately 7 1/2-mile run across the park. Call tel. 415/777-7770. Third Sunday of May.

Paso Robles Wine Festival. What began as a small, neighborly gathering has grown into the largest outdoor wine tasting in California. The 3-day event features winery open houses and tastings, a golf tournament, 5K run and 10K bike ride, concerts, plus a carnival-like festival in downtown's City Park. For a schedule of events and fees, call tel. 800/549-WINE. Third weekend in May.

Carnival, San Francisco. The Mission District's largest annual event is a 2-day series of festivities that culminates with a parade on Mission Street over Memorial Day weekend. More than half a million spectators line the route, and the samba musicians and dancers continue to play on 14th Street, near Harrison, at the end of the march. Call the Mission Economic and Cultural Association at tel. 415/826-1401. Memorial Day weekend.

Playboy Jazz Festival, Los Angeles. Bill Cosby is the traditional Master of Ceremonies, presiding over top artists at the Hollywood Bowl. Call tel. 310/246-4000. Mid-June.

Lesbian and Gay Freedom Day Parade. It's celebrated all over the state, but San Francisco's party draws up to half a million participants. The parade's start and finish have been moved around in recent years to accommodate road construction, but traditionally it begins and ends at Civic Center Plaza, where hundreds of food, art, and information booths are set up around several sound stages. Call tel. 415/864-3733 for information. Usually the third or last Sunday of June.

Ojai Music Festival. This 3-day event has been drawing world-class classical and jazz personalities to the open-air Libbey Bowl since 1947. Past events have featured Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, and the Juilliard String Quartet. Seats (and local lodgings) fill up quickly; call tel. 805/646-2094 for more information. First half of June.

Mariachi USA Festival, Los Angeles. A 2-day family-oriented celebration of Mexican culture and tradition at the Hollywood Bowl, where festival-goers pack their picnic baskets and enjoy music, ballet, folklorico, and related performances by special guests. Call tel. 323/848-7717. Late June.

Mammoth Lakes Jazz Jubilee. A 4-day festival featuring 20 bands on 10 different stages, plus food, drink, and dancing--all under the pine trees and stars. Call tel. 800/367-6572 or 760/934-2478. Second weekend in July.

Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Beach. A fantastic performance-art production in which live actors re-create famous Old Masters paintings. Other festivities include live music, crafts sales, art demonstrations and workshops, and the grass-roots Sawdust Festival across the street. Grounds admission is $3; pageant tickets range from $15 to $40. Call tel. 800/487-FEST or 949/494-1145, or check out www.foapom.com. July through August.

Gilroy Garlic Festival. A gourmet food fair with more than 85 booths serving garlicky food from almost every ethnic background, plus close to 100 arts, crafts, and entertainment booths. Call tel. 831/842-1625. Last full weekend in July.

Shakespeare at the Beach, Lake Tahoe. A bewitching experience of the Bard at Sand Harbor on the shore beneath the stars. Call tel. 702/832-1606. Three weeks in late July and August.

Beach Festival, Huntington Beach. Two straight weeks of fun in the sun, featuring two surfing competitions--the U.S. Open of Surfing and the world-class Pro of Surfing--plus extreme-sports events like in-line skating, BMX biking, skateboarding, and more. Includes entertainment, food, tons of product booths and giveaways--and plenty of tanned, swimsuit-clad bodies of both sexes. Call US Surfing (tel. 949/366-4584) for more information. End of July.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta, Santa Barbara. The city's biggest annual event, this 5-day festival features a grand parade with horse-drawn carriages, music and dance performances, mercados (marketplaces), and a rodeo. Call tel. 805/962-8101. Early August.

Nisei Week Japanese Festival, Los Angeles. This weeklong celebration of Japanese culture and heritage is held in Little Tokyo at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center Plaza. Festivities include parades, food, music, arts, and crafts. Call tel. 213/687-7193. Mid-August.

California State Fair, Sacramento. At the California Exposition Grounds, a gala celebration with livestock, carnival food, exhibits, entertainment on 10 different stages, plus thoroughbred racing and a 1-mile monorail for panoramic views over the scope of it all. Call tel. 916/263-FAIR. Late August to early September.

Sausalito Art Festival. A juried exhibit of more than 180 artists. It's accompanied by music provided by Bay Area jazz, rock, and blues performers and international cuisine enhanced by wines from some 50 different Napa and Sonoma producers. Call tel. 415/332-3555 for information. Labor Day weekend.

San Diego Street Scene. The historic Gaslamp Quarter is transformed by this 3-day extravaganza featuring food, dance, international character, and live music on 12 separate stages. Saturday is set aside as an all-ages day; attendees must be 21 and over the other 2 days. Call tel. 619/557-0505 for more information. First weekend after Labor Day.

Monterey Jazz Festival. Top names in traditional and modern jazz. One of the oldest annual jazz festivals in the world. Call tel. 800/307-3378 or 831/373-0244. Mid-September.

Los Angeles County Fair. Horse racing, arts, agricultural displays, celebrity entertainment, and carnival rides are among the attractions of the largest county fair in the world, held at the Los Angeles County Fair and Exposition Center, in Pomona. Call tel. 909/623-3111 for information. Usually all month.

Danish Days, Solvang. Since 1936 this 3-day event has been celebrating old-world customs and pageantry with a parade, gymnastics exhibitions by local schoolchildren, demonstrations of traditional Danish arts and crafts, and plenty of aebleskivers (Danish fritters) and medisterpolse (Danish sausage). Call tel. 800/ GO-SOLVANG for further information.

Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival, Los Angeles. Celebrating the historic role of drums and drummers, this event features a variety of unique performances, from Afro-Cuban folkloricos to East Indian tabla players. Call tel. 213/ 847-4646. Late September.

Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival. Great contemporary jazz artists travel to the island to play in the legendary Avalon Casino Ballroom. The festival is held over two consecutive 3-day weekends. Call tel. 800/866-TRAX or 818/347-5299 for more information. Early October.

Sonoma County Harvest Fair. A 3-day celebration of the harvest with exhibitions, art shows, and annual judging of the local wines. At the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Call tel. 707/545-4203. Dates vary.

The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay. The festival features a Great Pumpkin Parade, pie-eating contests, a pumpkin-carving competition, arts and crafts, and all manner of squash cuisine. The highlight of the event is the Giant Pumpkin weigh-in contest, won recently by an 875-pound monster. Colorful to the extreme. For details, call the Pumpkin Hotline at tel. 650/726-9652.

Western Regional Final Championship Rodeo, Lakeside. Top cowboys from 11 western states compete in seven rodeo events, including calf roping, barrel racing, bull riding, team roping, and steer wrestling. Held at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, Calif. 67 and Mapleview Avenue, Lakeside. Call tel. 619/561-4331. Mid-October.

Halloween, San Francisco. The City by the Bay celebrates with a fantastical parade organized at Market and Castro, and a mixed gay-straight crowd revels in costumes of extraordinary imagination. October 31.

Doo Dah Parade, Pasadena. An outrageous spoof of the Rose Parade, featuring participants such as the Precision Briefcase Drill Team and a kazoo band. Call tel. 626/449-3689. Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Hollywood Christmas Parade. This spectacular star-studded parade marches through the heart of Hollywood. For information call tel. 323/469-2337. Sunday after Thanksgiving.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, San Diego. In honor of the late Theodore Geisel ("Dr. Seuss," a former San Diego resident), the lobby of Loews Coronado Bay Resort is transformed into Whoville, where the Cat in the Hat assembles eager young audiences for regular readings of the beloved Christmas story. Punch and cookies are served at this free event, and carolers also perform following each reading. For more information, call tel. 619/424-4000. December 1 to 24.

Christmas Boat Parade of Lights. Following longstanding tradition, sailors love to decorate their craft with colorful lights for the holidays. Several Southern California harbors hold nighttime parades to showcase these creations, which range from tiny dinghies draped with a single strand of lights to showy yachts with entire Nativity scenes twinkling on deck. Call the following for schedules and information: Ventura Harbor (tel. 805/642-6746), Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles; tel. 310/821-0555), Long Beach (tel. 562/435-4093), Huntington Harbour (tel. 714/840-7542), Mission Bay (San Diego; tel. 619/ 276-8200).

New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade, Big Bear Lake. Watch dozens of nighttime skiers follow a serpentine path down Snow Summit's ski slopes bearing glowing torches--it's one of the state's loveliest traditions. Afterward, the party continues indoors with live bands and plenty to eat and drink. For more information on this 21-and-over event, call tel. 909/866-5766.