California Roots Music and Art Festival

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MusicMonterey
DatesDates TBA · Usually MayCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival occupies historically
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

California Roots Music and Art Festival in Monterey

California Roots, known as Cali Roots, has grown from a single-day 2010 debut headlined by Dirty Heads and Tribal Seeds into a three-day reggae and reggae-rock festival drawing more than 11,000 fans per day to the Monterey County Fairgrounds, the same grounds where Jimi Hendrix famously set his guitar on fire at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.

In 2010, promoter Jeff Monser launched a one-day reggae and reggae-rock show at the Monterey County Fairgrounds, headlined by Dirty Heads and Tribal Seeds, without much indication that it would grow into anything beyond a regional one-off.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival occupies historically significant ground: the Monterey County Fairgrounds hosted the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, the event where Jimi Hendrix set his guitar alight on stage, a moment now embedded in rock history, giving Cali Roots a direct physical link to that earlier festival even though its own genre focus, reggae and reggae rock, differs sharply

02

The mystery stays covered

Founded in 2010 by Jeff Monser as a modest one-day show, it has grown into what organizers describe as the largest reggae-rock festival in the world, expanding to three full days without abandoning its founding genre focus for a broader festival lineup

03

The city starts moving

Early editions featured live painting performed on stage alongside the music, a visual-art pairing the festival maintained through 2019 before discontinuing it

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Cali Roots continues California's reggae and reggae-rock festival tradition that grew out of the state's long-standing surf and skate-adjacent music scenes

Water and renewal

Living ritual

blending Jamaican-rooted reggae with West Coast rock influences

The sacred route

Living ritual

Its setting on the historic Monterey Pop Festival grounds situates it within a broader lineage of major Monterey music festivals dating back to the 1960s counterculture era

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually May

Getting around

Use Monterey transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Casual, beach-and-festival-style clothing fits the reggae culture atmosphere; comfortable shoes for standing on fairground surfaces and layers for cool Monterey evenings, since coastal fog...

Safety

At California Roots Music and Art Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Monterey, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map36.60 N, 121.89 WOpen in Google Maps

Monterey, CA

Nearest airportSJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose
TransportUse Monterey transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Monterey, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Monterey via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Monterey, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for May.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, beach-and-festival-style clothing fits the reggae culture atmosphere; comfortable shoes for standing on fairground surfaces and layers for cool Monterey evenings, since coastal fog can drop temperatures after sunset even in warmer months.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is California Roots Music and Art Festival?

California Roots Music and Art Festival is listed for Past edition: 22–24 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does California Roots Music and Art Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Monterey, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Monterey, CA

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLcaliforniarootsfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually May
Source statusOfficial source linked
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