The Tastiest Festivals on Catalina Island in the Fall
Way back in the late 1900s, Catalina Island was a seasonal destination. Once the fun of Labor Day weekend was done, Avalon rolled up the streets, locked the doors and shut the lights off until the following Memorial weekend.
Not literally.
But almost.
These days, while the crowds may thin a bit, the island is definitely a year round destination. That change is due in large part to the special events that dot the calendar in what used to be the off season. Offering just about something for everyone, the festivals on Catalina Island in the fall are just one more reason to visit during some of the best months of the year.
Oktoberfest: You’ve got a couple of options for celebrating autumn German style. At the Catalina Museum for Art & History the celebration will be held Sept. 27 and include brats, beers and a polka rock band. The Catalina Island Company is also getting into the spirit on Sept. 28 with an Oktoberfest shindig at its Flx Biergarten.
Buccaneer Days at Two Harbors: There will be plenty of beer, along with rum and just about every other alcoholic concoction you can contemplate, being consumed in Two Harbors during Buccaneer Days. If you’ve been looking for a reason to dress up like a pirate along with a few hundred new friends, Buccaneer Days, Oct. 3-5, is your chance.
Chili Cook-off: Back in Avalon, Oct. 5 brings the chill to South Beach when the Avalon Rotary hosts its annual Chili Cook-off. Some of the island’s best chili cookers will be competing for about $3,000 in prize money. In addition to sampling chili and voting on people’s choice, the cook-off will feature live music, plus beer and wine.
JazzTrax: Scheduled this year for Oct. 10-13 and 17-20, JazzTrax was one of the first events to extend the Catalina season into fall. This premiere smooth jazz experience shows no signs of slowing down, even after three decades of bringing some of the world’s best jazz artists to Avalon. Highlights this year include Oli Silk, Marcus Anderson, Blake Aaron, Booker T Jones and Candy Dulfer.
Fall Festival: Avalon really welcomes autumn at the annual Fall Festival, which brings together a number of local non-profit organizations who offer carnival style games, crafts and an assortment of food and drink options. This family fun fest also includes a pumpkin patch on the beach – perfect for family photos. The fun begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18.
Halloween: Most foodies would probably not describe buckets full of mass-produced chocolate confections as a taste treat, but for grade school kids, Halloween is the tastiest holiday of the year. Avalon does it up right, with a costume parade followed by trick or treating throughout the businesses along the waterfront. Prefer more grown-up Halloween pursuits? Avalon’s favorite watering holes all embrace costumes and other Halloween shenanigans.