Festivals and Activities in Bodega Bay, California

No visit to the Northern California Coast would be complete without a stop in the quirky seaside town of Bodega Bay.

All Hail the King (salmon that is)

As expected, this Northern California coastal town is heavily into fish. And to celebrate the start of the salmon fishing season, Bodega Bay's 34th Annual Fisherman's Festival will take place on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22.

The Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival is packed with special events, activities, food booths (including seafood of course), wine tasting, entertainment and raffle prizes. Live music at the two-day festival includes Cajun, Latin Funk Rock, Blues, classic Rock-n-Roll and a local jazz group called Swing Street. Other major events include a crafts fair, exhibit, kite flying lessons, and a golf tournament

Decorated boats will parade out of the harbor on Sunday morning, gathering outside the jetties to receive blessings of the fleet by a local clergyman. A flower wreath is cast on the waters to honor fishermen who have lost their lives in this dangerous occupation. The Fisherman's Festival also has a Parade of Pets, Llamas and Antique Cars.

The Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival features a new event this year, the Wooden Boat Challenge. On Saturday morning, four-person teams will begin with the same materials (lumber, nails, screws, duct tape and more) and attempt to build a seaworthy vessel capable of carrying at least one of them on a short race in Bodega Harbor. Multiple prizes and trophies will be awarded, and each team member gets a free tee shirt.

Bring the kids! The festival will have plenty of fun things for children to do, including Face Painting, games and more at the Clown Lagoon.

The Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival will be held at Westside Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. It's $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and kids under 12 are free. There's plenty of parking, and dogs are welcome, too!

Other Bodega Bay Activities

Chartered sportfishing trips abound in Bodega Bay, California. Whether you want to catch salmon, rock cod, ling cod, halibut, Dungeness Crab or albacore, there are daily trips aboard fast, modern vessels with a highly trained crew. Whale watching trips are also available, but only from January through the end of April.

At the Hagemann Ranch Trout Farm, you can fish at their pond which has been stocked with plentiful rainbow trout for more than 25 years. The Trout Farm is nestled in the hills on a 219-acre sheep and cattle ranch, located off Highway One near Bodega Bay. You can also enjoy their scenic picnic grounds for free.

Not into fishing? Bodega Bay has plenty of other things to do. Sunbathers, beachcombers, surfers and kayakers will enjoy the beautiful Bodega Bay beaches. Salmon Creek is a wide expanse of beach and a great spot for families. Surfers find this beach one of the best to catch a wave, kids like it for skim-boarding, and tots can splash in the calm waters of the creek. Goat Rock Beach is the spot for kayakers and those who simply enjoy a great ocean view. Portuguese Beach is one of the Sonoma Coast's most expansive beaches, great for walking and surf wading.

Golfers can practice their swing at the Bodega Harbour Golf Links, an 18-hole Scottish links style course by Robert Trent Jones Jr. It's open seven days a week, year round.

If you've always wanted to go horseback riding on the beach, Chanslor Stables offers guided trail rides with breathtaking ocean views, on gentle, well-behaved horses. Ride along the Sonoma Coast or atop the canyon hills for an unforgettable horseback riding experience.

Whatever you choose to do in Bodega Bay, California, one thing is for certain. You will have a wonderful time!