13 Awesome Festivals to Hit in Mammoth Lakes This Year

Mammoth Lakes , California , is a twelvemonth - circle attraction for smashing festivals . From the culinary to the cultural to the kamikaze ( really ) , we ’ve flesh out up the most indispensable events to hit on two legs or two wheels , at every elevation .

1.Annual Pond Skim(4/17)

Skiers and riders contend for style points as they skip across the weewee , trying to make it across a pool built just for the effect and often attempt to stick a trick or two in the mental process . It ’s open to all , but costume command . Go on , make an endeavor .

2.Mammoth Lakes Film Festival(5/25 - 5/29)

The Eastern Sierra ’s result to Sundance feature more than 50 features and shorts from all over the world . Hollywood major power - broker and cinema - loving normals likewise gathering for five day of gore discussions with filmmakers , nightly screenings and outcome , and the apex – the riddance - style Feature Film Tournament . While the buzz is everywhere , the fete is internal enough not to overwhelm the townspeople , so you may still numerate on a painless tripper from SoCal , and easy - to - nab dinner party reservations .

3.Monster Energy Mammoth Motocross(6/17 - 6/26)

If you have n’t yet attend the longest running motocross event in the US , make 2016 the yr you desex that . The scenery – 8,000 ft up in the Sierra Nevada mountain mountain range – rocks , and the epinephrin ( if not the athleticism ) , is contagious . Riders must nail six modification events around California on the path to this , the grandaddy of them all . watch out them combat it out by day , and savvy out your Hawaiian shirt for the official Monster Energy Mammoth Motocross Afterparty at 53 Kitchen & Cocktails .

4.Fred Hall Father’s Day Fishing Tournament(6/18 - 6/19)

Does n’t your dad merit a daytime of merriment alternatively of a crappy card and another bottle of aftershave ? travel to the Mammoth Lakes Basin during Father ’s Day weekend , take your biggest catch to Rick ’s Sport Center at 3241 Main Street , and differentiate " It was this bad ! " stories for years to come . Last twelvemonth ’s prizes included Okuma rod and spool , tackle box , bivouacking gear , Rapalla mathematical product , and of class , that prize – AKA proof .

5.Mammoth Lakes Half Marathon And 5K(6/19)

Mammoth Lakes ' mellow altitude is great for training and the persuasion are a refreshing change from the cities in which competitive runner usually compete . Sure , the strain is a little sparse but there ’s also mi and miles of good news , too : much of this one-half battle of Marathon is DOWNHILL , not to mention it ’s one of the most beautiful footraces in the humankind , and there ’s also a 5 honey oil option . Up the ante with the San Diego - Mammoth Lakes Challenge and run both half marathons in the same yr for major bragging rights .

6.June Lake Triathlon & Festival(7/9)

get together the High Sierra Tri Club for " The toughest race in the most beautiful home " . Tackle four unlike distances – Half - Iron , Aquabike , Olympic , and Sprint – or go way beyond with the Graniteman : three days of suffering fun that let in a 2.4mi swim , 102mi bike ride , and 12.4mi draw that ’s all uphill . Just desire to do one section ? Corral a few friends and sign up for the relay partitioning . Even if you recognize and love Mammoth Lakes well , the extra air mile are worth it for views dub " The Swiss Alps of the Sierra . "

7.Mammoth Wine and Food Experience(7/15 & 7/16)

The fun kicks off on Friday Night at The Village at Mammoth , where more than a XII wine maker decant tastings of more than 50 wines , plus palate cleansers , all support by alive amusement and vendue . On Saturday , catch the Celebrity Chef Battle and Grand Tasting , which is held outside at the Edison Pavilion and let in more than 100 vino from 20 winery , pair with the best dishes from local restaurants like Petra ’s Bistro & Wine Bar , Whitebark , Restaurant Skadi , Lakefront , and more .

8.13th Annual Villagefest(7/29 - 7/31)

The “ World ’s Highest Rib Cook - Off ” perdition chef against chef in a no - holds - bar , mano - a - mano for the title of Best Ribs , Best Chicken , and Best Chili . Everyone make headway . Well , except for vegetarians . Wash down the tasty vittles with libations from the beer and wine garden , and be sure to jibe out local artisans ' handiwork in the graphics walk between track . Post BBQ - siesta , enjoy free concerts that typically admit some of the good tribute bands in the commonwealth and stick around for the Sunday Crawdad Festival .

9.Kids Fishing Festival(7/30)

Give a Thomas Kid a Pisces the Fishes and he ’ll implore for chicken finger . instruct him to fish and he ’ll furnish dinner party for years to come . This annual consequence is free for children under 14 , and from 8 am to 1 premier , your little angler can try out to nab some local stop . Rods and reels will be provided , and so will some guidance from professional fishing guides . But it ’s BYOK ( bring in your own kid ) .

10.Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza(8/4 - 8/7)

This Coachella of vapors and brews kicking off on Thursday nighttime , runs all the way until Sunday , and is bigger than ever this twelvemonth . There are now twice as many tasting days – SaturdayandSunday – to sample suds from more than 100 beer maker , and a high-up beer tasting on Thursday . Check out the new Acoustic Stage to supplement the principal leg , and the distil spirit tasting and cigar bar lounge . desire in ? Get those tickets today because “ Bluesa ” sells out months in feeler .

11.Mammoth Margarita Festival(8/12 & 8/13)

Music and margs in the wad … what could be better ? The Mammoth Margarita Festival kicks off late on Friday good afternoon in The Village at Mammoth , with more margarita Browning automatic rifle than you could rock a swizzle stick at as well as dandy live tunes . Be certain to redeem some gas for the chief effect on Saturday – a three - time of day tequila taste that include blancos , amber , jovens , reposados , Añejos , and at least one random fop in a poncho sing the mostly instrumental smasher from The Champs , “ Tequila . "

12.Mammoth Gran Fondo9/10

The Mammoth Gran Fondo cycle raceway has been on the go for 22 years , but is change it up a little this twelvemonth with the plus of a time KOM / QOM ( King / Queen of the mountain ) incision , a squad / corporate challenge that should ache slightly less than rouge balling , and more than 3/4 of the road closed to traffic . Entry to space ride – 102mi , 70mi , and 42mi – arrest you memory access to to the full stocked repose plosive consonant , exposure of you in military action , timed results , and , most importantly , approach to the post - ride after - party at The Village at Mammoth . And thighs of brand , of course .

13.Mammoth Kamikaze Bike Games9/15-9/18

Mammoth is the place of birth of competitive downhill plenty biking , and the Kamikaze Bike Games is spearheaded by Mountain Bike Hall of Famer , Bill Cockroft – so this four - twenty-four hours event has double cred . It include survival , downhill , crown of thorns - country , treble slalom ( that just sound scary ) , and clunker races , as well as a few importantly less wild options for the kids . And there ’s also an exposition , because why should you have to go to Sea Otter or Interbike to see the latest and great ? Other fun includes live medicine , not bad intellectual nourishment , and plenty of beer .