The 16th annual California Roots Music & Art Festival returns to the Monterey County Fairgrounds May 28–30, 2027. Gates open at 11:00 AM each day, music starts at 12:00 PM and the last set wraps at 11:00 PM. Good Vibez Presents produces the festival, and tickets are on sale now through Tixr, the official ticketing partner. The 2027 lineup has not been announced yet.
What Cali Roots is
Cali Roots has spent more than a decade building a festival around reggae rock, island reggae, roots reggae, folk and conscious hip-hop. The festival describes the weekend as an experience that stimulates all senses through a release of creativity, and it pairs the music with a long-running commitment to sustainability and social causes.
Who has played Cali Roots
The festival's own list of past performers includes Rebelution, SOJA, Dirty Heads, The Roots, Slightly Stoopid, Ben Harper, Stick Figure, Iration, Tash Sultana, Dispatch, Damian Marley, 311, Nas, Stephen Marley, Jurassic 5, Michael Franti, Protoje, Cypress Hill, Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Atmosphere, E-40 and Chronixx. Lineups going back to 2010 are posted on the official site.
Green by design
Cali Roots was certified as the first green festival in California in 2020 and is a Certified Green Business in Monterey County. Its Steel Pint and REVERB Rock n' Refill programs have diverted more than 600,000 single-use plastic cups and bottles, and the free onsite Bike & Skate Valet has parked almost 5,000 skateboards and bikes.
The festival has also planted almost 7,500 redwood seedlings and raised funds for Surfrider Foundation, Save Our Shores and the Last Plastic Straw.
Tickets, kids and wristbands
Tixr is the only official ticket vendor, and all sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges. Children 10 and under get free general admission with a paying adult. In the Redwood VIP areas, kids ages 4–10 need a 3-Day Kids VIP Access Ticket, and children 3 and under don't need a ticket.
Every ticket is exchanged for a wristband at entry, and that wristband is your only access to the festival for the weekend.
What to bring and what to leave
Bring proof of your ticket, a government-issued photo ID and a credit or debit card or cash. Bars and merch areas are cashless and take cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, while other vendors take cash. Bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches are allowed and are searched at entry.
Clear bags, empty water bottles, blankets, non-aerosol sunscreen, medical devices and diaper bags are welcome, and bikes and skateboards go to the bike valet. Leave weapons, alcohol, illegal substances, drones, pets other than service animals, large bags and backpacks, chairs, tents, coolers and outside food and drinks at home. Food vendors offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
Venue
The Monterey County Fairgrounds is at 2004 Fairgrounds Rd, Monterey, CA 93940. The festival falls on Memorial Day weekend in a small coastal city, so book lodging early. Check the official site for last-minute changes.
More music on the calendar
BottleRock Napa Valley 2027 lands at Napa Valley Expo the same weekend if you're weighing your options. Before then, past Cali Roots act Slightly Stoopid plays Cali Road Trippin' at The Venue at Thunder Valley in Lincoln this October.