Get out there!

Grab your camera and a friend and head out to one of these great opportunities to practice your photography craft. 

If you know an event that should be added to this list, please email the RCC website coordinator, debbiedsd.dorothy@gmail.com.

 

Extensive Seasonal Ideas

Redlands Camera Club member Brian Spears maintains an extensive list of photo opportunities in Southern California:

https://www.bspnews.news/new-events

 

Seasonal Highlights

 

Renaissance Pleasure Faire

4/4-5/17
Irwindale, CA

Website

The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire has grown into an annual interactive playground and gallery for over 200,000 participants and guests. It has given birth to an industry nationwide and this year is more fun and exciting than ever.

 

Temecula Rod Run

5/1-2
Temecula, CA

Website

See over 500 pristine classics and under-construction projects, including Model A’s, T-Buckets, T-Birds, and Roadsters. The festivities kick off with the Friday Night Cruise from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm up and down Old Town Front Street.  The excitement continues the next day from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with the Saturday Show & Shine. 

 

Cinco de Mayo

5/5
[multiple locations]

Not Mexican Independence Day, which occurs in September, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of Mexico over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. More popular now in the US than in Mexico, this holiday has become a celebration of Mexican-American culture. Traditionally, this day is celebrated with parades, festivals, music, dance and Mexican food. For photographers, it’s an opportunity to capture brightly colored pageantry.

 

LA County Fair

5/7-31
Pomona, CA

Website

Barnyard races, Budweiser Clydesdales, live horse racing, fireworks, entertainment from around the world.

 

Crawfish Festival

5/15-17
Fountain Valley, CA

Website

Savor  a wide selection of New Orleans’s most iconic dishes — frog legs, catfish, gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, bread pudding, beignets, and more. Carnival games, petting zoo, and Cajun and Zydeco music.

 

Redlands Firefighters Car Show

5/24
Redlands, CA

Website

Classics, lowriders, imports, muscle, exotics, bikes — if it has wheels and a story, it belongs here. Come for the chrome. Stay for the attitude.

This event is a good opportunity to capture an image for the next RCC competition, in which Category X is ‘Americana’.

 

 

Memorial Day Celebrations

5/25
[multiple locations]

A national day of remembrance for those soldiers who have died while serving the country. Many cities will have ceremonies and parades. 

 

West Coast Thunder

5/25
Riverside, CA

Website

Each Year upwards of 7,500 motorcyclists pack the street of Indiana Avenue in Riverside, California to observe and participate in the tradition of West Coast Thunder. In honor of the fallen, riders make their way to Riverside Memorial Cemetery for a solemn ceremony, and to raise funds for the preservation of the cemetery.

 

San Bernardino County Fair

5/23-31
Victorville, CA

Website

The 2026 San Bernardino County Fair will have strolling entertainers, clowns, jugglers, live bands, carnival games, horse races, cart races, livestock competitions, and much much more.

 

 

Photogenic Events in Redlands

Run Through Redlands

March

Website

Every year, runners, walkers and riders (wheelchair) take part in these 5K, 10K and Half-Marathon competitions. The courses wind through beautiful Redlands’ tree-lined streets, past historic homes with breathtaking views of the San Bernardino Mountains. Additional event activities typically include a Kid’s Dash, Runner’s Expo and refreshments.

 

Redlands Bicycle Classic

April

Website

The Redlands Bicycle Classic is the longest continuous running stage race in American bike racing. From humble beginnings on a Memorial Day weekend in 1985 hosting future stars for the Olympics, Tour de France, and world championships, the Redlands Bicycle Classic has earned its position in history “Where Legends Are Born”.

 

Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival

Summer

Website

At 8:00 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday evening during the summer, the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival draws thousands to its world-class performances. Since its inception in 1924, the Bowl has been a special place in Redlands for families, friends, and music-lovers of all ages and backgrounds to gather and enjoy its superb programs.

 

Fourth of July Fireworks

July

Website

All-day activities at Sylvan Park set up this Independence Day celebration. Evening festivities tend to include displays from aircraft and skydivers followed by a ground firework displays and a long session of impressive aerials.

 

Redlands Firefighters Car Show

May

Website

The heart of historic downtown Redlands provides the perfect backdrop for snapshot of a gorgeous classic car … and the winning recipe for a nostalgia-filled stroll back in time.

 

Christmas Parade

December

Website

The annual Downtown Redlands Christmas Parade is a magical evening event in Downtown Redlands, with floats, musical performances and a visit from Santa Claus.

 

 

Photogenic Places in and near Redlands

 

Umbrella Alley

Ongoing
Redlands

Website

420 multicolored umbrellas covering the alley. 

 

Lincoln Shrine

Ongoing
Redlands

Webite

A memorial and research center dedicated to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America. 

 

A.K. Smiley Library

Ongoing
Redlands

Website

Established in 1894, A.K. Smiley Public Library has served generations of patrons. See this beautiful, historic building and attractive grounds.

 

Ed Hales Park

Ongoing
Redlands

Website

A small park with pavilion and stage, sister cities clock, and historic artwork in downtown Redlands.

 

Kimberly Crest

Ongoing
Redlands

Website

A national historic landmark, the home is a one-of-a-kind example of life during the Gilded Age in Southern California. 

 

University of Redlands

Ongoing
Redlands

Website

Established in 1907, the University of Redlands campus features a palm-lined main street, lush green lawns, and canopy of 100-year-old trees, where colonnaded buildings share space with modern structures. 

 

Murals of Downtown Redlands

Ongoing
Redlands

Website

Hummingbirds, Little Rascals, bandstands, and more. Take a walk around downtown Redlands to view and photograph some 40 works of art decorating the walls of Redlands’ downtown district.

 

Sculpture Art

Ongoing
Redlands

Website

Steel and glass, sails, clocks, dancing geometric figures, atomic structures. Redlands has a number of sculptures in public places. Aside from the general experience, these pieces provide an exceptional opportunity for capturing some abstract images.

 

Crystal Cove State Park

Ongoing 
Newport Beach

Website

On the beach: rolling surf, sandy beaches, tidepools. Landside: gently sloping hills, and deeply wooded canyons and ridges.  A great opportunity to capture the coastal sunset.

 

Tahquitz and Indian Canyons

Ongoing 
Palm Springs

Website

Tahquitz Canyon is one of the most beautiful and culturally sensitive areas of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation. Tahquitz Canyon is home to a spectacular seasonal 60-foot waterfall, rock art, ancient irrigation systems, native wildlife, and plants. Protect yourself with sunscreen and a good hat, and be sure to stay hydrated.

 

Weekend Farmer’s Markets

Ongoing
various locations

Check out one of the many Farmer’s Markets displaying local fruits, vegetables and more. Nearby options include Redlands, Yucaipa, Ontario and Claremont. 

 

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