Mammoth Lakes hosts some of the Eastern Sierra’s biggest events, from nationally recognized mountain bike and running races to music festivals, film screenings, food events, and community celebrations. Whether you’re planning a trip around a specific event or simply looking for something happening during your visit, these are some of Mammoth’s signature annual events.
Races & Competitions
Fishing Opener (April)
Forget Christmas. Around the Eastern Sierra, Fishmas is the holiday that matters. Every spring, anglers from across California descend on the region for the Eastern Sierra Fishing Opener, turning campgrounds, lakes, rivers, and small-town coffee shops into gathering places for people chasing trout and tradition. Whether you’re standing shoulder-to-shoulder at Crowley Lake before sunrise or casting into a quiet stretch of the Owens River, the Fishing Opener is less about catching fish and more about participating in one of the longest-running outdoor traditions in the Eastern Sierra. For many, it’s the event that marks the true beginning of spring.
Mammoth Motocross (June)
Mammoth Motocross is loud, dusty, and completely unlike anything else happening in the Eastern Sierra. Every summer, thousands of riders descend on Mammoth Mountain to race one of the most legendary amateur motocross events in the country. Future champions have launched their careers here, while spectators get a front-row seat to high-flying jumps, fierce competition, and a week-long celebration of motocross culture. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or simply curious why there are dirt bikes everywhere, Mammoth Motocross is worth experiencing at least once.
Mammoth Half Marathon (June)
The Mammoth Half Marathon might be one of the few races where you’re equally focused on the scenery and the suffering. Starting high above Mammoth Lakes, runners descend through towering pines, open meadows, and some of the most beautiful mountain terrain in California. The course is fast by mountain race standards, but the elevation ensures nobody gets a free ride. Whether you’re chasing a PR or simply looking for an excuse to spend a weekend in Mammoth, it’s one of the signature running events in the Eastern Sierra.
Mammoth Gran Fondo (September)
The Mammoth Gran Fondo is one of California’s premier cycling events, attracting riders from across the country to tackle some of the most scenic and challenging roads in the Eastern Sierra. Participants climb thousands of vertical feet while riding through mountain passes, high desert landscapes, and iconic Sierra scenery. With multiple route options available, the event welcomes both experienced cyclists chasing personal records and recreational riders looking for an unforgettable day in the saddle. Whether you’re racing or simply cheering from the sidelines, the Gran Fondo showcases why Mammoth Lakes has become a bucket-list
Mammoth Trailfest (September)
Mammoth Trailfest is what happens when you combine world-class trails, a mountain town, and a few thousand runners who think climbing thousands of feet before breakfast sounds like a good time. The multi-day event attracts everyone from first-time trail runners to elite ultramarathon athletes and has quickly become one of the signature endurance events in the Eastern Sierra. Even if you’re not racing, the energy around town makes it worth experiencing.
Mammoth 200 (October)
Not all races are created equal. The Mammoth 200 is one of the most demanding ultramarathons in the country, covering roughly 200 miles through the Eastern Sierra with more than 40,000 feet of elevation gain. Runners spend multiple days traversing high-altitude terrain, enduring sleep deprivation, extreme weather, and the kind of physical suffering that somehow attracts ultrarunners year after year. Even if you’re not racing, it’s one of the most impressive athletic events to take place in Mammoth Lakes.
Concerts & Festivals
Mammoth Lakes Film Festival (May)
Not every Mammoth adventure happens on a trail. Each spring, the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival brings filmmakers, storytellers, and film fans to the Eastern Sierra for a week of screenings, premieres, and conversations with some of the most exciting voices in independent cinema. What started as a small mountain-town film festival has evolved into one of the premier showcases for independent film in North America. Whether you’re a dedicated cinephile or simply looking for something different after a day in the mountains, the festival offers a chance to trade trail shoes for theater seats without sacrificing the Mammoth experience.
Mammoth Feel Good Festival (June)
The Mammoth Feel Good Festival is exactly what it sounds like: a weekend dedicated to moving your body, getting outside, and celebrating the lifestyle that draws so many people to the Eastern Sierra. Expect a mix of fitness classes, wellness programming, outdoor adventures, live music, local vendors, and community events, all set against the backdrop of Mammoth’s mountains and forests. Part mountain-town gathering and part wellness festival, it’s a reminder that feeling good doesn’t always require much more than fresh air, good people, and a weekend in the mountains.
VillageFest (Summer)
If you’re looking for the closest thing Mammoth has to a town square, head to VillageFest. Held throughout the summer in The Village at Mammoth, the weekly event combines live music, local vendors, food, beer, and a steady flow of visitors and locals enjoying long summer evenings in the mountains. You’ll find everything from handcrafted goods and outdoor gear to street performers and live bands. It’s equal parts community gathering, summer celebration, and excuse to linger a little longer after a day on the trail. For visitors, VillageFest is one of the easiest ways to experience Mammoth beyond the mountains.
Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza (July 2027)
For decades, Bluesapalooza was the event that defined summer in Mammoth. Thousands gathered beneath the pines to sample craft beer, listen to world-class blues musicians, and spend a weekend proving that mountain towns know how to throw a party. It was part beer festival, part music festival, and part annual reunion for people who returned year after year. While the festival is currently taking a break, its legacy remains woven into Mammoth’s culture, and its anticipated return is one of the most talked-about events on the Eastern Sierra calendar. For many longtime visitors, summer in Mammoth simply isn’t complete without Bluesapalooza.
Mammoth Food & Wine Experience (August)
After a day spent earning your calories on the trail, the Mammoth Food & Wine Experience is where you cash them in. The multi-day event brings chefs, winemakers, brewers, and food lovers together for tastings, dinners, and culinary experiences set against one of the most beautiful backdrops in California. Think mountain-town energy meets wine country sophistication. Whether you’re sampling local craft beverages, attending a chef-driven dinner, or simply looking for an excuse to spend a weekend eating and drinking exceptionally well, the Mammoth Food & Wine Experience proves that Mammoth’s appeal extends far beyond powder days and trailheads.
Night of Lights (December)
If you’ve ever wanted to see a mountain literally light up, Night of Lights is your chance. Every December, Mammoth Mountain celebrates the arrival of winter with a torchlight parade, fireworks, live music, and enough holiday energy to make even the grinchiest skier crack a smile. Thousands gather at the base of the mountain as glowing lines of skiers and snowboarders snake down the slopes before fireworks explode overhead. Equal parts winter celebration and mountain-town tradition, Night of Lights is one of those events that reminds you why Mammoth in winter feels a little bit magical.
Mammoth Mountain Weekend Apres Paries (Winter)
Mammoth has always understood that some of the best moments happen after the adventure. Mountain Apres is a celebration of that philosophy. After the last ski run, trail mile, fishing cast, or climbing pitch, locals and visitors gather for live music, craft beer, good food, and stories from the day. Equal parts mountain-town tradition and social gathering, it’s a reminder that adventure doesn’t always end at the trailhead.
There is no shortage of events in Mammoth Lakes. Follow Mammoth Lakes Tourism to learn more.
