Bishop likes to party. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or looking for a reason to return, these are some of the annual events that make Bishop one of the Eastern Sierra’s most vibrant communities.
Bishop Mule Days
No event is more closely associated with Bishop than Mule Days.
Founded in 1970, Mule Days has grown into one of the largest mule shows in the world, drawing competitors, spectators, packers, ranchers, and mule enthusiasts from across the country.
For five days each Memorial Day weekend, the Tri-County Fairgrounds come alive with packing competitions, team driving, trail classes, concerts, vendors, and one of the largest non-motorized parades in the United States.
Even if you’ve never thought much about mules, Mule Days tends to win people over.
Fishmas
Every spring, anglers descend on the Eastern Sierra for the opening day of trout season, traditionally held on the last Saturday in April. Long before sunrise, headlights begin winding into Bishop Creek Canyon while coffee shops, tackle stores, and campgrounds fill with anticipation.
For many families, opening day is less about catching fish and more about continuing a tradition that stretches back generations.
If you’ve never experienced fishing opener in Bishop, it’s worth seeing at least once.
Millpond Music Festival
For three days each September, Millpond County Park transforms into one of California’s most scenic music venues.
Set beneath towering cottonwoods with the Sierra Nevada rising in the distance, the festival brings together folk, Americana, bluegrass, roots, and singer-songwriter acts from across the country.
Bring a camp chair. Stay awhile.
Tri-County Fair
Since 1937, the Tri-County Fair has celebrated the communities of Inyo, Mono, and Alpine counties.
Held each Labor Day weekend, the fair combines livestock exhibitions, concerts, carnival rides, local food, agricultural displays, rodeo events, and small-town traditions that continue to bring generations together.
For many Owens Valley families, it’s a yearly tradition.
California High School Rodeo Finals
Each spring, hundreds of competitors and their families arrive in Bishop for the California High School Rodeo Finals.
Events include barrel racing, team roping, bull riding, goat tying, steer wrestling, and other rodeo disciplines that continue to play an important role in the culture of the American West.
These high school kids are no joke. The competition is serious.
Mill Creek Station
Throughout the year, Mill Creek Station hosts live music ranging from local musicians, touring bands, food vendors, cold drinks, and mountain views create one of the area’s most relaxed gathering places. The setting feels more backyard barbecue than concert venue, which is part of the appeal.
Flash Foxy Climbing Festival
What began as a small gathering has grown into one of the most recognized climbing festivals in the country.
Each year, climbers gather in Bishop for clinics, mentorship, stewardship projects, and community events centered around the world-famous climbing areas surrounding town.
The Buttermilks, Happy Boulders, and Owens River Gorge provide a pretty good backdrop.
Bishop High Sierra Ultras
Trail runners come from around the country to test themselves on the mountains surrounding Bishop.
The Bishop High Sierra Ultras offer multiple distances through rugged terrain, alpine scenery, and high-elevation landscapes that showcase some of the best trail running in California.
Fall Colors Season
It’s not a single event, but it might be the busiest season of the year.
Every autumn, aspens throughout Bishop Creek Canyon begin turning shades of gold, orange, and yellow. Photographers arrive before sunrise. Campgrounds fill. Scenic pullouts become gathering places.
For a few weeks each year, the canyon puts on one of the best fall color displays in the West.
A Community That Knows How to Celebrate
The best events in Bishop reflect the community itself.
Some are rooted in ranching and agriculture. Others celebrate music, recreation, history, or the outdoors. Together they create a calendar that keeps people returning throughout the year.
No matter when you visit, there’s a good chance something is happening.
