Topanga Days 2025: A Bohemian Rhapsody in the Canyon

By Tessa Krause

May 7, 2025

Tucked in the wild, winding embrace of Topanga Canyon, where the Santa Monica Mountains hum with a mystic pulse, the Topanga Days Music Festival returns for its 50th anniversary this Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, 2025. This annual events is more than a festival, it’s a three-day pilgrimage for the free-spirited, a fundraiser for the Topanga Community Center (TCC), and a living testament to the canyon’s bohemian soul. Picture Woodstock’s rebellious heart meeting a quirky, small-town carnival, complete with sack races, pie-eating contests, and a parade that’s equal parts chaos and charm. With a killer lineup of bands, a slate of gloriously absurd games, and a Monday morning parade led by a 99-year-old WWII vet, Topanga Days 2025 is ready to crank the volume on community, music, and unfiltered joy.

The Soundtrack: Eclectic, Electric, and Pure Topanga

The Main Stage at Topanga Days has always been a launchpad for sonic alchemy, and this year’s lineup, curated with the precision of a crate-digger’s fever dream, delivers. Headliners Allah-Las kick off Saturday with their sun-soaked, neo-psychedelic surf rock, channeling the hazy vibes of their Los Angeles roots. Expect reverb-drenched guitars and a setlist that feels like cruising PCH with the top down. Following them, The Spazmatics bring their nerdy-chic ‘80s new wave energy, promising a dance party that’s half irony, half ecstasy. Regina Ferguson’s soulful croon and Dark Desert Highway’s gritty Eagles-inspired riffs keep the afternoon raw, while James Houlahan’s folk-tinged storytelling opens the day with introspective grit.

Sunday’s lineup leans into funk and groove, with Orgone headlining. Their Afro-soul-funk fusion is a sweaty, horn-heavy call to the dancefloor, blending Fela Kuti’s fire with James Brown’s swagger. The Greenhorn Brothers, Topanga’s own country-rock poets, weave tales of love and loss born in late-night canyon jam sessions, their sound echoing Neil Young and The Byrds. Nonie Shore’s bluesy grit and The Chester Copper Pot’s genre-bending jams round out a day that’s as eclectic as the canyon itself.

Monday closes with a bang as English Beat brings their ska-punk legend status to the stage, their hits like “Mirror in the Bathroom” guaranteed to spark a skanking frenzy. Chevy Metal, a side project of Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins, delivers raw, unfiltered rock covers, while Cubensis channels the Grateful Dead’s cosmic sprawl. Miracle Glass Company and Mr. Ginger Merkin add psych-rock and folk flourishes, ensuring the festival ends on a high note—literally and figuratively. Producer Nonie Shore calls this “the best quality of bands Topanga Days has ever had,” and it’s hard to argue.

Games: Where Whimsy Meets Wackiness

Topanga Days isn’t just about the music—it’s about letting your inner kid run wild. The festival’s ballfield games are a glorious mash-up of nostalgia and absurdity, scheduled across all three days. Saturday starts with bubble gum blowing and “yeehaw yodeling” at noon, followed by sack races at 1:30 p.m. and three-legged races at 3:15 p.m. Musical chairs at 5:00 p.m. is less a game and more a contact sport. Sunday ups the ante with water balloon basketball at noon, cherry seed spitting at 1:30 p.m. (pro tip: aim away from the crowd), and the infamous pie-eating contest at 3:15 p.m., where faces meet dessert in a gloriously messy spectacle. Monday keeps it light with egg tosses and more sack races, ensuring no one leaves without a laugh or a stain. The Kids’ Fun Zone, with face painting, a giant slide, and bounce house, keeps the little hippies entertained, while adults can try their luck at the cherry seed spit or just cheer from the sidelines with a sangria in hand.

The Parade: A Rolling Circus of Canyon Pride

If Topanga Days is the canyon’s heart, the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., is its pulse. Starting at Pine Tree Circle and ending at the TCC, this isn’t your cookie-cutter parade. It’s a kaleidoscope of floats, firetrucks, kids, dogs, and whatever else Topangans dream up at the last minute. This year’s Grand Marshal, 99-year-old WWII veteran and 50-year Topanga resident Bill Dillon, leads the charge, his life of service a reminder of the community’s deep roots. Gabbi Beauvais sings the National Anthem, Drew Harper’s trumpet wails “Reveille,” and the flag-raising ceremony sets a tone of pride and unity. Limited to 50 participants (first come, first served), the parade is a fundraiser in itself, with local businesses pitching in $500 donations to “Maintain the Parade.” Shout-out to Gates Security for donating personnel and equipment to keep the chaos organized.

The Vibe: A Community on Fire

Topanga Days isn’t just a party—it’s the TCC’s biggest fundraiser, a 501(c)3 nonprofit lifeline that keeps the community center alive. With costs skyrocketing, the festival leans hard on sponsors like the Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation, Molson Coors, and The Wright Way Team with Compass Realty. Tickets (presale ends May 23 at 11:59 p.m.) are a steal for TCC members, who get 50% off, and free for military with ID. Kids 5 and under get in free, and the $5 Saturday kids’ ticket is a no-brainer for families. Shuttles run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily along Topanga Canyon Blvd., so park smart or risk a tow.

The festival’s roots trace back to the 1960s Strawberry Festival, evolving into a counterculture beacon that once hosted Neil Young, Canned Heat, and Etta James. Today, it’s a family-friendly blowout that still channels that flower-power ethos. Vegan food trucks, craft booths, and a sangria bar keep the vibes high, while the canyon’s natural beauty coyotes howling, oaks whispering, grounds it all in something primal. As Nonie Shore puts it, “This is about supporting your local community center while having a damn good time.”

Why You Can’t Miss It

Topanga Days 2025 is more than a festival it’s a time capsule, a middle finger to commercialization, and a love letter to a community that refuses to lose its soul. Whether you’re skanking to English Beat, spitting cherry seeds, or cheering a makeshift float in the parade, you’re part of something bigger. Grab your tickets at topangadays.com, become a TCC member for discounts, and get ready to lose yourself in the canyon’s magic. As the Allah-Las might say, it’s just another strange day in Topanga and you won’t want to be anywhere else.

For the full band schedule, game times, and parade details, visit https://festbeat.com/events/united-states/california/topanga/topanga-days/

🎟️ Topanga Days 2025: Quick Guide

📅 Dates:
Saturday, May 24 – Monday, May 26, 2025
(Parade: Monday, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)

📍 Location:
Topanga Community Center
1440 N Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA 90290

🎫 Tickets:

• Presale ends May 23 @ 11:59 p.m.
• TCC Members: $27.50–$72.50 (50% off)
• Non-Members: $55–$145
• Kids 5 & under: Free
• Military (Monday): Free with valid ID
  👉 Buy Tickets Here

🚌 Shuttles:

• Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. daily
• Stops: Viewridge Estates, The Corral, Flying Pig Turnout, Café 27, North of Oakwood, Froggy’s Fish Restaurant, Topanga School Road, Topanga Market Parking Lot
• Parking Tips: Park legally or risk towing; shuttle service runs every 10–15 minutes
  👉 Shuttle Info

🎶 Highlights:

• Saturday: Allah-Las, Spazmatics, Regina Ferguson
• Sunday: The English Beat, Orgone, Greenhorn Brothers
• Monday: Chevy Metal, Cubensis, The Chester Copperpot
  👉 Full Lineup

🎈 Parade:

• Start: 8:30 a.m. from Pine Tree Circle
• Grand Marshal: 99-year-old WWII vet Bill Dillon
• Entry Fees: $30–$50 per float (limited to 50 entries)
  👉 Parade Details

🍴 Food & Fun:

• Vegan, BBQ, funnel cakes, ice cream, sangria bar
• Kids’ Fun Zone: Bounce houses, face painting, dunk tank
  👉 Festival Info