The Best Performing Arts

The San Francisco Opera: This world-class company performs at the War Memorial Opera House, modeled after the Opéra Garnier in Paris. The season opens with a gala in September and runs through December. This was the first municipal opera in the United States, and its productions and members have been acclaimed throughout the world.

The American Conservatory Theater (San Francisco): The A.C.T. is one of the nation's leading regional theaters. It's been called the American equivalent of the British National Theatre, the Berliner Ensemble, and the Comédie Française in Paris.

World Championship Great Arcata to Ferndale Cross-Country Kinetic Sculpture Race (Arcata): One of California's most bizarre outdoor events, the Kinetic Sculpture Race is a 3-day event every Memorial Day weekend where people-powered vehicles trudge over land, sand, mud, and water. The competition draws more than 10,000 spectators.

The Monterey Jazz Festival: When the third weekend of September rolls around, the Monterey Fairgrounds hosts this classic, drawing jazz fans from around the world. The 3-day festival (which is usually sold out about a month in advance) is known for presenting the sweetest jazz west of the Mississippi.

The Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles): This iconic outdoor amphitheater is the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a stage for visiting virtuosos -- including the occasional pop star -- and the setting for splendid fireworks shows throughout the summer.

Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters (Laguna Beach): These events draw crowds to the Orange County coast every July and August. Begun in 1932 by a handful of painters, the festival has grown to showcase hundreds of artists. In the evening, crowds marvel at the Pageant of the Masters' tableaux vivants, in which costumed townsfolk pose inside a giant frame and depict famous works of art, accompanied by music and narration.

The Old Globe (San Diego): This Tony Award-winning theater, fashioned after Shakespeare's original stage, produced recent stage hits The Full Monty and the revival of Damn Yankees before they hit Broadway, and has billed such notable performers as John Goodman, Hal Holbrook, and Ellen Burstyn. The outdoor Shakespeare each summer is often a winner.

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