Amenities and attractions of El Centro
Canadians escaping winter enjoy the sunshine and amenities of El Centro, California
January to April is a season full of activity in El Centro, California. The weather is temperate and spring rains make the surrounding desert bloom. This is the season for street fairs and festivals, and more annual outdoor community events are scheduled during this period than at any other time of year except, perhaps, Christmas.
A guide to exploring the Imperial Valley
The Imperial Valley Joint Chambers of Commerce, including that of El Centro, have collaborated to produce a booklet called Imperial Valley Escape to Adventure, which lists and describes at least 163 amenities and attractions within Imperial County.
The booklet includes maps and driving directions to historical sites, points of interest, recreational areas, wildlife sanctuaries and communities within the Imperial Valley. It lists festivals and other events according to the seasons when they are scheduled, and even has a set of instructions for staying safe if you venture into the desert.
Community festivals
El Centro itself plays host to an annual Snowbirds’ Breakfast in January and a variety of street fairs, parades and farmers markets throughout the year. The NAF-El Centro air show, featuring the Blue Angels, takes place annually in late March. In nearby Holtville, the self-proclaimed carrot capital of the world, you might want to take in the weeklong carrot festival held every year in March, as well as the world-famous rib cook-off.
A mariachi festival held during the third week of May is easily accessible in Calexico, just nine miles (14.48 kilometres) from El Centro. In Brawley, 15 miles (24 kilometres) from El Centro, a sweet onion festival takes place in May and a '70s-themed sugar festival—celebrating sugar beet production in the Imperial Valley—happens in June.
The pace slows down during the hottest months of July and August before picking up again in September with the annual Brawley Cattle Call rodeo. Even for those not enraptured by cowboy-type activities, the food and fiesta atmosphere will certainly prove enjoyable.
