Calendar of Events
San Luis Obispo offers many special activities adding even more fun to your visit – or even make it the purpose of your trip.
There’s always a fun event going on in San Luis Obispo County – Wine Festivals – Winery Events – Farmers Markets – Food Festivals – Plays – Summer Concerts – Art Fairs – Nature Watching – Family Events – Car Shows – Holiday Activities – Nightlife. Listed below are just some of the fun events that are being enjoyed thru the end of this week.
Use the “Search by Date” calculator in this comprehensive community calendar and discover the many great special activities happening during your visit.
* San Luis Obispo County VCB is not responsible for event changes, cancellations, etc.
Click Here for 3 page PDF of "This Week in SLO County" for July 30 - August 5, 2010.
California Mid-State Fair Poster - July 21 - August 1, 2010
Web Page with downloadable PDF's of Weekly Summer Concerts in SLO County - Most FREE !
Click Here for 3 Page PDF "101 Romantic Things to Do in San Luis Obispo County"
PDF of “2010 Events throughout SLO County”
PDF of 175+ FREE & Fun Things to Do in San Luis Obispo County
Event Search
Click For a MapSpecial Events
Bright & Early Wednesday Walking Tours - SLO
Date(s):
Through Dec.
29th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Wednesday morning, SLO Walking Tours offer a special early morning version of their fun and informative walking tours of beautiful and historic downtown San Luis Obispo. During the approximately 80 minute tour you'll see and learn about The Mission, Old Chinatown and Bubble Gum Alley and hear about such famous personalities as William Randolph Hearst, Julia Morgan, and even Timothy Leary and their part in the town's fascinating history. Space is limited so please call to reserve a space and for information about where to meet.
Times: 11 AM
Location: Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Address: 1000 Chorro St
Event City: San Luis Obispo
Phone: 805.215.3228
Parking: Charge in Nearby Lot
Low Admission: $10
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Hike to Avila Lighthouse - Avila Beach
Date(s):
Through Dec.
29th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday, Saturday
Most Wednesdays & Saturdays (and some other days), take a guided hike along the beautiful Pecho Coast Trail. See the old Point San Luis Lighthouse (built 1890), as well as beautiful views of the harbor. The trail is only open during these times. Must be 9 years or older, and you must be in good physical shape. Hikes last about 4 hours. Saturday offers one fast and one slower hike. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Times: 8:45 AM
Location: Pecho Coast Trail
Event City: Avila Beach
Phone: 805.541.8735
Parking: Free in nearby lot
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Life Drawing @ Art Gallery - SLO
Date(s):
Feb.
10th
–
24th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Join the life drawing students on Wednesday mornings in the Nybak Wing. A model is provided, along with some instruction if desired.
Times: 9:00am - 12:00pm and 6:30-9:30
Location: San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
Address: 1010 Broad Street at Mission Plaza
Event City: San Luis Obispo
Phone: 805.543.8562
Sponsor: SLO Art Center
Parking: Charge on Street
Low Admission: $10 for members
High Admission: $12 for nonmembers
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Reverse Wine Dinner - Paso Robles
Date(s):
Through Mar.
17th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Each Wednesday night Il Cortile Ristorante will welcome top local wineries; one featured each week and offer three selected varietals. Once your wine varietals have been selected, Chef Santos will create a “reverse” 3-course dinner menu based on your chosen wine for the evening for $35 per person. Wine cost is not included and will vary based on varietals chosen and featured wineries. Please call for reservations at 805-226-0300 or visit us online at www.ilcortileristorante.com
Times: 5:30 PM - 9:30PM
Location: Il Cortile Ristorante
Address: 608 12th Street
Event City: Paso Robles
Phone: 805.226.0300
Parking: Free on Street
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Swingin' With Wine Wednesday Nights
Date(s):
Feb.
3rd
–
24th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Join us Wednesday nights in February for West Coast Swing lessons with dancing sensations Michael & Kris O'Connor! This dynamic & versatile dance is perfect for beginners or more advanced partners. Adapt it to rock, R&B, contemporary & country. Local? It’s perfect for concerts in the park or evenings out downtown. If you need a little inspiration while you’re here, Meridian Limited Release wines available to purchase by the glass all evening. Attend one class or all four! RSVP 805-226-7133
Times: 6 - 8 PM
Location: Meridian Vineyards
Address: 7000 Hwy46 East
Event City: Paso Robles
Phone: 805.226.7133
Parking: Free on Site
Low Admission: $12 / class (wine member)
High Admission: $15
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On-Going Events
Art Center Show - San Luis Obispo
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring weekly on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Permanent museum collection and constantly rotating exhibits of works by popular local artists in all media - paintings, sculpture, photography, prints, jewelry, woodworking and more. Check website for specific dates and exhibits. Many works are available for sale.
Times: 10:00 - 5:00 PM
Location: San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
Address: Broad Street
Event City: San Luis Obispo
Phone: 805.543.8562
Parking: Charge in nearby lots
Visit Website
Art Gallery Show - Morro Bay
Date(s):
Through Dec.
7th,
2010
Recurring daily
Enjoy a non-profit local collective art gallery. Exhibits change about every 6 weeks. Located in charming downtown Morro Bay. Funds art activities in area. Organization also manages the Morro Bay "Art in the Park" on Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day weekends.
Times: 12 - 4 PM
Location: Morro Bay Art Association
Address: 835 Main Street
Event City: Morro Bay
Phone: 805.772.2504
Parking: Free on Street
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Farmer's Market - Downtown Atascadero
Date(s):
Through Dec.
29th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Every Wednesday afternoon in downtown, in the beautiful "Sunken Gardens" and Administation Building. Taste the best of the Central Coast. Held year-round.
Times: 3 - 6 PM
Location: Sunken Gardens
Address: El Camino Real & East Mall Road
Event City: Atascadero
Phone: 805.462.0177 / 805.239.6535
Parking: Free on Street
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Farmers Market - Arroyo Grande
Date(s):
Through Dec.
29th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Every Wednesday morning, local growers sell fresh-picked seasonal fruit, flowers. Trees and Plants. Taste the difference ! Taste the best of the Central Coast ! Held year-round.
Times: 8:30 - 11 AM
Location: Spencer's Market Parking Lot
Address: Grand & Courtland St.
Event City: Arroyo Grande
Phone: 805.544.9570
Sponsor: Arroyo Grande Chamber of Commerce
Parking: Free on Site.
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Go Ballooning - Paso Robles
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Enjoy incredible views of the Wine country of Paso Robles, Atascadero, San Miguel and Templeton. Relax and get the bigger picture. The view from the balloon is incredible as you float along at 2 -3 miles per hour from an altitude of a few feet up to several thousand feet above the ground. 1-4 passengers per trip. Weather permitting. Call to Reserve.
Times: Call for Details
Location: Varies
Event City: Paso Robles Take Offs
Phone: 805.458.1530
Parking: Free On Site
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Go Bike Riding - County Wide
Date(s):
Through Dec.
30th,
2010
Recurring daily
SLO County is a biker's mecca. Lots of great paved roads (many with marked bicycle shoulders), mostly light traffic, courteous drivers, mild weather and great scenery. Roads range from easy family rides to the most strenous and exhilarating. No wonder the Tour of Caifornia Bicycle Race has swept through SLO County several times, and Team Columbia is based here. The local SLO County Bicycle Club has an elaborate series of maps with details on popular bicycling local routes. Check them out!
Location: County Wide
Event City: County-Wide
Visit Website
Go Mountain Biking - SLO County
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
SLO County is a mountain biker's mecca. Lots of great unpaved roads, fire roads, mountain bike paths, mild weather and great scenery. But do be careful - outlying areas may NOT have cell phone coverage if problems occur. Guide books are also advised. The local SLO County Mountain Bike Organization has an elaborate series of maps with details on popular bicycling local routes. Check them out!
Times: Daylight Hours
Location: County Wide
Event City: County Wide
Admission: Free
Visit Website
Go Wine Tasting - Paso Robles Wine Country
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Every day, many of the wineries in northern part of the Central Coast - Atascadero, Cambria / Harmony, Paso Robles, Templeton and San Miguel - offer wine tasting. (Most wineries offer wine tasting on weekends; check in advance.) Enjoy the wide variety of wines - and the beautiful Central Coast wine country scenery - of this up and coming California Wine Country region. Go to "Maps" section of toolbar to download map of our winery members. California Wine Country at it's best.
Times: 10:00 - 5:00 PM
Location: North County
Event City: Paso Robles / Templeton
Phone: 805.239.VINE (8463)
Visit Website
Go Wine Tasting - San Luis Obispo Wine Country
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Every day, many of the wineries in the southern part of the Central Coast - San Luis Obispo, the Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande - offer wine tasting. (Most wineries offer wine tasting on weekends; check in advance.) Enjoy the wide variety of wines - and the beautiful Central Coast wine country scenery - of this up and coming California Wine Country region. Go to "Maps" section of toolbar to download map of our winery members. California Wine Country at it's best.
Times: 10:00 - 5:00
Location: South County
Event City: San Luis Obispo & Arroyo Grande
Phone: 805.541.5868
Visit Website
Learn How to Make Ice Cream - Arroyo Grande
Date(s):
Through Dec.
29th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Every Wednesday evening, enjoy a 30-minute skit about ice cream, where the audience helps invent a new flavor!! Fun for the entire family. Held at Doc Burnstein's - an award winning premier ice cream parlor and soda fountain.
Times: 7 - 7:30 PM
Location: Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab
Address: 114 W. Branch
Event City: Arroyo Grande
Phone: 805.474.4068
Parking: Free on Street
Visit Website
Nightlife: Live Music at Downtown Brewing Co. - SLO
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Most nights, enjoy live entertainment by professional local and touring bands in one of the premier venues in downtown San Luis Obispo. Full bar available. (Formerly known as SLO Brew.)
Times: Time vary, most 9-11 PM
Location: Downtown Brewing Company
Address: 1119 Garden St.
Event City: San Luis Obispo
Phone: 805.543.2045
Parking: Free on Street after 6PM
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Visit Art Galleries
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Enjoy the visual arts at the many San Luis Obispo County art galleries, wineries and restaurants. Many artists have chosen to live in this beautiful area, and most galleries highlight their works. Paintings, Sculpture, Jewelry, woodworking, fabric, furniture, photography.. Go to the "Arts and Activities" section to see a list of members and their specialties. From African art to jewelry made with Zeolite, the County offers it!
Event City: County Wide
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Visit Children's Museum - San Luis Obispo
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Enjoy "Inspired Learning Thru Play." 21 indoor and outdoor activities that stimulate curiosity and discovery through play. Gift shop with fun educational toys. Closed Mondays.
Times: Tu-Fr 10-4, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4
Location: San Luis Obispo Children's Museum
Address: 1010 Nipomo Street
Event City: San Luis Obispo
Phone: 805.545.5874
Parking: Metered lots and streets nearby
Visit Website
Walk thru Dunes at Oso Flaco Lake
Date(s):
Through Dec.
29th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday
Most Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays, enjoy guided walk thru the Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area, part of the Guadelupe - Nipomo Dunes Preserve. See rare plants and birds, as well as protected sand dunes. Many guided walks given on various days. Check for exact schedule. Dunes open daily to all vistors during daytime for self-guided visits.
Times: Varies
Location: Oso Flaco Lake
Address: End of Oso Flaco Lake Road
Event City: Nipomo
Phone: 805.343.2455
Sponsor: The Dunes Center
Parking: $5 in parking lot
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Walks in Nature: Guided Tours - Morro Bay
Date(s):
Through Dec.
30th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The Morro Bay Natural History Museum hosts an active schedule of guided walks, on topics dealing from art and astronomy to birds and fish. Most occur Tuesday-Saturday. Check schedule for full details.
Times: Times / Dates Vary
Location: Morro Bay area
Event City: Morro Bay
Phone: 805.772.2694
Parking: Free on Site
Visit Website
Watch Birds
Date(s):
Through Mar.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Look for the beautiful tall white egrets. They are usually in the county September - March. The County, especially near Morro Bay, is one of the top bird-watching sites in the USA. (Look for everything from hummingbirds to bald eagles.)
Times: Daylight Hours
Location: County Wide
Event City: Countywide
Phone: 800.231.0592
Visit Website
Watch Elephant Seals - Peak Season
Date(s):
Through Feb.
28th,
2010
Recurring daily
Enjoy watching them give birth and mate (peak around Valentine's). More females leave. Fascinating and fun to watch, but keep a respectful distance and keep dogs away.
Times: Daylight Hours
Location: Beaches of San Simeon & Ragged Point
Address: Beaches of San Simeon & Ragged Point
Event City: San Simeon & Ragged Point
Phone: 805.924.1628
Sponsor: Friends of the Elephant Seal
Parking: Free on Hwy 1
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Watch Harbor Seals - Avila Beach
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Every day, be amused while looking down at the harbor seals that use the lower level of Harford Pier as their favorite "hang-out". Watch as they live their life - barking, sleeping, arguing and fishing. Note: do NOT get too close, and do not feed them. Great educational fun for kids and adults! These are different than the elephant seals that "hang out" on the north coast of SLO County.
Times: Daylight Hours
Location: Port San Luis Harbor District
Address: 3950 Avila Beach Drive (end of road)
Event City: Avila Beach
Phone: 805.595.5400
Parking: Free in Public Parking Lot dockside
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Watch Monarch Butterflies
Date(s):
Through Feb.
28th,
2010
Recurring daily
Watch & Learn more about the approximately 25,000 beautiful Monarch Butterflies that enjoy their winter home in the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. This is one of the largest colonies in the United Sates. Free talks given 11AM and 2PM each day. Docents and volunteers are on duty to anwer your questions.
Times: 10 - 4 PM
Location: Pismo State Beach@North Beach Campground
Address: Hwy 1
Event City: Pismo Beach / Grover Beach border
Phone: 805.772.2694
Sponsor: Museum of Natural History
Parking: Free on Highway adjacent
Low Admission: Free
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Watch Special Performance - Arroyo Grande
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
The new Clark Center for the Performing Arts offers professional entertainment. most weekends and some other days. Located in the "5 Cities" area, near Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Oceano and Halcyon. "Where the Quality Shows!"
Location: Clark Center for the Performing Arts
Address: 487 Fair Oaks Ave.
Event City: Arroyo Grande
Phone: 805.489.9444
Parking: Free On Site
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Watch Special Performance - San Luis Obispo
Date(s):
Through Dec.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Enjoy a performance at one of the premier sites in the state. Active schedule of plays, concerts, shows, ballets, symphonies etc. by local, state, national and international performers. Wide range of events to appeal to all tastes and ages. All in beautiful buildings with great acoustics. Events held in the Christopher Cohan Center of the Performing Arts Center or the nearby Cal Poly Spanos Theatre on Cal Poly campus.
Location: Performing Arts Center
Address: Grand Avenue
Event City: San Luis Obispo
Phone: 805.756.2787
Parking: Charge in adjoining lot
Visit Website
Wednesday Night Jazz at SeaVenture - Pismo Beach
Date(s):
Through Dec.
29th,
2010
Recurring weekly on Wednesday
Attention lounge lizards! Come chill out to the sounds of the Mike Raynor Group every Wednesday night from 6pm-9pm at SeaVenture Restaurant. Our tapas bar provides easy fare and ocean views while you soak up the vibe...
Times: 6pm-9pm
Location: SeaVenture Restaurant
Address: 100 Ocean View Ave.
Event City: Pismo Beach
Phone: 805.773.4994
Parking: Free on Site
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Whale Watching
Date(s):
Through Mar.
31st,
2010
Recurring daily
Watch they gray whales as the migrate past the county. You can stand on the coast, or take one of several whale-watching boat tours. (Check the "Great Outdoors" section on the toolbar.) Humpback whales follow in April - July.
Times: Daylight Hours
Location: Entire Coast
Event City: Coast
Phone: 805.772.1222
Visit Website
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Upcoming Events
Arroyo Valley Car Show - Arroyo Grande
Jul.
31st,
2010
More than 300 classic & custom cars. One of the largest
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Country Rodeo Finals - Paso Robles
Jul.
31st,
2010
The Country Rodeo Finals is the culmination of a week and a
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Merchants Street Faire - Morro Bay
Aug.
1st,
2010
Vendors from around the world display their arts and crafts
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