Home » Central Coast Festivals – 2024

Central Coast Festivals – 2024

The Central Coast region is one of our favorite places to travel – for many reasons, actually, but high on the list is enjoying California’s culinary delights courtesy of the land, the sea and the grapevines.

Wine Festival in Santa Barbara, CAWhile there certainly doesn’t need to be a festival or restaurant week on the agenda to have a fun and tasty Central Coast vacation or weekend getaway, planning your visit around one can provide an efficient way to sample all the deliciousness here. 

Whether you’re looking for something fun to do in Carmel this weekend or putting together a plan for a future trip to Santa Barbara and searching for food and wine events, the Central Coast festival list below can kick your itinerary up a notch. A large percentage of these events take place in the summer, when fruits and vegetables are at their peak, but of course there’s really no bad time to enjoy a wine (or beer!) festival.

This list is arranged by month, and you can easily determine what’s happening there during your visit. For each entry on the list, you’ll find the date(s) it’s scheduled to occur, the hosting city, plus a link to a website that provides additional details.

While the list still shows some 2023 festival dates, the 2024 dates are ***noted with a triple asterisk*** to avoid any confusion.

Many of these events are held annually and often scheduled to occur around the same time every year, so if a 2023 event looks interesting you may want to click through to see if the organizer’s website now provides the new date. Also, if you plan to attend an event, we strongly recommend that you make note of the website and recheck it closer to the actual date.

You may want to check out the Central Valley list, as well, for more Central California festivals. And, here are some jump links that you can use to quickly skip to a certain month’s events:

January ### February ### March ### April ###
May ### June *** July ### August ###
September ### October ### November ### December

January

Santa Maria Valley Restaurant Month
January 12 through February 11, 2024***

Eco-Farm Conference, Monterey
January 17-20, 2024***

Big Sur Foragers Festival
January 20 & 21, 2024***

Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks
January 21 through February 3, 2024***

Cambria Art & Wine Festival
January 26-28, 2024***

Los Alamos Mushroom Festival at Bedford Winery
January 27, 2024***

February

Garagiste Southern Exposure Festival, Solvang
February 9 & 10, 2024***

Chocolate Bar Alchemy at The Inn
at Mattei’s Tavern, Los Olivos

February 10, 2024***

Santa Barbara Greek Festival
February 16-18, 2024***

Rhone Rangers Experience, Paso Robles
February 18, 2024***

Lompoc Valley Restaurant Week
February 19-25, 2024***

Blendfest on the Coast, Cambria & San Simeon
February 22-25, 2024***

World of Pinot Noir at the
Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

February 29 through March 2, 2024***

March

At Her Table Women’s Culinary
Celebration Week, SLO County

March 1-10, 2024***

46 West Wine Safari Weekend, Paso Robles
March 9 & 10, 2024***

Burrata & Bubbles Culinary Workshop
at Folktale Winery, Carmel

March 14, 2024***

Santa Barbara Burger Week
March 14-20, 2024***

Pleasant Valley Wine Trail Zinfandel
Fest Weekend, San Miguel

March 15-17, 2024***

The Beer Garden Fundraiser,
Santa Barbara Botanical Garden

March 16, 2024*** – SOLD OUT!

805 Night Market, Santa Barbara
March 16 & 17, 2024***

Buellton Wine & Chili Festival
March 17, 2024***

Just 8 Supper Club hosted by Matt Kettmann
at Clean Slate Wine Bar, Solvang

March 21, 2024***

Central Coast Craft Beer Fest, Atascadero
March 23, 2024***

Cowboy for a Day, Buellton
March 23, 2024***

Fascinating Fungi Worshop at
Gainey Vineyard, Santa Ynez

March 23, 2024***

Easter High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
March 30, 2024***

April

Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival
April 4-7, 2024***

Cuyama Buckhorn Wild Flour
Celebration, New Cuyama

April 5-7, 2024***

Backyard Brunch at Stow House, Goleta
April 6, 2024***

Pebble Beach Food and Wine FestivalSLO Coast Wine Classic
April 6 & 7, 2024***

Rhone Rangers Tasting Event, Santa Barbara
April 9, 2024***

Folktale Supper Club:
Get Hooked Dinner, Carmel

April 10, 2024***

Just 8 Supper Club hosted by Matt Kettmann
at Clean Slate Wine Bar, Solvang

April 11, 2024***

Lagerville – Figueroa Mountain Brewery, Buellton
April 13, 2024***

Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance
Saunters & Sips, Santa Barbara

April 13, 2024***

Scar of the Sea + Lady of the Sunshine
Wine Release at Barbareño, Santa Barbara

April 14, 2024***

Natural Coast Wine Fest, Santa Barbara
April 20, 2024***

Paso Robles Taco Fest at
Estrella Warbirds Museum

April 20, 2024***

Taste of Pismo, Pismo Beach
April 20, 2024***

Wine School at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
“The World of Rosê and Orange Wines

April 21, 2024***

Rosé the S.L.O. Way at Hotel SLO
April 21, 2024***

Spring Brunch at Kiler Ridge Olive Farm, Paso Robles
April 21, 2024***

Journey through Sake at
Mattei’s Tavern, Los Olivos

April 25, 2024***

Hospice du Rhône, Paso Robles
April 25-27, 2024***

Strawberry Bush at San Luis Obispo Botanical GardenSanta Maria Strawberry Festival
April 26-28, 2024***

Santa Barbara Restaurant Week
April 26 through May 5, 2024***

High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
April 27, 2024***

Santa Rita Hills Saunters & Sips
April 27, 2024***

May

Santa Barbara Independent Wine Week
May 2-8, 2024***

Atascadero Tamale Festival
Weekend Fiesta Friday!

May 3, 2024***

Atascadero Tamale Festival
May 4, 2024***

Roar & Pour at the Santa Barbara Zoo
May 4, 2024***

Buellton Brew Fest
May 4, 2024***

Taste of the Paso Back Roads Wine Trail
at Rava Wines Estate, Paso Robles

May 4, 2024***

Pacific Grove Good Old Days
Street Festival & Fair

May 4 & 5, 2024***

Just 8 Supper Club hosted by Matt Kettmann
at Clean Slate Wine Bar, Solvang

May 9, 2024***

Superbloom Dinner & Wine Pairing
at La Lomita Ranch, San Luis Obispo

May 10, 2024***

Santa Maria Barbecue Festival
May 11, 2024***

Paso Robles Olive Festival & Central Coast Lavender Festival
May 11, 2024***

Art Inspired Cooking with Pascale Beale
at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

May 11, 2024***

Mother’s Day High Tea at Cuyama Buckhorn, New Cuyama
May 12, 2024***

Cookie Adventure at the
Charles Paddock Zoo, Atascadero

May 12, 2024***

Taste of Santa Barbara
May 13-19, 2024***

Downtown Santa Barbara Art & Wine Tour
May 16, 2024***

Paso Wine Fest
May 16-19, 2024***

Santa Lucia Highlands Sun Wind & Wine Festival
at Mer Soleil Vineyards, Salinas

May 18, 2024*** – Tickets on sale February 1!

Wine School at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
Taste Like a Wine Critic
with Sommelier Sam Schmitt

May 19, 2024***

Outstanding in the Field at Las Cumbres Ranch, Los Alamos
May 25, 2024***

High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
May 25, 2024***

Outstanding in the Field at Parr Collective at Stolo Vineyards, Cambria
May 26, 2024***

Firestone Walker Brewery
Block Party, Paso Robles

May 31, 2024***

Carmel Culinary Week
May 31 through June 8, 2024***

June

Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest
Paso Robles Event Center – Frontier Pavilion
June 1, 2024*** – SOLD OUT

Santa Barbara Zoo Brew
June 1, 2024***

805 Night Market, Santa Barbara
June 1 & 2, 2024***

San Luis Obispo Greek Festival
June 1 & 2, 2024***

Firestone Walker Brews & Brekky, Paso Robles
June 2, 2024***

Pinot & Paella Festival, Templeton
June 2, 2024***

Juneteenth Santa Ynez Valley
June 7, 2024***

Alternative Tastes Wine Fest, Paso Robles
June 7 & 8, 2024***

Los Olivos Jazz and Olive Festival
June 8, 2024***

California Ranch Cookout at Alisal
Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley

June 8, 2024***

Artichoke Festival, Monterey
June 8 & 9, 2024***

Wine School at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
The World of Sauvignon Blanc
with Sommelier Sam Schmitt

June 9, 2024***

Juneteenth Santa Barbara, Funk Zone
June 15, 2024***

Monterey Wine Festival
June 15 & 16, 2024***

SLO Open Farm Days at
Farms throughout SLO County

June 21-23, 2024***

Summer Solstice Parade & Festival, Santa Barbara
June 21-23, 2024***

High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
June 22, 2024***

California Ranch Cookout at Alisal
Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley

June 22, 2024***

Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival
June 22, 2024***

Santa Barbara Wine + Food Festival
June 29, 2024***

Santa Barbara Lavender Festival
June 29, 2024***

Accordian Player and Singer at Santa Barbara French FestivalSanta Barbara French Festival
CANCELLED for 2023

July

Santa Barbara Independent Indy Hops
July 1-29, 2024***

Santa Barbara County Fair
July 10-14, 2024***

Just 8 Supper Club hosted by Matt Kettmann
at Clean Slate Wine Bar, Solvang

July 11, 2024***

Ice Cream Zoofari
Charles Paddock Zoo, Atascadero

July 13, 2024***

California Ranch Cookout at Alisal
Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley

July 13, 2024***

Lavender Festival at Santa Rita
Hills Lavender Farm, Lompoc

July 13, 2024***

California Mid-State Fair
Paso Robles Event Center
July 17-28, 2024***

Lobsterfest, Chamisal Vineyards, San Luis Obispo
July 19 & 20, 2024***

California Wine Festival, Santa Barbara
July 19 & 20, 2024***

Cajun Shrimp Boil at
Clean Slate Wine Bar, Solvang

July 20, 2024***

Central Coast Renaissance Festival, San Luis Obispo
July 20 & 21, 2024***

Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
Makers Market Crawl

July 20 & 21, 2024***

Santa Lucia Highlands
Somm Tour, Monterey County

July 22-25, 2024***

California Ranch Cookout at Alisal
Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley

July 27, 2024***

Edible SLO Summer House at
La Lomita Ranch, San Luis Obispo

July 28-31, 2024***

Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Fiesta
July 31 through August 4, 2024***

August

Salinas Valley Food & Wine
Festival, Old Town Salinas

August 3, 2024***

Paso Robles Distillery Trail Weekend
August 9-11, 2024***

Paso Robles Winemaker’s Cookoff
August 10, 2024***

Surf ‘n’ Suds Beer Fest, Carpinteria
August 10, 2024***

California Ranch Cookout at Alisal
Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley

August 10, 2024***

Wine and Fire, Sta. Rita Hills AVA
August 15-18, 2024***

Atascadero Cruisin’ Weekend
August 16 & 17, 2024***

Under the Estrella Sky Winemakers’
Dinner at Hartley Farms, San Miguel

August 17, 2024*** – Early bird tickets available until May 31!

California Ranch Cookout at Alisal
Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley

August 24, 2024***

Avila Beach Macaroni & Cheese Festival
August 24, 2024***

Central Coast Cider Festival, Atascadero
August 24, 2024***

Santa Barbara County Farm Day
August 24, 2024***

California Turkish Arts & Culture Festival, Monterey
August 24 & 25, 2024***

Sand City West End Celebration
August 24 & 25, 2024***

Monterey County Fair
August 29 through September 2, 2024***

September

Vegan Chef Challenge, Santa Barbara
September 1-30, 2024***

Barbeque University with Steven Raichlen
at Alisal Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley

September 3-6, 2024***

Just 8 Supper Club hosted by Matt Kettmann
at Clean Slate Wine Bar, Solvang

September 5, 2024***

Festa Italia Fisherman’s Festival,
Monterey State Historic Park

September 6-8, 2024***

Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy
Cocktail Experience, Santa Barbara

September 12-14, 2024***

Carr Winery 25th Anniversary
Celebration, Santa Barbara

September 14, 2024***

Downtown Santa Barbara Brew Fest
September 14, 2024***

Taste of the Vine Fundraiser for Sansum Diabetes
Research Institute, Santa Barbara Historical Museum

September 14, 2024***

Santa Barbara Burrito Week
September 19-25, 2024***

Solvang Danish Days
September 20-22, 2024***

Taste of Downtown Paso Robles
September 21, 2024***

Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley
September 26-29, 2024***

Funk Zone Live, Santa Barbara
September 27, 2024***

Tillamook Cheese VW Van at Sunset Magazine Savor the Coast FestivalArroyo Grande Harvest Festival
September 27 & 28, 2024***

Los Alamos Old Days
September 27-29, 2024***

Goleta Lemon Festival
September 28 & 29, 2024***

Downtown SLO Fall Fest, San Luis Obispo
September 29, 2024***

October

Paso Robles Harvest Wine Month
October 1-31, 2024***

Cambria Scarecrow Festival
October 1-31, 2024***

Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest
October 1-31, 2024***

Taste of Carmel
October 3, 2024***

California Avocado Festival, Carpinteria
October 4-6, 2024***

San Luis Obispo Oktoberfest, Madonna Inn
October 5, 2024***

Thacher Winery Barn Dinner at
The Kentucky Ranch, Paso Robles

October 5, 2024***

Presqu’ile Winery Tri-Tip
Cookoff, Santa Maria

October 6, 2024***

Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival
October 11-13, 2024***

Cass Winery Harvest Festival Grape
Stomp & Tacos, Paso Robles

October 12, 2024***

Butterfly Ball at the
Octagon Barn, San Luis Obispo

October 12, 2024***

Los Olivos Day in the Country
October 12, 2024***

Carmel “Meet the Makers”
Art & Wine Walk

October 12, 2024***

Brazilian Day, Santa Barbara
October 13, 2024***

Santa Barbara Empty Bowls Fundraiser, Santa Maria
October 16, 2024***

Santa Barbara Independent Best Fest
October 17, 2024***

Alisal Ranch “Sideways”
Anniversary Weekend, Solvang

October 18 & 19, 2024***

Seafood boil dinner at the Cracked Crab in Pismo Beach, CASanta Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival
October 19, 2024***

Santa Barbara Vintners Fall Festival, Buellton
October 19, 2024***

The Golden Oak Honey & Pumpkin Festival, Paso Robles
October 19, 2024***

Harvest Dinner at the Easy Street Wine
Collective Production Facility, Buellton

October 19, 2024***

Pismo Beach Clam Festival
October 19 & 20, 2024***

Outstanding in the Field at White Buffalo Land Trust, Lompoc
October 20, 2024***

Outstanding in the Field at Big Sur Secret Location
October 23, 2024***

Just 8 Supper Club hosted by Matt Kettmann
at Clean Slate Wine Bar, Solvang

October 24, 2024***

Spooky Paella Pop-up at
Zaca Mesa Winery, Los Olivos

October 26, 2024***

Vincent Vineyards Harvest
Experience, Santa Ynez

October 26, 2024***

Los Osos / Baywood Park
Oktoberfest & Car Show

October 27, 2024***

Olive Harvest Retreat
at Cass Winery, Paso Robles

October 29-31, 2024***

Big Sur Food and Wine Festival
October 31 through November 2, 2024***

November

Harvest on the Coast
at various Central Coast wineries

November 2, 2024***

Santa Barbara Wine Auction
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara

November 8 & 9, 2024***

Buellton Fall Festival
November 8-10, 2024***

Autumn Soirée: The SLO Way
at Hotel SLO, San Luis Obispo

November 9, 2024***

Arroyo Grande Beer & Wine Festival
November 9, 2024***

Atascadero Fall Festival
November 15-17, 2024***

Elegant Holiday Evening Downtown, Paso Robles
November 16, 2024***

The Art of Olive Oil class
at Cass Winery, Paso Robles

November 24, 2024***

Solvang Julefest
November 29, 2024*** through January 3, 2025

December

Los Alamos WinterFest Weekend
December 6-8, 2024***

Atascadero Winter Wonderland
December 13, 2024***

Santa Barbara Annual Tamale-Making Class
December 14, 2024*** – UNCONFIRMED

Victorian Teddy Bear Tea, Paso Robles
December 21, 2024***

If you know of any other Central Coast events we should add to this list, would you please use our Contact form to let us know?  (Thanks in advance!)

Photo of Santa Barbara Wine Festival by Roberta DePoppe via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Strawberry Bush at San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden by Devra via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Wine and Waves Festival by Randy Aquilizon via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Santa Barbara French Festival by DieselDemon via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Chef David Meyers (of LA’s Comme Ça) at Pebble Beach Food & Wine by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Tillamook VW Van at Sunset Magazine Savor the Coast Festival by Joe Bierman via flickr (Creative Commons); and Photo of Dinner at the Cracked Crab in Pismo Beach by emdot via flickr (Creative Commons).

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