Central Coast Festivals – 2023
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.
While 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.
Many of these events take place in the summer, when fruits and vegetables are at their peak, and of course there’s really no bad time to enjoy a wine (or beer!) festival.
This Central Coast area festival 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.
At present, the list shows predominantly 2022 festival dates but more 2023 dates should be available after the new year. When added, 2023 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 2022 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
Atascadero Tamale Festival
January 14, 2023***
Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks
January 16-31, 2023***
Eco-Farm Conference, Monterey
January 18-21, 2023***
Coast to Cuyama Weekend, Cuyama Buckhorn
January 20-22, 2023***
Big Sur Foragers Festival
January 21, 2023*** – virtual event
Cambria Art & Wine Festival
January 27-29, 2023***
Mushrooms Gone Wild! Celebration, Los Alamos
January 28, 2023***
February
Outstanding in the Field at
Rancho el Rincon, Carpinteria
February 10, 2023***
Outstanding in the Field at
Rancho el Rincon, Carpinteria
February 11, 2023*** – SOLD OUT
Lompoc Valley Restaurant Week
February 20-26, 2023***
Blendfest on the Coast, Cambria & San Simeon
February 23-26, 2023***
March
Paso Spring Release Month
March 2023***
World of Pinot Noir at the
Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
March 2-4, 2023***
Santa Barbara Burger Week
March 2-8, 2023***
At Her Table Women’s Culinary
Celebration Week, SLO County
March 6-12, 2023***
The Beer Garden Fundraiser,
Santa Barbara Botanical Garden
March 11, 2023***
Women Winemakers Celebration, Los Olivos
March 12, 2023***
Buellton Wine & Chili Festival
March 19, 2023***
SLO Coast Wine Classic
March 24-26, 2023***
Central Coast Craft Beer Fest, Atascadero
March 25, 2023***
April
Santa Barbara Restaurant Week
April 14-23, 2023***
Lagerville – Figueroa Mountain Brewery, Buellton
April 15, 2023***
Natural Coast Wine Fest, Santa Barbara
April 22, 2023***
Rosé the S.L.O. Way at Hotel SLO
April 23, 2023***
Santa Maria Strawberry Festival
April 28-30, 2023***
Brew at the Zoo, Atascadero
April 29, 2023***
Paso Robles Taco Fest at
Estrella Warbirds Museum
April 29, 2023***
Taste of Pismo Wine & Culinary Event
April 29, 2023***
May
Cuyama Buckhorn Wild Flour
Celebration, New Cuyama
May 5-7, 2023***
Buellton Brew Fest
May 6, 2023***
Roar & Pour at the Santa Barbara Zoo
May 6, 2023***
Pacific Grove Good Old Days
Street Festival & Fair
May 6 & 7, 2023***
Santa Maria Barbecue Festival
May 13, 2023***
Santa Lucia Highlands Sun Wind & Wine Festival
May 13, 2023***
Cookie Adventure at the
Charles Paddock Zoo, Atascadero
May 14, 2023***
Outstanding in the Field at
Tira Nanza, Carmel Valley
May 14, 2023***
Taste of Santa Barbara
May 15-21, 2023***
Santa Barbara Downtown Art & Wine Tour
May 18, 2023***
Paso Wine Fest
May 18-21, 2023***
Santa Barbara County Wine
Behind the Scenes Weekend
May 19-21, 2023***
Lobsterfest, Chamisal Vineyards, San Luis Obispo
May 19 & 20, 2023***
Paso Robles Olive Festival & Central Coast Lavender Festival
May 20, 2023***
Viva Cerveza, San Luis Obispo
May 27, 2023***
June
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail Summer Passport
June 1 through August 31, 2023***
Carmel Culinary Week
June 2-9, 2023***
Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest
Paso Robles Event Center – Frontier Pavilion
June 3, 2023***
Santa Barbara Zoo Brew
June 3, 2023***
Monterey Wine Festival
June 3 & 4, 2023***
San Luis Obispo Greek Festival
June 3 & 4, 2023***
Pinot & Paella Festival, Templeton
June 4, 2023***
Los Olivos Jazz and Olive Festival
June 10, 2023***
Monterey County Winemakers Celebration, Carmel-by-the-Sea
June 10, 2023***
Outstanding in the Field at
Gainey Vineyard, Santa Ynez
June 10, 2023***
Artichoke Festival, Monterey
June 10 & 11, 2023***
Outstanding in the Field at
Hearst Ranch, San Simeon
June 11, 2023***
Chef Charlie Cooking Demo
at Cass Winery, Paso Robles
June 15, 2023***
Juneteenth Santa Barbara, Funk Zone
June 18, 2023***
Surf & Turf Winemaker Dinner
at Cass Winery, Paso Robles
June 23, 2023***
Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival
June 24, 2023***
Santa Barbara Wine + Food Festival
June 24, 2023***
Santa Barbara Lavender Festival
June 24, 2023***
Avila Beach Macaroni & Cheese Festival
June 24, 2023***
Santa Barbara French Festival
CANCELLED for 2023
July
Santa Barbara Indy Hops Beer Crawl
July 1-31, 2023***
British High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
July 1, 2023***
Monterey Beer Festival
July 8, 2023***
Santa Barbara County Fair
July 12-16, 2023***
California Wine Festival, Santa Barbara
July 14 & 15, 2023***
SLO Open Farm Days at
Farms throughout SLO County
July 14-16, 2023***
Ice Cream Zoofari
Charles Paddock Zoo, Atascadero
July 15, 2023***
Central Coast Renaissance Festival, San Luis Obispo
July 15 & 16, 2023***
California Mid-State Fair
Paso Robles Event Center
July 19-30, 2023***
Annual Tamale-Making Class
Santa Barbara
July 22, 2023***
Downtown Santa Barbara Summer Brewfest
July 23, 2023***
High Tea Kickoff for the Charles James Fashion & Culture
Exhibition at Anderson’s Bakery & Restaurant, Santa Barbara
July 24, 2023***
Monterey Gyro Fest
July 29, 2023***
August
Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Fiesta
August 2-6, 2023***
Salinas Valley Food & Wine
Festival, Old Town Salinas
August 5, 2023***
British High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
August 5, 2023***
California Turkish Arts & Culture Festival, Monterey
August 5 & 6, 2023***
SLO County Distillery Trail Weekend
August 11-13, 2023***
Central Coast Cider Festival, Atascadero
August 12, 2023***
Paso Robles Winemaker’s Cookoff
August 12, 2023***
Indulge in Wine & Cheese Somm Class
at Cass Winery, Paso Robles
August 12, 2023***
Surf ‘n’ Suds Beer Fest, Carpinteria
August 12, 2023***
Wine and Fire, Sta. Rita Hills AVA
August 17-20, 2023***
Summer Crab Boil at Cass
Winery, Paso Robles
August 18, 2023***
Atascadero Cruisin’ Weekend
August 18 & 19, 2023***
Sand City West End Celebration
August 26 & 27, 2023***
Monterey County Fair
August 31 through September 4, 2023***
September
British High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
September 2, 2023***
Barbeque University with Steven Raichen
at Alisal Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley
September 4-7, 2023***
Festa Italia Fisherman’s Festival,
Monterey State Historic Park
September 8-10, 2023***
Wine Dinner Series with Matt Kettmann
(with Apples to Zucchini Cooking School)
at Garden Street Academy, Santa Barbara
September 13, 2023***
Solvang Danish Days
September 15-17, 2023***
Coleman Family Farms with LA Times Food Bowl, Carpinteria
September 16, 2023***
Taste of Downtown Paso Robles
September 16, 2023***
Coleman Family Farms with LA Times Food Bowl, Carpinteria
September 16, 2023***
Santa Barbara Burrito Week
September 21-27, 2023***
Los Alamos Old Days
September 22-24, 2023***
Santa Barbara Greek Festival
September 22-24, 2023***
Autumnal Equinox Beer Dinner at Barbareño, Santa Barbara
(beer from Ojai Valley Brewing – click Experiences at link)
September 23, 2023***
Santa Barbara County Farm Day
September 23, 2023***
Oaxaca by the Sea, Seaside
September 23, 2023***
Rhone Rangers Viognier Festival
at Rideau Vineyard, Solvang
September 23, 2023***
Barrelhouse Brewing Oktoberfest, Paso Robles
September 23, 2023***
IGGPRA Harvest Hoedown, Creston
September 23, 2023***
The Art of Olive Oil
at Cass Wines, Paso Robles
September 24, 2023***
Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley
September 28 through October 1, 2023***
Arroyo Grande Harvest Festival
September 29 & 30, 2023***
Mid-Coast Fire Brigade Harvest Moon
Ball at Glen Deven Ranch, Carmel
September 30, 2023***
Oktoberfest at Wild Fields Brewhouse, Atascadero
September 30, 2023***
San Luis Obispo Oktoberfest
September 30, 2023***
Olive Oil Tasting & Food Pairing Luncheon
at Kiler Ridge Olive Farm, Paso Robles
September 30, 2023***
Goleta Lemon Festival
September 30 & October 1, 2023***
Avocado and Margarita Festival, Morro Bay
September 9-11, 2022 – ON HIATUS FOR 2023
October
Paso Robles Harvest Wine Month
October 1-31, 2023***
Cambria Scarecrow Festival
October 1-31, 2023***
Ethopian Dinner by Helen Abraha at
Thomas Hill Organics, Paso Robles
October 3, 2023***
Fall Wine Release & Argentine Asado
at La Lomita Ranch, San Luis Obispo
October 5, 2023***
Taste of Carmel
October 5, 2023***
British High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
October 7, 2023***
Pacific Grove Butterfly Weekend
October 7 & 8, 2023***
Carpinteria Avocado Festival
October 7 & 8, 2023***
Vineyard Beekeeping Retreat
at Cass Winery, Paso Robles
October 11 & 12, 2023***
Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival
October 13-15, 2023***
Carmel “Meet the Makers”
Art & Wine Walk
October 14, 2023***
Butterfly Ball at the
Octagon Barn, San Luis Obispo
October 14, 2023***
Santa Barbara Vintners Fall Festival, Solvang
October 14, 2023***
Barbeque Bootcamp at Alisal
Ranch, Santa Ynez Valley
October 15-17, 2023***
Santa Maria Empty Bowls Fundraiser
October 18, 2023***
Santa Barbara Independent Best Fest
October 19, 2023***
Pismo Beach Clam Festival
October 20-22, 2023***
Olive Harvest & Lunch at Kiler
Ridge Olive Farm, Paso Robles
October 21, 2023*** – UNCONFIRMED
The Golden Oak Honey & Pumpkin Festival, Paso Robles
October 21, 2023***
Tequila & Cuisine
Farewell Tour, Monterey
October 21, 2023***
Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival
October 21, 2023***
Wine Dinner Series with Matt Kettmann
(with Apples to Zucchini Cooking School)
at Garden Street Academy, Santa Barbara
October 25, 2023***
Outstanding in the Field at
Rancho Sisquoc, Santa Maria
October 26, 2023***
The Great Valley Cookoff at
Kalyra Winery, Santa Ynez
October 28, 2023***
Outstanding in the Field at Big Sur Secret Location
October 28, 2023***
Los Osos / Baywood Park
Oktoberfest & Car Show
October 29, 2023***
Outstanding in the Field at Big Sur Secret Location
October 29, 2023***
November
Olive Harvest Retreat
at Cass Winery, Paso Robles
November 1-3, 2023***
Big Sur Food and Wine Festival
November 2-4, 2023***
Harvest on the Coast at Center
of Effort Winery, Arroyo Grande
November 3-5, 2023***
Wine Harvest on the Coast, Avila Beach
November 4, 2023***
Olive Harvest Retreat
at Cass Winery, Paso Robles
November 8-10, 2023***
Garagiste (Artisan Winemaker) Festival, Paso Robles
November 10-12, 2023***
Buellton Fall Festival
November 10-12, 2023***
Elegant Holiday Evening Downtown, Paso Robles
November 11, 2023***
The Art of Olive Oil
at Cass Wines, Paso Robles
November 12, 2023***
Wine Dinner Series with Matt Kettmann
(with Apples to Zucchini Cooking School)
at Garden Street Academy, Santa Barbara
November 15, 2023***
Atascadero Fall Festival
November 17-19, 2023***
Solvang Julefest
November 24, 2023*** through January 5, 2024
December
Los Alamos WinterFest Weekend
December 1-3, 2023***
Santa Barbara Empty Bowls Fundraiser, Goleta
December 3, 2023***
Atascadero Winter Wonderland
December 8, 2023***
Wine Dinner Series with Matt Kettmann
(with Apples to Zucchini Cooking School)
at Garden Street Academy, Santa Barbara
December 13, 2023***
Victorian Teddy Bear Tea, Paso Robles
December 16, 2023***
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).
