Central Coast Festivals – 2024 & 2025
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.
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 mostly 2024 festival dates, the 2025 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 2024 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
Eco-Farm Conference, Monterey
January 22-25, 2025***
Cambria Art & Wine Festival
January 23-26, 2025***
Big Sur Foragers Festival
January 24-26, 2025***
Santa Maria Valley Restaurant Month
January 12 through February 11, 2024
Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks
January 21 through February 3, 2024
Los Alamos Mushroom Festival at Bedford Winery
January 27, 2024
February
Garagiste Southern Exposure Festival, Solvang
February 7 & 8, 2025***
Blendfest on the Coast, Cambria & San Simeon
February 20-23, 2025***
Santa Barbara Greek Festival
February 21-23, 2025***
Outstanding in the Field at Rincon Tropics, Carpinteria
February 22, 2025***
Outstanding in the Field at Rincon Tropics, Carpinteria
February 23, 2025***
World of Pinot Noir at the
Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
February 27 through March 1, 2025***
Lompoc Valley Restaurant Week
February 19-25, 2024
March
Buellton Wine & Chili Festival
March 16, 2025***
Rhone Rangers Experience, Paso Robles
March 22, 2025***
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
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
SLO 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
Santa 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
Viva Cerveza, San Luis Obispo
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
Santa Barbara French Festival
CANCELLED for 2024
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
Mid-Coast Fire Brigade Harvest Moon
Ball at Glen Deven Ranch, Carmel
September 21, 2024
Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley
September 26-29, 2024
Funk Zone Live, Santa Barbara
September 27, 2024
Arroyo 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
Monterey Beer Festival
October 5, 2024
Pacific Grove Butterfly Weekend
October 5 & 6, 2024
Presqu’ile Winery Tri-Tip
Cookoff, Santa Maria
October 6, 2024
Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival
October 11-13, 2024
Sabor Del Valle Solvang Latino
Food & Wine Festival, Solvang
October 12, 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
Asian American Neighborhood
Festival, 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
Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival
October 19, 2024
Santa Barbara Vintners Fall Festival, Buellton
October 19, 2024
Kalyra Winery Grape Stomp, Santa Ynez
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
Funk Zone Live, Santa Barbara
December 6, 2024
Holiday Sip & Stroll,
Santa Barbara Mission
December 6, 2024
Los Alamos WinterFest Weekend
December 6-8, 2024
Santa Barbara Annual Tamale-Making Class
December 7, 2024
Christmas on the Foxen Canyon
Wine Trail Passport Event
December 7 & 8, 2024
Atascadero Winter Wonderland
December 13, 2024
Victorian Teddy Bear Tea, Paso Robles
December 21, 2024
British High Tea at Arrowsmith’s, Solvang
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).
