Annual Events

For the eighth year in a row, participating restaurants throughout San Luis Obispo and surrounding areas offer up their finest three-course meals and unique menu offerings, with prix-fixe menus costing between $39-$59 per person or 20 percent off regular menu items. From sashimi to hearty, leafy green vegetables to locally-baked breads and desserts, the best of the Golden State is on display all month long.

Join in on the celebration of craft beer in the heart of San Luis Obispo. SLO Craft Beer Fest is a celebration of brewers of craft beer, special food pairings, educational beer seminars and much—much more!

Let’s just say this is not San Luis Obispo’s first rodeo—in fact, this year Cal Poly SLO is celebrating their 80^th! The Annual Cal Poly Royal Rodeo is a can’t miss weekend-long extravaganza hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences that attracts locals and visitors alike year after year.

The Poly Royal Rodeo Finals, open to the public, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9, and will be followed by a concert by a headlining country music band, which will be announced soon. Tickets go on sale March 1.

Cinema lovers will be delighted here with the SLO Film Fest! Quality Filmmaking, Red Carpet Events, and VIP Treatment – All on the Central Coast! The SLO Film Fest, formerly known as San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, believes in the sophistication of Golden Age cinema without the Hollywood hype!

Update for 2022: The SLO Train Day is cancelled this year. SLO Train Day is filled with family-friendly events including activities at the historic Freighthouse with running model trains, railroad swap meet, kids’ games, music, Amtrak displays, and railroad films, as well as various presentations and tours.

The 26th Annual Concerts in the Plaza, presented by Sunset Honda and hosted by Downtown SLO, is the largest free concert series on the Central Coast. Concerts will be held every Friday from June 24 – August 26 from 4:30 – 8:00 PM at Mission Plaza in Downtown San Luis Obispo. All concerts are free to the public!

Roll out the Barrels invites everyone from beginners to master Sommeliers to come together and enjoy the unique flavors of the San Luis Obispo wine region during a weekend of wine festivities with a backdrop you most definitely won’t “wine” about…

Come celebrate individuality and the freedom to be yourself here during our weekend of pride events—all leading up to Pride in the Plaza, one of the most talked-about celebrations of the year located in the heart of our beloved Mission Plaza.

Celebrate Mozart all those musical geniuses he touched and influenced with over a week of celebration of his music. During this time, over 30 events and 18 venues offer a wide array of classical music stylings as a homage to the man of the hour: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Celebrate California Wine Month in San Luis Obispo with countless options to indulged be indulged here during one of the most significant times of the year in the industry! Aligning with the annual harvest season, you’ll get the chance to experience winemaking firsthand when touring San Luis Obispo wine country.

Run fast—go SLO! Given our close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, San Luis Obispo hosts an annual City to Sea Half Marathon, where participants run from Downtown SLO all the way to the water.  Everyone from seasoned athletes to first-timers will enjoy the City to Sea Half Marathon!

Come to San Luis Obispo for a celebration like no other! Día de los Muertos is an annual celebration to comemerate our antepasados—or those who have passed before us. See how a true San Luis Obispan celebrates what came before us by planning your San Luis Obispo vacation around this time of celebration.

Everyone from locals to first-time visitors celebrate the opportunity to be festive here with our annual Downtown Holiday Parade. Experience the can’t miss event with decorated floats, holiday hymns—among much, much more!