A visit to San Luis Obispo is the gift that keeps giving. After all, where else can you hike, bike, dine, explore and bring home the perfect present, just in time for Christmas?
Share the SLO Life with everyone in your life – one handmade, hand-harvested or hand-bottled goodie at a time – with our deal-packed guide to downtown holiday shopping in San Luis Obispo. (SLO Life Tip: Get yourself a little something, too.)
Buy Local Bonus
First things first: get paid for supporting your friendly neighborhood small biz. The City of SLO’s Buy Local Bonus returns this year with the same great incentive. From Black Friday until Christmas Eve, spend $100 at San Luis Obispo retailers and receive a $25 gift card to another local business as a token of our appreciation. Best of all, you can qualify for this perk up to three times while supplies last. Just be sure to save your receipts as proof of your purchases!
Black Friday
The biggest shopping day of the year is teaming up with small-town charm to bring you a whole weekend of SLO sales.
On Black Friday, shops throughout San Luis Obispo will offer deals, discounts and bonuses to help fill every stocking on your mantel. Here are just a few:
- Collect Ah Louis Store Christmas Cash and save on gifts like wine, ornaments and more.
- Score a San Luis Obispo tote bag when you spend $75 or more at Blackwater.
- Spend $150 or more at Making SLO and get a SLO tote or mug – dealer’s choice.
- Thrifty Beaches is offering 25% off the entire store.
Shop Small Saturday
Celebrate the 8th annual Shop Small Saturday with deals at iconic SLO shops and vendors:
- The Shops at Madonna Inn will offer deals on apparel, skincare and other gifts in-store and online, plus free gifts and shipping specials on qualifying purchases.
- Treat yourself to a free glass of wine when you spend $15 at Central Coast Wines.
- Bring home a safari animal ornament from Humankind Fair Trade, free with your purchase.
- At Summerland Co shop small for your small one and take 20% off all baby apparel.
SLOcally Made Pop-Up
Every year, SLOcally Made comes together to share signature Central Coast goods with the world. Visit this year’s holiday pop-up beginning December 1 to shop ceramics, paintings, textiles and other handmade, woman-made treasures from 68 San Luis Obispo makers and 15 core vendors.
Makers at the Market Holiday Emporium
The San Luis Obispo Public Market is a gathering place for shopping, dining and letting the good time roll, nice and SLO. This year, their annual two-day Holiday Emporium will take place on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15. Enjoy live music, workshops for adults and kids alike, refreshments from in-market eateries and, of course, plenty of holiday shopping opportunities.
Holiday Shows & Experiences
Sometimes the best gift of all isn’t something you hold in your hands – it’s an experience. Tickets to a holiday show in SLO is the perfect way to share the seasonal spirit.
- Laugh out loud at the SLO Repertory Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Story”.
- Check out Nature Nights or make low-maintenance succulent holiday wreaths at the SLO Botanical Garden.
- Marvel at the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo’s rendition of The Nutcracker.
- Raise your voice with the SLO Master Chorale for a Holiday Festival & Sing-Along Messiah.
- Celebrate the holiday season at the 3rd Annual Christmas at The Carrisa!
And though it goes without saying, you’re cordially invited to the annual Downtown SLO Holiday Parade – no tickets required. There, you can shop dozens of festive vendors during the SLO Ho Ho Holiday Stroll.
Found the perfect gift? Saved a ton during a sale? Met Santa Claus? Share this holiday season’s most magical moments with #ShareSLO!