Spring has sprung in San Luis Obispo! With wildflowers blooming, vibrant green hills surrounding the city and sun shining, there’s nothing not to love about this time of the year in San Luis Obispo. Start planning your getaway with our list of endless things to do and events, happening this spring in San Luis Obispo.
San Luis Obispo Thursday Night Farmers’ Market
If you’ve haven’t been to the world-famous Thursday night Farmers’ Market, it’s a must! Every Thursday from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Farmers’ Market takes over Higuera Street with crowds of locals and visitors alike enjoying live music, sampling local produce, eating legendary tri-tip sandwiches and having some good old-fashioned fun!
If you’re lucky, you might even catch a group of jugglers, drummers or dancers performing on the side streets throughout Downtown San Luis Obispo. As an added bonus, you can hop on the Old SLO Downtown Trolley, for just 50 cents, conveniently transporting visitors from downtown to the surrounding hotels on the north end of Monterey Street. Find the route and schedule for the SLO Trolley and start to map out your itinerary.
Off-Road Adventure
Reach new heights on an off-roading adventure in the Oceano Dunes! The Oceano Dunes SVRA is the only beach in California that offers off-highway vehicle recreation, attracting visitors from around the state. With over 5 miles of coastline open for vehicle use, the Oceano Dunes are pure paradise for ATV-enthusiasts. Start planning your adventure with our list of ATV rental shops and dune nature tours.
Batter Up! It’s Baseball Season
Don’t miss out on America’s favorite pastime and hit a Cal Poly Baseball or SLO Blues game this spring. Although Cal Poly is midway through their Division 1 season, the team has multiple home games remaining. Right as Cal Poly wraps up their season, SLO Blues, a collegiate baseball team based in SLO, kicks off their summer season. The SLO Blues games are perfect for family fun with expansive grass lawns and Kid’z Zone, allowing kids to run around and play freely.
Check out our Krukow’s Klubhouse and Batter Up: SLO Blues Baseball blog posts to read more about our experiences at San Luis Obispo baseball games. Now it’s time to grab your crackerjacks and hit the stands!
Beach Tasting
Nothing like sand between your toes and waves crashing in the background! When visiting SLO, discover countless picture-perfect beaches, located just 15-minutes from San Luis Obispo. From kayaking in Morro Bay and surfing in Montaña de Oro to tanning in Avila Beach and beach strolls in Pismo, San Luis Obispo beaches have lots of fun filled activities to offer you and your crew. Explore the top beaches along the Central Coast and get tips from locals in our ShareSLO blog post!
Biking
Celebrate National Bike Month this May in San Luis Obispo! San Luis Obispo is a biker’s paradise whether you’re a recreational rider or mountain biker. With various intensities and terrains, you can cruise along Bill Roalman Bike Boulevard or challenge yourself on West Cuesta Ridge. Discover new bike trails in San Luis Obispo today!
Arts & Culture: Art After Dark to Concerts
This spring, San Luis Obispo is putting on a wide variety of arts events from Art After Dark to JoJo performing at the iconic Fremont Theater. On the first Friday of every month, Art After Dark takes over Downtown San Luis Obispo as local galleries and shops open their doors to showcase works of art – for free! Discover upcoming participants and map out your route by visiting our Galleries & Art Events page.
The SLO Little Theatre has quite the lineup of shows including The Nerd from March 31 – April 16 and Our Town from May 12 – May 28 with special shows sprinkled in between. In addition to JoJo performing at the Fremont on May 16, don’t miss out on Cage the Elephant on April 14, Cashmere Cat on May 10 and more.
Book your tickets early before performances sell out at the Fremont Theater, Performing Arts Center and the SLO Little Theatre!
Spring Events in San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly Open House | April 6-8, 2017
Bring out your green and gold! This annual event gives prospective students and families a sneak peek at the Mustang lifestyle. Kicking off on Thursday night with the Club Showcase at Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market, Open House continues Friday with Admitted Students’ Preview Day. Don’t miss out on some of the favorite Cal Poly Open House events like the Poly Royal Parade, the Poly Royal Rodeo and the Poly Royal Truck & Tractor Pull.
Children’s Day in the Plaza | April 8, 2017
Come out to Mission Plaza for the 39th Annual Children’s Day in the Plaza! Immerse yourself in creativity and the arts during a day of hands-on, visual performing arts and literary activities – the perfect family-friendly event!
SLO Marathon | April 29-30, 2017
Welcoming professional athletes, first time marathon runners and families alike, SLO Marathon offers fun for everyone with the new, scenic route through San Luis Obispo and the lively SLO Life Expo, rounding off the weekend.
Flavor of SLO | May 6, 2017
Sample the best of the Central Coast’s culinary scene at the 9th Annual Flavor of SLO! Delight your taste buds and enjoy an afternoon of food, wine and beer tastings with live music from Rio Salinas featuring Louie Ortega. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.
Amgen Tour of California | May 16, 2017
This year, Amgen Tour of California, a famous 700-mile ride from San Diego to Sacramento, is riding right through Downtown San Luis Obispo! Come out for a street party in Mission Plaza and watch the televised race after they zip through the streets of SLO.
SLO Jazz Fest | May 20, 2017
Boogie down and listen to award-winning jazz music in the heart of Downtown San Luis Obispo at the SLO Jazz Fest, happening in Mission Plaza on May 20!
California Festival of Beers | May 27, 2017
Cheers to craft beer! Visit San Luis Obispo for the 31st Annual California Festival of Beers, one of the largest and oldest regional beer festivals in California.
Don’t miss out on endless spring fun to be had in San Luis Obispo! From ATV adventures to Thursday night Farmers’ Market, get out and enjoy all these seasonal things to do in San Luis Obispo. Remember to #ShareSLO the fun on social, too!