Week of Aug 17th – Aug 23rd
28 events across Atascadero, Avila Beach, Buellton, Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Templeton — your weekly Central Coast Companion dispatch.
Is it just us, or is the Central Coast absolutely showing off this week? Grab your reusable market totes because farmers markets are popping up everywhere, but we're especially excited for Thursday's massive SLO Night Market.
Live music is taking over our parks and plazas, but the Paso Robles Rotary Club Winemakers' Cookoff® on Friday is the real heavyweight event of the week—where else do you get top local chefs and wineries battling it out for a good cause? Plus, Templeton is sending off its 2026 concert series with a bang!
Cap off your weekend with vintage vibes at the Cruisin' Weekend Car Show in Atascadero, or get wonderfully weird at the SLO Botanical Garden's "Scaly Safari" Family Free Day. However you play it, get out there and enjoy the coast!
📅 MONDAY Aug 17th
Buellton Farmers Market on the Ave — Buellton
Weekly certified farmers market featuring fresh produce, local beef, honey, baked goods, and live music on the Avenue of Flags in Buellton.
🎤 TUESDAY Aug 18th
SLO Comedy Underground Open Mic — San Luis Obispo
🎤 Free stand-up comedy at Libertine Brewing's Little Room. Sign-ups at 7, show at 8. Some comics are great, some are trying. Either way, the beer is excellent.
Trivia Tuesday at The Collective — Santa Maria
🧠 King Trivia takes over Santa Maria's favorite food hall. Free to play, prizes for 1st, 2nd, and last place. Grab tacos and show off your useless knowledge.
🍷 WEDNESDAY Aug 19th
Atascadero Farmers Market — Atascadero
🛍️ Wednesday afternoon market at Sunken Gardens. Local produce, baked goods, and the kind of small-town market where the vendors remember your name.
Sips & Sounds at Stilson Cellars — Paso Robles
🎶 Midweek wine and live music in the tasting room. Small-batch wines, local musicians, and zero pretense.
Wine Down Wednesday at Brick Barn — Buellton
🍷 50% off wines by the glass plus live music at one of Buellton's prettiest estates. Bring a friend, split a bottle, watch the sunset.
Templeton Concerts in the Park — Final 2026 Concert — Templeton
🎶 The grand finale of Templeton's beloved summer concert series. Grab your lawn chairs, pack a picnic, and settle in by the gazebo for two hours of free local music under the evening sky. The perfect way to close out the season.
🍻 THURSDAY Aug 20th
Ty Myers: The Legal Tour — Avila Beach
🤠 Country breakout star Ty Myers brings The Legal Tour to Avila Beach Golf Resort with support from Brent Cobb and Benny G. Ocean breezes, cold drinks, and live country under the stars. Tickets start at $84.
SLO Thursday Night Farmers Market — San Luis Obispo
🛒 Five blocks of Higuera Street shut down for the best weekly street party on the Central Coast. 100+ vendors, live music, the tri-tip sandwich guy, and the kind of people-watching that makes you forget it's a school night. Year-round, rain or shine.
Morro Bay Farmers Market — Morro Bay
🛍️ Small-town farmers market with big coastal charm. Fresh produce, local honey, and the kind of conversations that only happen when everyone knows everyone.
Music in the Park Series — Santa Ynez
Free Wednesday evening summer concert series at Solvang Park featuring live music from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, running weekly through August 26, 2026.
Templeton Concerts in the Park 2026 — Templeton
Free weekly summer concert series at Templeton Park featuring live music every Wednesday evening. The 2026 season runs June 10 through August 19 (no concert on July 22).
Susan Williams Summer Music in the Park Series — Solvang
Free weekly outdoor concerts at Solvang Park Gazebo featuring a variety of genres including classic rock, blues, country, and jazz. Bring a blanket and enjoy live music from 5pm to 8pm.
Concerts in the Park — Templeton
Free weekly outdoor concerts every Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Templeton Park. The 2026 season runs June 10 through August 19 (no concert July 22).
Live Music in the Park — Santa Ynez
Free weekly family-friendly concerts at Solvang Park every Wednesday at 5 PM, featuring classic rock, blues, and more throughout the summer.
🎉 FRIDAY Aug 21st
Downtown Fridays — Santa Maria — Santa Maria
🎉 25 food trucks, 70+ vendors, live music, and a beer & wine tent. Santa Maria shuts down McClelland Street every Friday night. Free to wander, bring cash for the trucks.
Concerts in the Plaza — San Luis Obispo
🎶 The biggest free concert series on the Central Coast takes over Mission Plaza every Friday. Grab dinner downtown, bring a blanket, and make it your end-of-week tradition. Summer nights don't get better than this.
Avila Beach Farmers Market — Avila Beach
Weekly farmers market on the Avila Beach Promenade featuring fresh local produce, live music, and family-friendly fun. Runs every Friday from 4-8 PM.
Paso Robles Rotary Club Winemakers' Cookoff® — Paso Robles
👨🍳 Winemakers swap barrels for aprons and team up with local chefs for a friendly cookoff at the Event Center. Expect killer food, great wine pairings, and a little friendly competition.
Concert Series at Kynsi Winery — Pismo Beach
Live music concert series at Kynsi Winery, featuring local performers in a relaxed wine country setting.
Avila Beach Farmers Market — Avila Beach
Weekly farmers market on the Avila Promenade featuring fresh produce, local eats, live music, and family fun. Runs every Friday from 4-8 PM through August 28, 2026.
Cayucos Farmers Market — Cayucos
Seasonal weekly farmers market at the corner of Ocean Avenue and D Street, featuring fresh local produce, food vendors, and community booths. Runs every Friday through late August.
Cambria Farmers Market — Cambria
🛍️ Every Friday, rain or shine. Local produce, fresh flowers, baked goods, and Linn's BBQ steak. Small but mighty.
🏄 SATURDAY Aug 22nd
SLO Repertory Theatre: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change! — San Luis Obispo
🎭 The longest-running off-Broadway musical finally hits downtown SLO! This hilarious revue covers everything from first dates to marriage with catchy tunes and killer laughs. Grab your theater buddy before tickets vanish.
Art on the Beach — Avila Beach
Outdoor art show on Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM featuring local artists and artisans displaying their work along the Avila Beach promenade. Runs June through October.
Cruisin' Weekend Car Show & Festival — Atascadero
🚗 Hundreds of classic cars take over Sunken Gardens for Atascadero's ultimate end-of-summer tradition. Polished chrome, live music, food vendors, and serious nostalgia. Free and family-friendly—bring a lawn chair and stay awhile.
☕ SUNDAY Aug 23rd
SLO Botanical Garden Family Free Day: Scaly Safari — San Luis Obispo
🦎 Free entry to the SLO Botanical Garden for a hands-on scaly safari! Kids get up close with reptiles and explore nature trails. Perfect way to burn off weekend energy without spending a dime.
Kimberly Ford: The Music of Joni Mitchell — Solvang
🎸 Kimberly Ford channels Joni Mitchell under the stars at the Solvang Theaterfest Garden. Expect all the classics, killer vocals, and that perfect summer night energy. Bring a blanket, grab a glass of wine, and sing along to Big Yellow Taxi.
📬 DON'T MISS NEXT WEEK