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Every year, there is a lot of family-friendly and free Christmas events in San Luis Obispo County that are planned by the community and local city governments. Sometimes, you may also find free Santa Photo opportunities!

2024 Fall & Holiday Themed Event List (Growing List):

• September 27 & 28 (Fri & Sat) - Harvest Festival and Parade in Arroyo Grande. Harvest Festival serves as a tribute to agriculture, the area’s leading industry. Among the many attractions featured is a parade, toe-tapping entertainment, agricultural exhibits, and an array of food, games, and arts and crafts booths. This festival is focused on the local non-profit organizations that serve the community. Address for GPS: 200 Olohan Alley, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
• October 5, 2024 (Sat) - Atascadero Colony Day from 10AM - 3PM. Parade will begin at 10AM and then the festival follows. There will be vendors, entertainment and food for purchase until 3PM. Address: 6505 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 9342
• October 12, 2024 (Sat) - Paso Robles Pioneer Day from 7AM - 1PM at Paso Robles. The Pioneer Day Parade starts promptly at 10 am on the second Saturday in October, in downtown Paso Robles. The parade route starts at 16th and Spring Street and ends surrounding the Paso Robles City Park. Bring your favorite lawn chairs, hats and sunscreen and plan on a memorable experience. See antique tractors, horse-drawn wagons, marching bands, mounted equestrian groups, youth groups, church groups, civic groups, floats, vintage cars, fire engines, tractors military vehicles and more. Main Address: Spring St &, 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446
• October 19, 2024 (Sat) - Golden Oak Honey & Pumpkin Festival and Kids' Flea Market from 10AM - 5PM in Downtown City Park in Paso Robles. Free admission. Honey, pumpkin pie eating contest, antiques, arts, crafts, and misc merchandise along with a special area for the Kid's Flea Market. Address: Spring St &, 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446
• October 25, 2024 (Fri) - Annual Trunk or Treat at Ramona Garden Park in Grover Beach from 5PM - dark. Free event. Safe trick-or-treating. I've been to this event before! It's a great community event. See picture below for a photo I captured.
   Ramona Park Address: 993 Ramona Ave., Grover Beach, CA 93433
• October 19 & 20, 2024 (Sat & Sun) - 78th Annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival starting with the Clam Festival parade at 10AM on October 19. This is a two day event and it is free admission and includes free kids zone with bounce house and inflatables. I go to this event almost every year! Read my review and past experience of the Pismo Beach Clam Festival with pictures I took. Address for GPS: 100 Pomeroy Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
• October 25 & 26, 2024 - Halloween Carnival and Haunted Maze: 2 Day Monster Mash in Arroyo Grande. This is a 2-day Halloween event at Elm Street Park (corner of Ash and Elm streets). Children of all ages and adults are invited to enjoy unlimited bounce-n-play, carnival games for candy and toy prizes, food vendors, the haunted maze, a costume contest and a pumpkin decorating contest, and more! To enter the pumpkin decorating contest participants should bring decorated pumpkins from home. Tickets for the carnival and maze can be purchased at the Recreation office, 1221 Ash Street, or at the door. Address for GPS: 1221 Ash St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
• October 26, 2024 (Sat) - Wiggle Waggle Fall Festival 2024 at Woods Humane Society from 12PM - 3PM. This is a community pet celebration event. Address: 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo Obispo, CA
• October 26, 2024 (Sat) - Zoo Boo at the Charles Paddock Zoo from 5PM - 8PM. Get your best costume ready and bring the entire family out to a not-too-scary evening at Zoo Boo! You can expect Halloween decorations throughout the Zoo, carnival games, a costume contest, Halloween-themed activities, a haunted house, and tricks & treats to enjoy! Admission is $16 for regular admission, $15 for Zoo members and free for kids 2 years old and under. Tickets are purchased at the zoo. We went to this event before! See my instagram reel of our experience from the past at Zoo Boo at Charles Paddock Zoo. Address: 9100 Morro Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422
• October 31, 2024 (Thurs) - Safe & Fun Halloween Downtown Paso Robles from 3PM - 6PM. Free event. Trick or treat and take photos with witches. Address for GPS: Spring St &, 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446
• October 31, 2024 (Thurs) - Trick or Treat Downtown in Atascadero from 5PM - 8PM. Free event. People and pets of all ages are welcome to come and enjoy family, children, and pet costume contests, games, and of course, Trick or Treating! Address for GPS: 6905 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
• October 31, 2024 (Thurs) - Halloween Festivities at the Downtown SLO Farmers Market from 6 - 8PM. Fun-filled evening of costumes, candy, and karaoke! Activities include the beloved Trick-or-Treat Trail at dozens of downtown businesses, a Costume Contest in Mission Plaza, festive photo opportunities, and more. This event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public! We've attended this event in the past. See our video clip below: 
   
  Address for GPS: Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• October 1 - 31, 2024 - Hundreds of imaginative and whimsical scarecrows descend upon the seaside villages of Cambria and San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County.
• November 11, 2024 (Mon) - Happy Veteran's Day! See a list of freebies that veterans can get in celebration of Veteran's Day.
• November 28, 2024 (Thurs) - Happy Thanksgiving Day! See a list of over 20 different places that had served Thanksgiving Day turkey in San Luis Obispo County for 2023.
• November 29, 2024 (Fri) - 38th Annual Downtown Lighting Ceremony at City Park in Paso Robles at 5:30PM. Mrs. Claus will be there. Address for GPS: Spring St &, 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446
• December 1, 2024 (Sun) - Holiday Parade at the Village in Arroyo Grande at 5PM. It starts at East Brunch Street that is next to City Hall. Address for GPS: 300 E Branch St Arroyo Grande CA 93420
• December 7, 2024 (Sat) - 63rd Annual Christmas Light Parade in Paso Robles at 6PM. Theme is "Sleigh Bells Ring, Area you Listening'". Santa will be at the parade. Address: TBD
• December 8, 2024 (Sun) - Tree Lighting and Snow at Elm Street Park in Arroyo Grande from 5PM - 7PM. Free entry event. However, last year, I had to pay for wristbands for the kids to use the bouncy houses because that service was not free. I'm not sure if that will be the case this year so come ready with money. Event includes TONS of snow and Santa lighting the tree at 6pm. This event typically includes food vendors, s’more station, horse drawn wagon rides, photos with Santa, and more! Also, last year, the snow lasted for awhile and so I came back a couple of days later to the same park to play in the snow without the crowd. See my instagram reel to see the leftover snow from this event from last year. Address: 1221 Ash St, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
• December 13, 2024 (Fri) - Winter Wonderland at Sunken Gardens in Atascadero from 5PM - 9PM. Over 70 tons of snow! This year’s snow-themed event includes bungee jumps, obstacle courses, community entertainment, Joe's Little Train (brought to you by the Elks Lodge) Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more! Address: 6505 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422
• December 14, 2024 (Sat) - Breakfast with Santa in Arroyo Grande. This cost money. This event includes a pancake breakfast, pictures with Santa, entertainment, crafts, and more! More information to come!
• December 21, 2024 (Sat) - Holiday Magic at the Charles Paddock Zoo from 10AM - 1PM. Join us for the annual Holiday Magic celebration, where our dedicated zookeepers step in as Santa’s Elves to prepare special gifts for the animals. Santa will be at the Zoo on Saturday, December 21st, to help welcome visitors and deliver gifts to the animals. Event is included with regular admission (costs money) at the zoo. See pictures that I've taken at the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero. Address: 6907 El Camino Real. Atascadero, CA 93422
• Thanksgiving Weekend Through December 23, 2024 - Cambria Christmas Market by Cambria Pines Lodge in Cambria, California. Enjoy 3+ million Christmas lights, Vendor Market, festive food & drink, visits from Santa, live music and more! This is a ticketed event or if you book a room at Cambria Pines Lodge, then it is inclusive. Learn more about Cambria and my brunch experience at Cambria Pines Lodge. Address: 905 Burton Dr. Cambria, California 93428. I've walked through the Cambria Christmas Market lights last year. Here is my video clip from last year's visit: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/D3d--JQVwGM
• December 2024 - Holiday Plaza in Downtown San Luis Obispo. More details to come! Free to walk through. See my video from last year when Mission Plaza is transformed into Holiday Plaza with Christmas lights below. Press the play button.
   
• November and December Selected Dates 2024 - Train Rides at Santa Margarita Ranch. Train ride tickets vary as there are two different trains. Each passenger ticket comes with hot cocoa and a cookie in the barn. Each train ride is 30 minutes long. Tickets are $40 per adult and $25 per child. Babies who are 2 years old and under are free. Address: 9000 Yerba Buena Ave., Santa Margarita, CA 93453. I've been to this ranch before. See my Youtube short video below at Santa Margarita Ranch.
  

Most Unique Christmas Thing To Do in SLO County: Cambria Christmas Lights 

I highly suggest visiting the Cambria Christmas Market that typically opens starting Thanksgiving weekend. See my video reel of my visit to Cambria Christmas Market above. This is a very unique thing to do in San Luis Obispo County as it's over a mile walk through with non-stop Christmas lights. You can buy tickets to enter the market or you can stay at one of their hotels and the entry to the market is included. It is very stroller-friendly. Read more about Cambria.

Major Attractions in Southern California

Living on the Central Coast, we're only a few hours drive from big and fun rides at major attractions. Here are ticket offerings for attractions that offer a a festive experience throughout the holidays.

Universal Studios Hollywood in LA offers Discounted General Admission through arestravel. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ takes you into the world of Super Mario™. Battle Team Bowser on the groundbreaking Mario Kart™ ride. Play interactive games throughout the land and track your score with a Power-Up Band™. Dine at Toadstool Cafe™, meet Mario and friends, and grab exclusive merch at the 1-UP Factory™ store. Now open at Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal Studios Hollywood is a 2 hour and 56 minute drive south from SLO (if no traffic).
 See Universal Studios Hollywood Ticket Offerings.