3-day Atascadero Fall Festival brings Ferris wheel, music and family fun to North County
The Sunken Gardens in Atascadero will transform into a carnival and music venue next weekend for the first Atascadero Fall Festival, which will feature performances from more than 30 bands on two stages, a Ferris wheel and beer and wine tastings.
The three-day event kicks off on Friday, Nov. 19, and admission is free. Presale tickets are available for beer, wine and seltzer tastings on Saturday as are discounted daily passes for carnival rides and games throughout the weekend, said Andres Nuño, co-owner of El Fuego Events and the fall festival organizer.
“It doesn’t get better than Sunken Gardens,” Nuño said. “It’s the perfect setting in my head. It just feels pretty historical and really fun place to have a Ferris wheel in front of City Hall. ... I couldn’t think of a better place to do it. “
The event kicks off on Friday at 4 p.m. with live music before the headliner, Central Coast rock band Soundhouse, takes the stage at 8 p.m.
The first Friday of a festival like this is typically locals night, where all the kids are excited to check out the event after watching the Ferris wheel and other rides being built throughout the week, Nuño said.
“Saturday we wanted to bring a big name to the event to solidify that this isn’t just a simple, small event,” Nuño said. “We want something that’s going to be national, and bring people to town,” which is why he booked reggae musician Pato Banton as Saturday’s headliner.
Before Banton takes the stage at 8 p.m. on Saturday, patrons 21 and older can enjoy “Suds at Sunken Gardens” from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and get you beer, wine and seltzer tastings from more than 15 vendors, according to the event website. Only 300 tasting tickets will be sold and can be purchased online in advance, but patrons can still purchase alcoholic beverages during the three-day event, according to the website.
Unlike other tasting events, the beer garden is not sequestered, allowing families to be together throughout the event, Nuño said.
“We want to make it affordable for families to go out and enjoy an evening together and not have to be separated,” Nuño said. “The entirety of the event, mom and dad can take the kids to go on some rides and they can then have a beer or wine while they’re watching the kids.”
The event closes out Sunday when headliner and local Central Coast favorite Bear Market Riot takes the stage at 8 p.m., he said.
Bear Market Riot is the “perfect way to end this event and get us ready to go for 2022,” Nuño said.
Nuño estimated that more than 20,000 people will attend the Atascadero Fall Festival and encouraged locals to walk or ride their bikes, he said. “If you’re 2 years old or 90 years old, there’s something for you to enjoy at this event,” Nuño said.
The event hours are Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets for the beverage tastings and discounted daily passes for carnival games and rides can be purchased in advance on their website at www.atascaderofallfest.com.
“We’re just excited to be in Atascadero and to bring something like this to it,” Nuño said. “We’re really looking forward to creating a longstanding event.”
This story was originally published November 16, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
