Looking for holiday fun in SLO County? Here are 12 ways to celebrate the season
The holidays are here!
There’s plenty of festive fun to be had in San Luis Obispo County — from Christmas parades, concerts and tree lighting ceremonies to spectacular decorations and visits with Santa Claus.
Whether you’re home for the holidays or visiting the Central Coast, here’s your very merry guide to things to do and see in SLO County.
Read on for 12 holly, jolly ways to celebrate the season.
Get a Christmas tree
Imagine singing “O Tannenbaum” while standing around a real live Christmas tree.
You can cut your own evergreen or select a pre-cut pine, fir, cedar, redwood or spruce at one of the many farms and tree lots dotting the area.
Local farms offering live holiday trees as well as wreaths and other decorations include Hidden Springs Tree Farm in Atascadero and Holloway’s Christmas Trees in Nipomo. Spots offering cut trees include Agape Christmas Trees in Templeton; Cambria Nursery and Florist; Brookshire Farms in San Luis Obispo, Hopper Family Christmas Trees in Arroyo Grande and Jack Creek Farms in Templeton.
Pop into a holiday pop-up
Check out four interactive experiences — from the Cozy Sweater Nook to the Holly Jolly Hall — at the new Christmas at the Carrisa, running through Dec. 23 at The Carissa event venue, 36 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo.
The free holiday pop-up also features seasonal sips and nibbles, including apple cider mimosas and sticky toffee pudding. It’s open 5 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. thecarrisa.com/xmas.
See the season sparkle
The Cambria Christmas Market has reopened to the public after two years of restrictions. In store are more than two million lights, artisan vendors, visits with Santa and train rides.
The Cambria Christmas Market runs through Dec. 23 at Cambria Pines Lodge, 2905 Burton Drive in Cambria. Tickets cost $15 to $25; children 5 and under are free. 800-966-6490 or cambriachristmasmarket.com.
Nature Nights, a new outdoor holiday light and art exhibit at San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road off Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo. The exhibit, which runs through Jan. 8, features large format projections, wire sculptures and solar illumination of garden areas. Tickets are $24.75, or $14.75 for kids 12 and under; children 2 and under are free. my805tix.com/e/nature-nights.
Sensorio in Paso Robles has expanded its Field of Light to feature 100,000 fiber-optic stemmed spheres, just in time for the holidays.
Visitors to the sprawling outdoor light display can also see Light Towers, featuring 17,000 glowing wine bottles, while enjoying warm beverages, holiday treats and live music. Admission to Sensorio, 4380 Highway 46 East in Paso Robles, is $43, or $12 to $22 for children. sensoriopaso.com.
Visit Santa
Can’t make it to the North Pole? Drop in on Santa Claus at Santa’s House at Mission Plaza, 989 Chorro St. in downtown San Luis Obispo. It’s open noon to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 24.
While you’re waiting to visit St. Nick, ride the Classic Carousel, participate in the Search for Santa’s Mouse Scavenger Hunt or check out the dazzling decorations at Holiday Plaza, including festive photo opportunities. 805-541-0286 or downtownslo.com.
The Jolly Old Elf will also be in residence at Holiday House at Downtown City Park, located at Spring and 12th streets in Paso Robles, Open hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, Sunday through Dec. 24. 805-238-4103 or pasoroblesdowntown.org.
Watch a parade
The Downtown Holiday Parade at 7 p.m. Friday features more than 80 decorated floats, marching bands, vehicles, dancers and more winding through the streets of downtown San Luis Obispo. 805-541-0286 or downtownslo.com.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, the South County Holiday Toyland Parade brings holiday fun to Grover Beach. It’s followed by Santa’s Workshop from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ramona Garden Park, 993 Ramona Ave. in Grover Beach, and the Holiday Tree Lighting. 805-473-4580 or grover.org.
The Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on the Embarcadero. (805) 225-7411 or morrobay.org
Santa Claus comes to town with the Christmas Light Parade in downtown Paso Robles at 7 p.m. Saturday. 805-238-4103 or pasoroblesdowntown.org.
The Arroyo Grande Christmas Parade lights up the historic Village of Arroyo Grande at 5 p.m. Sunday. visitarroyogrande.org.
Play in the snow
More than 75 tons of snow will transform Atascadero’s Sunken Gardens into a frosty paradise during the free Winter Wonderland event on Dec. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m.
In addition to a massive snow slide and two snow pile play areas, attractions include Joe’s Little Train, two Euro bungee jumps, an obstacle course, gladiator joust, bounce houses and face painting. Visitors can also sample goodies from 50-plus craft and food vendors and enjoy live music, dance and scooter demonstrations. 805-470-3360 or visitatascadero.com.
Snow zones are also in store at Holiday Harmony, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Pismo Beach Pier Plaza.
The free, family-friendly event includes bounce houses, cookie decorating, visits with Santa Claus and a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. The first 250 children in the Santa Line get goody bags. 805-773-7063 or experiencepismobeach.com.
Get festive with Fido
Dress Fido in his best holiday finery for Santa’s Doggie Parade at 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at the Avila Beach Promenade.
The Avila Beach Civic Association will sponsor a costume contest with categories including Best Dog/Owner Look Alike, Best Holiday Look and Funniest Costume. Participants, who must register ahead of time, get goodie bags from Petco and ribbons. You can also snap photos of your pet with Santa. 805-627-1997 or www.avilabeachcc.com.
Leashed and friendly dogs can also participate in the Holiday Pet Parade at 4 p.m. Sunday, walking from El Chorro Dog Park to the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. 805-541-1400 or slobg.org.
Go back in time
Experience the holidays at Hearst Castle the way William Randolph Hearst and his guests did during the San Simeon estate’s heyday in the 1920s and ’30s — with massive wreaths, towering trees and thousands of lights.
Guided twilight tours of Hearst Castle, available through Dec. 30. include the Casa del Sol guest house and the grand rooms of the Casa Grande, as well as the movie theater, gardens and Neptune and Roman pools.
Tickets are $35, $17 for children 5 through 12. Youngsters 4 and under get in free. 800-444-4445 or ReserveCalifornia.com.
For a glimpse of Victorian-era Paso Robles, head to the Vine Street Christmas Victorian Showcase on Dec. 10.
Homes on Vine Street between Eighth and 21st Streets in Paso Robles will feature lavish holiday decorations. You’ll also spot Santa Claus, the Snow King and Queen and Ebenezer Scrooge.
Light up the night
JCC-Federation of SLO’s Hannukah Downtown celebration kicks off at 5 p.m. Dec. 18 in Mission Plaza in downtown San Luis Obispo.
The first night features a menorah lighting, rabbi-led prayers and songs and Jewish community booths. A different Jewish organizations will light the menorah nightly through Dec. 25. For information, visit jccslo.com/hanukkah.html
Several tree lighting ceremonies are planned across San Luis Obispo County, including the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Morro Bay and the Light Up the Downtown Holiday Celebration in Atascadero, both on Friday, and the Christmas in Cayucos Tree Lighting on Sunday.
Hospitality Night, 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 in downtown Cambria, will also feature a tree lighting ceremony.
See a classic movie on the big screen
A kindly angel shows suicidal small-town banker George Bailey how he’s helped the people of Bedford Falls in Frank Capra’s classic Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. You can watch it on the big screen on Dec. 18 at Downtown Centre Cinemas, 888 Marsh St. in San Luis Obispo.
Colony Cinemas, 6197 El Camino Real in Atascadero, is showing a slew of holiday favorites via the Flashback Cinema screening series. See “Elf” on Sunday and Dec. 7; “Scrooge” on Dec. 11 and 14, and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on Dec. 18 and 21.
Tickets are $10.50 apiece. themovieexperience.com or atascadero.themovieexperience.com.
Make a joyful noise
Sing along with the SLO Master Chorale as they perform George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 17 during the Holiday Festival and Sing-Along Messiah at the Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave. in San Luis Obispo.
The chorale will also sing traditional carols and holiday classics accompanied by soloist Paul Woodring on the Forbes Pipe Organ. Tickets are $25, $10 for students. 805-756-4849 or pacslo.org.
Looking for more musical merriment?
You’ll encounter choirs, carolers and musical groups during the free Musical Holiday Walk Around the Lake, Saturday at Atascadero Lake, as well as holiday decorations, refreshments and demonstrations by Atascadero HIgh School’s robotics team. 805-550-3147 or atascaderolake.net.
An Irish Christmas brings the songs and dances of the Emerald Isle to the Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave. in Arroyo Grande, on Saturday. Tickets are $40 to $58. 805-489-9444 or clarkcenter.org.
“Glee” star Jane Lynch teams up with “The Office” cast member Kate Flannery for a show described as “one part cabaret, one part comedy, and one heaping helping of Christmas kitsch.” Tickets for A Swingin’ Little Christmas, taking place Dec. 18 at the PAC, are $50 to $80, or $25 for students. pacslo.org.
Go nuts
What holiday season would be complete without “The Nutcracker,” Peter Tchaikovsky’s ballet about a girl who journeys to the Land of the Sweets on Christmas Eve?
Accompanied by a full live orchestra, Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo performs the holiday classic on Dec. 9, 10 and 11 at the PAC. Admission is $24 to $72. 805-756-4849 or pacslo.org.
Ballet Theatre SLO celebrates “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with three holiday-themed dance pieces on Dec. 16, 17 and 18 at the PAC. Admission is $28 to $48. pacslo.org.
This story was originally published November 25, 2022 at 5:30 AM.
