The 2024 Fall calendar is packed with events and festivals on California’s Central Coast.

September resonates with the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival and October brings the fine sounds of the Old Time Fiddlers’ Festival. Also in October, scarecrows decorate the Cambria seaside area, and Santa Barbara celebrates regional food and wine at the Vintner’s Festival and the Seafood Festival. The Big Sur Wine & Food Festival is the segue into November, and Santa Barbara’s famous Half Marathon spans the month’s first weekend with extra events.

Special Events on California’s Central Coast: Worth the Detour

Monterey Jazz Festival
September 27-29, 2024, Monterey

67th Annual:  Jazz meets blues, gospel and more in a line-up including Stanley Clarke N•4Ever, Mavis Staples, Joshua Redman Group, Lila Downs, Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo, Ana Popovic & Fantastafunk Big Band.

Cambria Scarecrow Festival
October 1 – October 31, 2024, Cambria (San Luis Obispo area)

16th Annual: Over 200 creative and whimsical scarecrows will decorate the seaside villages of Cambria and San Simeon for this festival, named in the country’s top 10 Fall festivals.

Wine Walk in Camarillo Old Town
October 5, 2024, Camarillo

10th Annual: Stroll along Ventura Boulevard tasting local wine and craft beer, live music and wine, and if you buy a VIP ticket you can also sample food pairings from local Camarillo restaurants and wineries.

Santa Barbara Old-Time Fiddlers’ Festival
October 5, 2024, Goleta

52nd Annual: Fiddles feature with entertainment from some of the best old-time bands in the world. Also free workshops including yodeling, jamming with musicians, and banjo playing.

Santa Barbara Vintner’s Festival
October 19, 2024, Santa Barbara

40th Annual: Taste the region’s best from more than 50 wineries at Vega Vineyard & Farm. Stop by the Bubble Lounge for wine country’s best sparkling wines, meet the winemakers, and feast on cuisine from local chefs and restaurants.

Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival
October 19, 2024, Santa Barbara

Celebrate this famous Harbor’s fishing fleet, enjoying sustainably fished and freshly prepared seafood including sea urchin, lobster and albacore. Specialty booths also offer oysters, mussels, crab, fish tacos, seafood paella and clam chowder.

Big Sur Food & Wine Festival
October 31 – November 2, 2024, Big Sur

Kicking off with a Magical Mystery Tour and opening night at Alila Ventana Big Sur, events also include hiking, a Pinot Walkabout, Sommelier Dinner, Bubbles & Brushes, and an auction. Ends with the big party Wine & Swine event under the ancient redwoods of the Henry Miller Memorial Library.

Santa Barbara Half Marathon
November 3-5, 2024, Santa Barbara

The feature 13.1-mile and a 5K course runs take place on November 5, both starting from Cabrillo Boulevard and finishing at State Street. Plan a weekend around this event as there’s also live music, a family day, and yoga/breathing workshops.

Full Calendars of Events

Central California

• Big Sur & Highway 1
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• Channel Islands (& Ventura)
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• Central Coast
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• Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach
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• Paso Robles
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• Santa Barbara
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• Santa Cruz
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• San Luis Obispo
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