Now that the weather is beginning to drop, have you ever thought about what it would be like to celebrate the joy of the holiday season without having to bear the frigid winters? Check out what it would be like to escape the cold by venturing to SLO CAL's (San Luis Obispo County) temperate winter wonderland. See below the many festive fairs and flairs happening throughout the holiday season!
Fairs
The Cambria Christmas Market will officially return on Nov. 24 for an exciting holiday experience for all ages! Walk through an immersive path with more than two million lights, take a train ride, and memorialize the day with a picture with Santa. Next, enjoy live music and a local beer in the Biergarten, taste international cuisine and drinks, and shop for handmade gifts and imported German goods at the authentic German Christmas market booths.
All Aboard the Central Coast's newest holiday tradition for the whole family, Christmas at the Ranch! From Nov. 24 to Dec. 17, the Historic Santa Margarita Ranch will host the holiday-filled festivities with the enchanting Pacific Coast Railroad's Jingle Bell Express. Embark on a journey to visit Santa's Barn to sip hot chocolate and sit with Santa. Be spellbound by the magic show with Andy Morris. Step aboard and make memories with the whole family with this one-of-a-kind, all-new Christmas experience!
Flairs
Join California Lavender Honey Farm in San Miguel for its inaugural holiday extravaganza from Dec. 2 to 3 at the Royal Christmas on the Farm. The memorable experience invites guests on a unique lavender farm tour that focuses on holiday traditions and how lavender is the centerpiece of it all. The tour will include learning about the various types of lavender and its uses, sampling the farm's lavender oils, putting together a holiday gift, enjoying a royal high tea (with a donation of an unwrapped toy), and so much more! Tickets are $45 for adults, $20 for kids ages 5-15, and are free for kids under 5. Be sure to secure a reservation for this incredible immersive experience!
Next, step into another era when venturing to Christmas at Hearst Castle in San Simeon from the end of November through the end of December. See William Randolph Hearst's estate as he would experience it in the 1920s and 1930s with the elegant wreaths adorning the doors, extravagant decorated Christmas trees owning their space in the large social rooms, and lights sprinkled throughout for a glimpse of the magic.
Jump over to San Luis Obispo City to see the historic Carrisa Building to be transformed into a winter wonderland for Christmas at the Carrisa. Be enchanted in the one-of-its-kind interactive holiday destination for all ages. The space will feature floor-to-ceiling holiday decor. Mark your calendars to join on opening night, Nov. 10.