Events in Atascadero today

The 6th annual Atascadero Fall Festival brings a free, family-friendly celebration to Sunken Gardens in downtown Atascadero with a full carnival of rides and games, live music from more than 40 bands across two stages, and over 60 food and merchant vendors. The music lineup is topped by Los Hermanos Mendoza along with a Fall Fest debut from national touring reggae artist Vana Liya. Admission and parking are free. Highlights include the Suds at Sunken Gardens Beer & Wine Festival, attractions for all ages, and a wide range of dining and shopping. Featured beverages include craft beer from Wild Fields Brewhouse, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., and Firestone Walker Brewing Co., mead from Honest Abe, cocktails by Rod & Hammer SLO Stills, and wine from Ruby Cellars. Colony Days takes place alongside the festival, including the Colony Days Parade, adding even more to experience in the center of town. Lodging partners include Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Atascadero, Fairfield Suites, and The Carlton. This En Fuego Event production is presented by Visit Atascadero, Tecate, and Dos Equis.

Chalk Mountain Golf Course partners with Adventist Health Central Coast Foundation and the Rudy Duran Golf Center for Driving for Good, an evening in support of cancer screening and supportive services on the Central Coast. With a $25 suggested donation, participants receive unlimited use of the driving range, and the first several attendees will take home a special edition pink Chalk Mountain and Morro Bay golf hat. There is also an optional closest to the pin contest with prizes. For details about attending, contact Austin at SolheiAT@ah.org.

Singer-songwriter Emily Smith performs live with seating options that include shared tables, bar seats, and reservable tables. A minimum purchase of a glass of wine or a signature zero-proof cocktail applies. Walk-ins are welcome, and tables can also be reserved online using the button provided. Wine tasting flights and bottle purchases are available online and in The Tasting Gallery throughout the event.

A fall festival brings live music, games, and free admission for all. The MainStage will host a performance as part of the festivities.

Catch the Erick Tyler Project for a charged live rock set featuring commanding vocals, twin electric guitars, and familiar songs that range from classic and alternative rock to hard rock and modern hits. Expect plenty of energy throughout the performance. Admission is $10.

Colony Days returns to its traditional fall timing through a new collaboration with Atascadero Fall Fest. The theme, Wild About Atascadero!, sets the tone for a community parade that is free and open for public participation. Following a rain impacted year, the updated approach emphasizes a stronger partnership and a full weekend of fall activities in Downtown Atascadero, including a carnival and more. Appreciation is extended to volunteers, parade participants, spectators, sponsors, the City of Atascadero, and community partners for their dedication, rain or shine.

Central Coast DS Group presents the second annual walk supporting Down syndrome awareness at Atascadero Lake Park. The day begins with a group walk, then transitions to games, music, and plenty of fun. Event T-shirts will be available for purchase. Attendees can bring a picnic to enjoy in the park after the walk.

Experience a candlelit performance of Halloween Classics at King David's Masonic Lodge in San Luis Obispo, where live music and an intimate ambiance create a multi-sensory evening. This tribute concert celebrates iconic themes such as Thriller by Michael Jackson, Funeral March of a Marionette by Charles Gounod, music from Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8, Tubular Bells from The Exorcist by Mike Oldfield, the Stranger Things theme by Dixon and Stein, the Beetlejuice main title by Danny Elfman, The Addams Family theme by Vic Mizzy, the Halloween theme by John Carpenter, the Prelude from Psycho by Bernard Herrmann, Ghostbusters by Elmer Bernstein, Danse macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns, Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky, Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show by O’Brien and Hartley, a suite from The Nightmare Before Christmas by Danny Elfman, and In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg. A Listeso string quartet from San Luis Obispo brings these pieces to life by candlelight. The performance lasts 60 minutes, doors open 45 minutes beforehand, and there is no entry after the music begins. The event is open to ages 8 and up, with anyone under 16 accompanied by an adult. The venue is ADA compliant, and seating is assigned within each zone on a first come, first served basis. This is a tribute experience that is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the original artists, their estates, or official representatives.

With a donation and registration, attendees are welcomed to a Sanctuary Sound Journey benefiting Rancho Burro Donkey Sanctuary, created to help find center and restore the spirit. The experience starts with a meet and greet with rescued donkeys and mules, followed by a light snack donated by Graze Charcuterie and refreshing lemon cucumber mint water. Dee DiGioia of Mindful Kindful YOUniversity then leads a one hour sacred sound bath held near the herd for a calm, grounding atmosphere. Open to ages 8 and up with an adult, and all proceeds directly support the rescued donkeys and mules who live at the sanctuary.

In the courtyard, live musical performances are accompanied by bites and drinks.

Opera San Luis Obispo brings the comic operetta The Mikado to the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo in a lively, large scale staging. Expect plenty of laughs, memorable melodies, a full orchestra, eye-catching sets, standout singing, and elegant costumes with big production energy. It carries double gold recognition from Best of the Central Coast.

Enjoy the Central Coast with a view of Morro Rock while listening to favorite songs and savoring delicious seafood.

Randy Feltface, the purple puppet comedian from Australia, brings his brand-new stand-up show, Gimmick, to Fremont Theater. Expect rapid-fire wit, sharp observations, and a uniquely offbeat style in a set full of big laughs and delightfully absurd comedy. Open to all ages.

At The Siren, an ensemble of accomplished musicians led by Claudia Sue Conrad, a BMI and ASCAP published songwriter and School of Rock Palo Alto teacher, delivers a set that balances precision with grit. Featuring players from New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and San Francisco, the show channels danceable Nashville grooves linked to Sheryl Crow alongside the Brit pop bite of Chrissy Hynde and The Pretender. The booking stretches from Morro Bay and Placerville to San Jose, Roseville, Belmont, Palo Alto, Pacifica, Russian River, and Los Gatos.

Rusted Stone takes the Holiday Inn Express Stage at the Atascadero Fall Festival.

Next Stop Comedy brings a rotating slate of standout comics to Wild Fields Brewhouse for a high-energy night of standup in a close-up setting. The lineup includes Gregory Hoffman, Juliet Simon, Natalie Diaz, and Carolyn Glaude, with Heather Winter as host. The evening offers fast-paced sets, fresh material, and performers from around the country, making it a fit for a date night, devoted comedy followers, or anyone looking for a fun night out.

This seasonal favorite offers a hands-on chance to make fused glass ornaments. Design and assemble pieces from a colorful array of glass, then, after firing, each ornament is finished with a silver bale attached to the back. All supplies are included, and the price covers three ornaments for $65.

Opera San Luis Obispo stages the comic operetta The Mikado at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo. A complete orchestra drives the score, while vivid sets, striking costumes, and expressive singing animate the work with abundant humor. Expect big laughs, catchy tunes, and the polish of a large scale production. Honored as a double gold recipient in Best of the Central Coast, it arrives with notable accolades.

Enjoy a relaxed, social day of cards at BA Start Arcade Bar in San Luis Obispo with Sunshine Poker League. This beginner-friendly gathering keeps gambling off the table and focuses on a welcoming atmosphere for newcomers and seasoned players alike. Compete for prizes, points, bragging rights, and Bar Poker Open virtual tokens, with the top three finishers earning tokens for online qualifier tournaments. Those qualifiers offer a path to the $400,000 Bar Poker Open Championship in Las Vegas, where first place pays $100,000. A $5 donation is appreciated. Expect cold beer, tasty cocktails, and great food, plus plenty of opportunities to meet people and either learn the game or polish your skills.

Explore Brazilian Zouk in a focused 90 minute workshop that begins with the essentials of timing, feel, and flow, then progresses into key movements such as the lateral, simple turn, viradinha, and Gostosinho. The session also covers lead and follow communication, elasticity, and frame, with attention to control, comfort, and musicality instead of memorizing patterns.

Shakey Graves brings a night of raw-hearted songs and spontaneous storytelling to Fremont Theater, turning the stage into an adventure. His music blends folk, rock, and country with unguarded emotion, creating moments that move from intimate quiet to surprising bursts of energy. Over the years he has built a personal, ever-evolving world around his work through special releases and fan-focused surprises, and that same spirit drives an unpredictable, immersive live show.

BLACK FLAG, pioneers of American punk rock, performs live at the Pour House in Paso Robles. This is the actual band, not a tribute act. General admission is $30 in advance and $40 on the day of show. VIP options are limited and include tables with seating and entry for four, plus the Diamond Lounge, a private upper-level mezzanine space for groups of up to 15. This show is expected to sell out.

Waste Management offers Atascadero residents a weeklong free waste drop-off along with a complimentary one yard of compost at the WM SLO County Transfer Station. To take part, participants must be Atascadero residential customers and present a photo ID together with a Waste Management bill that matches the service address. Bring a personal car or pickup. Do not tow a trailer behind a personal truck. Small trailers roughly the size of a pickup bed may be used when attached to a personal vehicle. Accepted materials include common household items such as sofas, chairs, rugs, mattresses, washers and dryers, as well as trash and recyclables. Rocks and similar materials are allowed when loose items are bagged. Scrap metal is accepted if kept separate. Yard debris is welcome, including leaves and larger branches up to 6 inches in diameter or 4 feet in length. Items that are not accepted include appliances containing freon, commercial construction or landscape debris, electronic waste, and tires. Electronic and hazardous waste should be taken to Chicago Grade Landfill.

Waste Management is offering Atascadero households a weeklong opportunity to clear out unwanted items with free residential drop-off, plus a complimentary yard of compost. The event takes place at the WM SLO County Transfer Station and is limited to Atascadero residential customers. Bring a photo ID along with a Waste Management bill that shows the same service address to participate. Arrive in a personal vehicle or pickup truck. Small trailers about the size of a pickup bed are allowed when towed by a personal vehicle, but trailers are not permitted with personal trucks. Accepted items include bulky household goods like sofas, chairs, rugs, mattresses, washers and dryers, along with regular trash and recyclables. Rocks and similar materials are accepted if loose items are bagged, scrap metal should be kept separate, and yard debris such as leaves and large branches is welcome when sized up to 6 inches in diameter or 4 feet in length. Items that will not be accepted include appliances containing freon, commercial construction or landscape debris, electronic waste, hazardous waste, and tires. Electronic or hazardous materials can be taken to Chicago Grade Landfill.

Circa pioneers a fresh approach to contemporary Australian circus, blending movement, dance, theatre, and acrobatics under the direction of Yaron Lifschitz to show how extreme physical skill can spark powerful emotion. In Wolf, ten Circa artists unleash a high‑voltage display of grips, climbs, leaps, and precarious balances, wearing sleek costumes by Libby McDonnell and moving to DJ Ori Lichtik’s driving, primal beats. The production unfolds across two distinct acts, as the wolves transition from unruly disruptors to a tightly bonded pack, propelled by choreography that surges with raw energy and remarkable athleticism. A fierce, cutting‑edge vision of circus. Presented by Cal Poly Arts. Sponsored by Gina Kirk.

A gentle, sound-centered wellness session at the Cancer Support Community Resource Center offers comfort and renewal for people affected by cancer. Patients and survivors are welcome, as are caregivers, loved ones, healthcare professionals, and those navigating recovery or loss. This offering is part of a free series made possible by the Cancer Support Community Resource Center and Adventist Health. The session is guided by Dee DiGioia, founder of Mindful Kindful YOUniversity, a certified therapeutic sound practitioner, HealthRhythms drumming wellness facilitator, mindfulness and meditation teacher, grief educator, and nature connection guide. Capacity is limited, so advance registration is encouraged since sessions often reach full attendance.

Enjoy a friendly, social poker night at BA Start Arcade Bar in San Luis Obispo with Sunshine Poker League. This beginner-friendly event bans gambling and welcomes everyone. Players compete for prizes, points, bragging rights, and Bar Poker Open virtual tokens. The three highest finishers receive tokens for online qualifier tournaments, and qualifiers can lead to a seat in the $400,000 Bar Poker Open Championship in Las Vegas where first place awards $100,000. A $5 donation is appreciated. Expect cold beer, tasty cocktails, and great food, along with a chance to meet new people, learn the game, or sharpen your skills.