SLO, Califonia Festivals, Events, and Concerts to Watch Out for in July
It isn’t just pristine coastlines, rolling vineyards, and perfect weather all year round that make San Luis Obispo a perfect vacation destination. It’s also a haven for music lovers of all genres, and cultures and history buffs. There’s always something going on at San Luis Obispo. From a classical music festival to a renaissance fair, visit San Luis Obispo this July and fill your summer with music, arts, culture, warm sun, and beach adventures!
Get to know this charming coast town by immersing yourself in the local scene. Join community events that celebrate summer and just life in general like no other.
Here’s a list of San Luis Obispo events and Central California festivals that you should watch out for if you visit SLO this July:
Festival Mozaic
When: July 23-30, 2022
Where: Throughout SLO County
The Festival Mozaic is an annual music festival presented by the Mozart festival associated held every summer at San Luis Obispo since 1971. It was founded by Cal Poly music professors – Clifton Swanson, Ronald Ratcliffe, and John Russell to honor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his influence on classical music.
True to their mission, this year, as usual, this OG California music festival features not just concerts from artists from various genres but also films, wine tastings, and Retrospective Lectures. Running from July 23-30, the festival events are dispersed throughout SLO county in different venues and times. The lineup for Festival Mozaic 2022 includes a variety of artists and chamber musicians, including Bella White, Emily Wells, Christian McBride, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. To cap the 8-day celebration of music, head to the Miossi Hall, Performing Arts Center on July 30 at 7:30 pm for an exciting program featuring the Festival Mozaic Orchestra conducted by Scott Yoo and accompanied by French pianist Hélène Grimaud.
For the complete list of festival events, visit their website.
Central Coast Renaissance Festival
When: July 16 & 17, 10 am – 6 pm
Where: Laguna Lake Park, 504 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA
Take a trip back to the Elizabethan era where gallant knights, buccaneers, lords, ladies, jesters, jugglers, and everything alike await you at the Central Coast Renaissance Festival. Take pictures, watch knights showcase their fighting skills, sign your kids up to a pirate boot camp, listen to tales of old, delight in magic shows, join fun games, shop for arts and crafts, and get face paint or henna tattoo! There’s something to do for all ages in this spectacular California renaissance festival that’s a living history demonstration of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Costumes are not required but join in the fun and wear one anyway! Tickets are available at the festival box office, or get advanced tickets online.
California MidState Fair
When: July 20-31, 2022 | Fair Hours: Monday-Thursday: 4:00 pm – Midnight |
Friday-Sunday Noon-Midnight
Where: Paso Robles Event Center, 2198 Riverside Avenue, Paso Robles, CA
Catch the California MidState Fair on July 20-30, 2022! As usual, there will be carnival rides, concerts, exhibits, special events, food, drinks, and shopping in the 12-day fair held at the Paso Robles Event Center.
The annual fair, also known as the San Luis Obispo County Fair, has been around since 1946 and is famous for bringing in some of the biggest names in the music industry on stage. This year, Journey, Sheena Easton, Santana, Old Dominion, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Skidrow, Warrant, and other artists will be performing on 3 concert stages set for the fair. For more information on the concert schedules and tickets, click here.
Concerts in the Plaza
When: June 24 – August 26, 2022, every Friday from 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Mission Plaza, San Luis Obispo
If you’re looking for free concerts in San Luis Obispo, the 26th Annual Concerts in the Plaza is the place to be. Enjoy live music under the California sun every Friday afternoon from June 24 to August 26 at the Mission Plaza. Featuring Central California-based artists, bring your family and friends for a lovely day of music, food, and drinks at the park. Catch performances by the following artists this July:
July 1 – RESINATION and Graybill
July 8 – The Mother Corn Shuckers and Dulcie Taylor
July 15 – Damon Castillo Band and Noach Tangeras
July 22 – Dante Marsh & the VibeSetters and Jineanne Coderre
July 29 – The Molly Ringwald Project and Ynana Rose
“Saturday in the Park” Summer Concert Series
When: Every Saturday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Where: Atascadero Lake Park Bandstand
This free summer concert series will give you a sense of the true SLO community spirit. Bring a blanket or a low-back chair and head to the Atascadero Lake Park Bandstand for a night of music.
Here’s the concert line-up for this year:
- June 18: The Counterfeit Kings
- July 2: The Rockin’ B’s Band
- July 9: The Jump Jax
- July 23: Ghost Monster
- July 30: The Cinders Blues Band
- August 6: Soundhouse
- August 27: The JD Project
- September 3: Stellar
- September 10: Truth About Seafood
Ice Cream Zoofari
When: July 16, 2022, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: Charles Paddock Zoo 9100 Morro Road Atascadero, CA
Bring our kids, nephews, nieces, godchildren, and all your kids-at-heart friends for a night of music and ice cream at Charles Paddock Zoo on July 16, Saturday, from 5:30 pm – 8 pm!
______________________________________________
Stay at Sands Inn and Suites when visiting SLO! We are within walking distance of California Polytechnic University and downtown San Luis Obispo, and within a 20-minute drive from all the Central California Festivals and San Luis Obispo events we’ve listed above. Relax in spotless and cozy rooms after a tiring day of fun and adventure in one of the Happiest Cities in America – SLO.