Art, Harvest & Wine: Fall Road Trip to Lompoc

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Art, Harvest & Wine Make the Perfect Blend For a Fall Sojourn to Lompoc

As if the sylvan backdrop and coastal vistas alone were not enough to entice visitors, add to the mix a world-class wine region and vibrant art, and discover an ideal autumn getaway to Lompoc on California’s Central Coast.

Fall is a lovely time to discover a cornucopia of wineries in Lompoc – from boutique tasting rooms in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto to beautiful estate vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills. Nearly 50 years ago, the first two wine vineyards were planted in Lompoc’s  Sta. Rita Hills; Today there are nearly 40 wineries and tasting rooms in Lompoc! The 2018 wine harvest will likely begin in early September; this is an especially exciting time to visit the wineries and see winemakers in their element!

With three art events planned in October, fall is also an ideal time to see Lompoc’s art offerings. In addition to the special art events (listed below) you can stroll through town to see Lompoc’s large, colorful murals painted on street corners, in alley ways, and on sides of prominent buildings. These magnificent works of art that have turned Old Town Lompoc into an outdoor art gallery are one of the city’s top attractions, depicting scenes of the city’s heritage, flower industry, historic sights, ethnic diversity, scenic beauty and more.

LOMPOC ART EVENTS: 

Mural in a Weekend: October 6-7

Always wanted to paint a big mural? Now’s your chance! Mural in a Weekend, slated for October 6 and 7, is when a new mural will be added to the impressive collection of over 30 murals in Old Town Lompoc. Presented by the Lompoc Mural Society and Explore Lompoc, visitors and residents alike are invited to partake in mural painting from 8 am to 5 pm both days, at the back wall of the building located 100 South H Street in Lompoc. Created by Master Artist Art Mortimer, the new mural entitled “Chautauqua,” will depict the traveling shows that flourished in U.S. at the turn of 19th century.  As part of the festivities, a mural dedication ceremony is slated for Sunday afternoon, October 7 at 5 p.m.

photo by Don Fletcher

Lompoc Chalks: October 12-14

Embrace all things colorful at Lompoc Chalks, a new outdoor art festival planned for October 13-14 in Old Town, with an opening night reception with the artists on Oct 12.  Presented by the Lompoc Theatre Project, the Chalk Festival will showcase chalk artists, performing artists, art vendors, food trucks, live entertainment and a wine and beer tent. Festival admission is free; donations to the restoration of the Lompoc Theatre are appreciated.

Lompoc Art Hunt: October 18-21

An art collectors dream is in store at Lompoc Valley Art Association’s Art Hunt, October 18-20, in Old Town Lompoc. Art lovers can partake in a real scavenger hunt to uncover hidden art works of fine art, including watercolors, line acrylics, pottery, glass and gourds. Art enthusiasts get to take home each piece of art they uncover. The four-day event is FREE and concludes with an artist reception at Lompoc’s Cypress Gallery on October 21, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., where the public can meet the 30 resident artists from the Lompoc Valley Art Association who donated their works of art for the event.

LOMPOC HARVEST EVENTS:

Harvest Mission Day at La Purisima Mission: September 14

photo courtesy of La Purisima Mission

Celebrate harvest season at the 2,000-acre La Purisima Mission State Historic Park where visitors can stomp grapes, thresh wheat and enjoy other traditional Mission activities from yesteryear on September 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., as part of Harvest Mission Day. Costumed docents and staff offer an exciting opportunity to experience early mission life back in the 1820s with special demonstrations and activities. Considered one of Lompoc’s top attractions, the awe-inspiring attraction provides an in-depth encounter of what life was like for early Spanish settlers to Lompoc Valley. Founded in 1787 La Purisima Mission boasts 10 buildings, 25 miles of trails for hiking and horseback riding, a Visitor Center, Exhibit Hall, and livestock.

Harvest in The Ghetto: October 6

Toast and celebrate the seasonal harvest at the Lompoc Wine Alliance’s Harvest in The Ghetto set for October 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Highlights include wine tasting specials, food trucks, live entertainment by the band “The Story” and grape stomping. The Lompoc Wine Ghetto – a collection of more than 20 urban boutique wine tasting rooms located in a raw industrial park within the city limits – is where wine lovers can sample award-winning, locally-made small-batch wines and meet artisan winemakers, enthusiastically sharing their craft. Most of the wineries are clustered together within a few short blocks, so wine lovers can park in one location and stroll from one tasting room to the next.

Celebration of Harvest: October 12-14

Sip in Santa Barbara Wine Country at the annual Celebration of Harvest that brings together wine lovers in a three-day weekend October 11-13 at various locations throughout Santa Barbara County, including dozens of wineries in Lompoc. Foodies will delight in a host of wine dinners, vineyard excursions, and winery open houses and tasting room events, presented by the Santa Barbara Vintners Association. During the Celebration of Harvest weekend, make time to see the spectacular vineyards in fall glory surrounding Lompoc in the Sta. Rita Hills. On Route 246, wine goers unearth Babcock Winery & Vineyards, Foley Estates and Melville Vineyards & Winery.  South of Lompoc on Santa Rosa Road, visit the iconic Sanford Winery & Vineyards, home to the very first vineyard planted here more than 40 years ago. Lompoc wineries have been praised by Sunset Magazine as the “New Wine Country” and are known for award-winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

photo by Elizabeth Poett

Rancho San Julian Pumpkin Patch: Open weekends in October

Join cattle ranchers Elizabeth Poett and Katie Hames every weekend in October beginning October 6 for a FREE family-oriented event at the historic Rancho San Julian as it celebrates the 2nd Annual REAL Pumpkin Patch that offers 15 varieties of gorgeous pumpkins and winter squash.

Dare to Dream Farm Stand

While in Lompoc, stop by family owned and operated Dare 2 Dream Farm Stand open (Thursdays – Sundays) from 11 a.m. to dusk and witness where regional produce/food is locally grown.  Pick up fresh Dare 2 Dream Farms produce, free-range chicken/duck eggs, and dairy products from the Farm’s mini-Nubian goats. Planned for September and October (dates TBD) are several farms tours where visitors can be guided on narrated tours of the farm and learn about sustainability and organic farming.

MORE ABOUT LOMPOC

Located on scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1, just 155 miles northwest from Los Angeles with close proximity to Santa Barbara and Solvang, Lompoc takes on a world of its own. Its valley setting, surrounded by spectacular rolling hills and vineyards, creates an invitation for visitors to detour off the main road, and discover what’s around the bend. Lompoc is a destination for wine tasting, golf, biking (road, trails, BMX Bike Park), hiking, skydiving and nearby surfing at Jalama Beach.

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