Explore Lompoc Announces 2017 Events and Festivals

OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE – JANUARY 3, 2017

Nestled in a valley along the Central Coast of California, the city of Lompoc offers a wide range off-the-beaten path adventures, inspiring works of art, a rich California heritage, fabulous wine tasting opportunities, and special events that capture the essence of this friendly, welcoming town.

Visitors can plan a trip to Lompoc around one the city’s unique events whether it’s the taste-tempting Lompoc Restaurant Week in February, Lompoc Springfest in April, the Lompoc Valley Flower Festival in June, or perhaps one of the Living History Events at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park.

With a mild Mediterranean climate, affordable hotels, and plenty to see and do, Lompoc welcomes visitors year-round for a weekend getaway or mid-week escape. Located where Highway 1 meets Route 246, about one hour north of Santa Barbara and 30 minutes west of Solvang, Lompoc makes a great home base for exploring the Central Coast wine region and nearby beaches and towns.

Here’s a preview of events and festivals slated for 2017:

Lompoc Restaurant Week
February 20 – 26, 2017
The Lompoc Valley will once again showcase its local chefs, winemakers, and restaurants during Lompoc Restaurant Week, a seven-day celebration of culinary and libation creativity and craft. From February 20-26, dining patrons can choose from prix-fixe meals or two-for-one dining options for $20.17. More than 15 eateries will participate including Scratch Kitchen & Wine Bar, Sissy’s Uptown Café and other local favorites.

Traditional Mission Life Day
March 18, 2017
Visitors can tour the Mission grounds and see demonstrations on tortilla making, candle making, bread baking, spinning and weaving, carpentry, pottery and blacksmithing.
Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm. $6 parking fee.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Mountain Men Encampment at La Purisima Mission
March 25, and August 25/26, 2017 – Two weekends!
Buckskin clad members of the American Mountain Men will share mountain men history and skills such as cooking, hide preparation and tanning, leather working, rope making, and blacksmithing.
Event hours: 10 am to 4 pm. $6 parking fee.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Natural History Day at La Purisima Mission
April 8, 2017
Explore the colors and critters of spring with the Park Rangers at La Purisima Mission State Historical Park. Learn about the park’s wild inhabitants at the Mammal and Bird station, check out the Scales and Tales Reptile Encounter, and hit the trail for a wildflower/wildlife hike.
Event hours: 10 am to 2 pm. $6 parking fee.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Lompoc SpringFest
April 21-23, 2017
This annual three-day spring celebration features food and craft vendors, carnival rides and games, live entertainment, a car show (Saturday), a BBQ Shoot Out (Saturday), and a motorcycle show (Sunday).
No pets are allowed in the park during the festival.
Event hours: 11 am to 6 pm each day.
Location: Ryon Park, 800 W. Ocean Avenue at “O” St, Lompoc, CA 93436

Sheep Shear Mission Life Day
April 22, 2017
Join in the annual shearing of the Mission sheep at La Purisima Mission. Watch as the sheep get their annual ‘hair cut’, and learn about wool production with fleece washing, spinning and weaving demos.
Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm; $6 parking fee.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Sip Lompoc
May 7, 2017
Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting at some of Lompoc’s best boutique wineries. The Sip Lompoc ticket includes wine tasting at more than a dozen tasting rooms and wine bars, an exclusive Sip Lompoc logo glass, a reusable logo wine tote, and a Sip Lompoc passport. Tickets $40.
Event hours: 1 pm to 4 pm

Hide & Tallow Mission Life Day
May 27, 2017
Learn about the leather and tallow crafts of the Mission with demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm; $6 parking fee
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Wild Horse Sanctuary Tours
May 27, June 24, July 29 and August 26, 2017 – Four dates!
This docent-guided walking tour of the Sanctuary provides quiet herd observation along the way. Meet some of the mustangs that live at the sanctuary and represent a vital link to the history of the horse in North America.
Event hours: 3 pm to 6 pm
Suggested minimum donation: $50 per adult, $15 for children under 12
Location: Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary, 4115 Jalama Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436

Family Day at the Ranch

June 10, 2017
See what it takes to run a wild horse sanctuary by helping with feeding, manure scooping, grooming a tame burro or horse and more! At the end of the day, venture out on a hay ride and see the ranch in full view while watching wild horse herds. Participate in a Native American Blessing of the herds. Lunch, light refreshments and snacks are provided.
Event hours: 10 am to 4 pm
Suggested minimum donation: $65 per child/adult pair, $20 for each additional child or adult.
Location: Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary, 4115 Jalama Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436

Lompoc Valley Flower Festival
June 21-25, 2017
Celebrating Lompoc Valley’s floral heritage and colorful flower fields, the Flower Festival blooms with family activities, carnival rides and games, commercial vendors, food booths, and musical entertainment. It features an Arts & Crafts Show on Friday thru Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm, and a flower-themed parade on Saturday morning, starting at 10 am in Old Town Lompoc.
No pets are allowed in the park during the festival. $3 admission fee.
Carnival hours: June 21, opens 2:30 pm; June 22-25 opens at noon
Location: Ryon Park, 800 W. Ocean Avenue at “O” Street, Lompoc, CA  93436

Old Town Market
Fridays, June 30 through August 11, 2017
Lompoc’s Old Town Market is a street fair and farmers market all rolled into one. Held during the summer on Friday nights from 5 to 7 pm, June 30 through August 11, the event features live entertainment, food, merchandise and activities for the entire family.
Hours: 5 pm to 7 pm
Location: 100 block of South H Street in Lompoc, CA 93436

33rd Annual West Coast Cub Fly-In
July 6-9, 2017
Acclaimed as one of the nation’s top fly-in events for historic aircraft, the annual West Coast Cub Fly-In in Lompoc allows visitors to walk among the aircraft, observe the flying events and interact with the pilots. Among the popular events are flour bombing and spot landing contests, thrilling to watch!
Free Admission. Food and beverages, T-shirts and souvenirs are available for purchase.
Location: Lompoc Airport, 1801 North H Street, Lompoc, CA 93436

Children’s Mission Life Day at La Purisima Mission
July 22, 2017
Families are invited to experience Mission life as it was back in the 1820s with special hands-on activities for children.
Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm. $6 parking fee.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Lompoc Valley Kennel Association Dog Show
July 29-30, 2017
Scores of breeders, trainers, handlers and canines from gather in Lompoc for the annual national dog show. The show includes Sight Hound specialties and an All-Breed Show.
Event hours: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Admission is free.
Location: Ryon Park, 800 W. Ocean Avenue at “O” Street, Lompoc, CA 93436

Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance Wine and Fire Weekend

August 18-20, 2017
Lompoc’s popular weekend celebration of wines from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA growing region includes a Friday night Barn Party, a Saturday seminar, and the Grand Tasting at La Purisima Mission where more than two dozen member wineries, joined by neighborhood restaurants, pair world-class wines with grilled local specialties. Over the weekend, visitors can also explore the many vineyards and tasting rooms in Lompoc and the Sta. Rita Hills. Tickets required for all events.

Village Days at La Purisima Mission
August 26 and November 4, 2017 – Two Dates!
The Tule Village comes to life with the blending of traditional Chumash Indian and Colonial Spanish culture. Visitors can engage in activities such as acorn grinding, basket weaving, making soapstone beads and Tule dolls, and playing Chumash games.
Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm. $6 parking fee.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Santa Barbara County Local Fest
September 2-3, 2017
Enjoy local live music, activities for the kids, yoga, beer, wine, and food in this two-day community celebration in a shady park setting.
Location: Ken Adam Park, Hancock Drive and Highway 1, Lompoc, CA 93436

Harvest Mission Life Day
September 9, 2017
Come stomp grapes and thresh wheat at the end-of-the-season harvest, and enjoy other traditional Mission activities from yesteryear.
Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm. $6 parking fee.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Founding Day Remembrance at La Purisima Mission
December 8, 2017
Founding Day recognizes the day La Purisima Mission was founded on December 8, 1787, the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
Event hours: The Founding Day Mass is held in the historic main church of the Mission at 12 pm; the Founding Day Concert in the historic main church runs from 7 pm to 9 pm. Concert tickets $6.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Las Posadas at La Purisima Mission
December 16, 2017
Costumed docents lead the Las Posadas procession through the mission grounds with songs in Spanish and English. The tradition dates back over 400 years in Mexico and reenacts the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem.
Event hours: 2 to 4 p.m. $6 parking fee.
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

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