Explore Lompoc Unveils 2019 Festivals and Events Visitors Invited to Uncover a “Space to Explore”

OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE – FEBRUARY 12, 2019

Explore Lompoc Unveils 2019 Festivals and Events 

Visitors Invited to Uncover a “Space to Explore”

Boasting a rich landscape woven with majestic rolling hills and lush vineyards nestled on California’s Central Central Coast, Lompoc is a sure bet for a midweek or weekend getaway to experience a stellar lineup of year-round festivals and events. From art, history, culture and nearly 40 wineries and tasting rooms, Explore Lompoc has rounded up the city’s iconic events throughout the year, giving visitors near and far “a space to explore.”

With its mild Mediterranean climate, this idyllic destination is a hidden gem for those seeking an off-the-beaten track adventure. Whether it is Lompoc Restaurant Week in February, Lompoc Valley Flower Festival in June, West-Coast Cub Fly-In in July, one of many living history events at the La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, the Renaissance Faire in September, or one of the thrilling launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Lompoc offers a variety of experiences for visitors and families to enjoy.

Lompoc spotlights the splendor of the fully restored La Purisma Mission, colorful outdoor murals in Old Town, exceptional Pinots and Chardonnays along the Lompoc Wine Trail, plus biking, hiking, birding, surfing, sky diving and world-class golf. Located off Highway 101 where scenic Highway 1 meets Route 246, just 155 miles northwest of Los Angeles, this easy-to-reach destination is a magnet for visitors year-round. It is the closest city to Vandenberg Space Force Base, just 10 miles from the main gate, and has become a popular destination from which to witness the many thrilling West Coast rocket launches by NASA and SpaceX from VSFB. With 12 hotels and motels to welcome visitors, Lompoc Valley makes a great base for exploring the California Central Coast, nearby beaches and quaint towns.

Outlined below are annual offerings worth the drive. For a complete list of Lompoc’s year-round events, wineries, restaurants, lodging establishments and other attractions, visit www.explorelompoc.com

Lompoc Restaurant Week
February 18- 24, 2019

Lompoc Valley chefs, winemakers, and restaurants come together during the annual Lompoc Restaurant Week, a seven-day celebration of culinary and libation creativity and craft. Presented by the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau and Shop Lompoc Shop Small, nearly 20 restaurants will be participating with breakfast, lunch and dinner specials, with either a prix-fixe meal for one OR two-for-one dining options, for only $20.19 (plus tax and tip). Select restaurants will offer wine or beer pairings for an additional fee. Location: At participating restaurants throughout Lompoc Phone: (805) 736-4567

Lompoc Rotary Wine Tasting & Auction
February 24, 2019

Taste great local wines from 30 Lompoc and the Sta. Rita Hills wineries along with craft brews and delicious eats from some of Lompoc’s top restaurants at this popular wine tasting event with cool auction items, all for a great cause!
Event Hours: 11 am to 4 pm
Admission: $50 per person donation
Location: Lompoc Veteran’s Memorial Building, 100 East Locust Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone:

Traditional Mission Life Day at La Purisima Mission
March 16, 2019

Learn tortilla making, soap making, spinning and weaving, carpentry, blacksmithing, pottery and more as costumed docents engage visitors with demonstrations and a day of learning the crafts of yesteryear. Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm Admission: $6 parking fee Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 733-3713

Mountain Men Encampment at La Purisima Mission
March 30, 2019

American Mountain Men, attired in buckskin, 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 Admission: $6 parking fee Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 733-3713

Natural History Day at La Purisima Mission
April 6, 2019

Discover the great outdoors and the colorful flora and fauna of spring with the Park Rangers at La Purisima Mission State Historic 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 Admission: $6 parking fee Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 733-3713

Lompoc SpringFest
April 19- 21, 2019

Step into spring with a three-day celebration showcasing food and craft vendors, carnival rides and games, live entertainment, a car show (Saturday), motorcycle show (Sunday), and BBQ competitions (Saturday/Sunday). No pets are allowed in the park during the festival. The event is presented by the Lompoc Valley Festival Association.
Carnival hours: Friday 2:30 to 11 pm; Saturday 10 am to 11 pm; Sunday 11 am to 8 pm Admission: Free to festival, tickets required for carnival rides Location: Ryon Park, 800 W. Ocean Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 735-8511

Sheep Shear Mission Life Day at La Purisima Mission
May 4, 2019

Witness sheep get their annual ‘hair cut’, and learn about wool production during mission times with engaging activities for the whole family. Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm Admission: $6 parking fee. Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 733-3713

Lompoc Flower Festival
June 26-30, 2019

Celebrate Lompoc’s floral heritage at this annual event featuring family activities, carnival rides and games, craft and commercial vendors, food booths, and musical entertainment at the annual themed “Summertime Fun & Friends,” presented by the Lompoc Valley Festival Association. The carnival, food booths and commercial vendors are open all five days. The Arts and Craft vendors are open Friday through Sunday. A highlight of the event is Lompoc Flower Festival Parade that starts promptly at 10 am on June 29, 2019, and pays homage to the valley’s agricultural heritage with floats, marching bands,
equestrian units, drill teams, and more! All floats are designed and constructed by local organizations and feature flowers and/or natural materials. Paid parking is available on site for a nominal fee. No pets are allowed in the park.
Event hours: Wednesday & Thursday, noon to 11 pm; Friday noon to midnight; Saturday 10 am to midnight; Sunday 10 am to close. Admission: $5 for ages 13 & older; free for those 12 & younger and a 4-Day Admission Pass is $15.00. On Wednesday, June 26, 2019, the event is FREE to the public. Location: Ryon Park, 800 W. Ocean Avenue Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 735-8511

Lompoc Old Town Market
June 28 to August 9, 2019 (Friday evenings)

Experience Lompoc’s Old Town Market, a street fair and farmers market all rolled into one. Held during the summer on Friday evenings, the event features live entertainment, food, merchandise and activities for the entire family. The event is presented by the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. Event Hours: 5 to 8 pm Admission: Free Location: 100 block of South H Street in Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 736-4567

Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza
July 4, 2019

Grab a picnic basket and blanket and gather together with family and friends in the annual July 4th spectacular hosted by the City of Lompoc Recreation Division and community sponsors. Come early to enjoy family-friendly fun and activities! Games and prizes will keep the kids happy. Families can enjoy delicious snacks and beverages. Onsite food, snacks and drinks will be available – or you can bring your own. No alcohol or hard coolers are permitted. Fireworks begin at dusk, and the show lasts 20 to 25 minutes. Event Hours: 5 to 10 pm Admission: Tickets can be purchased the day of the show/Prices per person: TBD Location: Lompoc High School Huyck Stadium, 515 W College Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 875-8100

West Coast Cub Fly-In
July 12-14, 2019

Come join the fun at one of the nation’s top fly-in events for historic aircraft. This 35th annual gathering in Lompoc allows visitors to walk among the aircraft, observe the flying events and interact with the pilots. More than 100 planes are expected to participate. Among the popular events are pilot proficiency games on Saturday afternoon. Food and beverage offerings include hamburgers and hot dogs mid-day on Friday and Saturday, a pancake breakfast on Saturday/Sunday mornings, a spaghetti dinner Friday, and a Tri-Tip dinner on Saturday. Food tickets will be sold onsite, and T-shirts and souvenirs will also be available for purchase. Bring a lawn chair and a camera, and enjoy all of the activities! Free parking is limited on site and additional parking is available nearby. Parents must closely watch children due to the presence of taxing aircraft, and all dogs must be on a leash. Event Hours (tentative): Friday, 10 am to 7 pm; Saturday, 7 am to 8 pm; Sunday, 7 am to 10 am Admission to event: Free Cost for food/beverages vary
Location: Lompoc Airport, 1801 North H Street, Lompoc, CA 93436

Children’s Mission Life Day at La Purisima Mission
July 20, 2019

Experience California Mission life as it was back in the 1820s with special hands-on, kid friendly activities for all ages. Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm Admission: $6 parking fee Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 733-3713

Lompoc Valley Kennel Association Dog Show
July 27-28, 2019

Delight in one of the top dog shows in the region that expects to attract approximately 700 dogs daily. Scores of breeders, trainers, handlers and canines from across the nation come to Lompoc for this national dog show that is approved by the American Kennel Club. In addition to its Show and Trial, the Western Sighthound Combined Specialty competition is planned in addition to its all-breed dog show’s Conformation Shows, Obedience and Rally Trials and two special events: “Pee Wee” competition and a “Meet the Breeds” exhibition. Event Hours: 8 am to 5 pm
Location: Ryon Park, 800 W. Ocean Avenue at “O” Street, Lompoc, CA 93436

Sta. Rita Hills Wine and Fire Weekend
August 16 – 18, 2019

Toast Lompoc’s popular weekend celebration of wines from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA growing region. Festivities include a Friday night Barn Party, 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 enjoy a Tasting Passport with specials at participating wineries, and also explore the many vineyards and other tasting rooms in Lompoc and the Sta. Rita Hills. Tickets required for all events. The event is presented by the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Association. Event hours, admission price, and location vary for each event.

Mountain Men Encampment at La Purisima Mission
August 23 & 24, 2019

Mingle with Members of the American Mountain Men, clad in buckskin, as they 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 Admission: $6 parking fee Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 733-3713

Village Days at La Purisima Mission
August 24, 2019

Go back in time and see a Tule Village come 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 Admission: $6 parking fee Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 733-3713

Lompoc Renaissance Faire
September 7 & 8, 2019

Relive how life was back in the Elizabethan Era, and enjoy lively entertainment, encampments of many guilds, lives performances, battle re-enactments and a jousting tournament. Watch a variety of live shows, have a drink at the pub, taste savory festival food, browse through specialty vendor faire, play in the family-friendly Kids Zone, and watch the revelry of costumed participants as they take festival goes through a portal to the past. Presented by Old Tyme Productions.
Event hours: 10 am to 6 pm Admission at Gate: Adults – $16; Children (5-11 years old) – $8, Children under 5 years old – FREE; Seniors/Military/Dependents/Law Enforcement – $13 Location: Lompoc’s River Park, California 246 & Sweeney Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 665-0359

Harvest Mission Life Day at La Purisima Mission
September 14, 2019

Stomp grapes at the end-of-the-season harvest, and enjoy other traditional Mission activities from yesteryear.
Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm
Admission: $6 parking fee
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 733-3713

Rancho San Julian 3rd Annual REAL Pumpkin Patch
Every weekend in October: October 5 and 6, 12 and 14, 19 and 20, and 26 and 27

Revel in an afternoon of pure family fun with cattle ranchers Elizabeth Poett and Katie Hames every weekend in October at the historic Rancho San Julian. The annual event offers 15 varieties of gorgeous pumpkins and winter squash.
Event Hours: 11 am to 6 pm
Admission: Free
Location: 6000 San Julian Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone: (805) 729-3303

Lompoc Chalks
October 11-13, 2019

Partake in all things colorful at Lompoc Chalks, an outdoor art festival in Old Town Lompoc. Presented by The Lompoc Theatre Project, the 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.

Archeology Day at La Purisima Mission
October 19, 2019

Get your hands dirty sifting sand to find hidden clues to the past at the Mission’s dig site, carve your own soapstone bead, and see flint knapping demonstrations.
Event hours: 11 am to 2 pm
Admission: $6 parking fee
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 733-3713

Old Town Lompoc Trick or Treat
October 26, 2019

Get in the spirit of Halloween at this favorite annual event in Lompoc, presented by the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. More than 30 Lompoc businesses and organizations participate by handing out candy from their storefronts to children dressed in costume. As part of the afternoon festivities, kids of all ages enjoy activities such as face painting, carnival games and Halloween crafts at Centennial Park.
Event hours: 2 to 4 pm
Admission: Free to children 12 years old and younger when accompanied by an adult.
Location: Old Town Lompoc – Ranging from the 100 block of North H Street and North I Street to the 200 block of South H and South I Street as well as on Ocean, Maple and Chestnut Avenues.
Phone: (805) 736-4567, ext. 233

Village Days at La Purisima Mission
November 2, 2018

See a Tule Village come 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
Admission: $6 parking fee
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 733-3713

Holly Jolly Jubilee
December 7, 2019

Celebrate the season at this annual event which features vendors selling unique stocking stuffers and holiday gifts, strolling carolers, letters to Santa and an Ugly Sweater Competition for all ages. Event Hours: Noon to 5 pm Admission: Free Location: Old Town Lompoc/Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce parking lot, located at the corner of I Street and Ocean Avenue Phone: (805) 736-4567, ext. 223

Founding Day Remembrance at La Purisima Mission
December 8, 2019

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: Mass at 12 pm; Concert is at 7 pm.
Parking fee: $6
Concert tickets: $6
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 733-3713

Las Posadas at La Purisima Mission
December 14, 2019

Meander with costumed docents who 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 pm
Admission: $6 parking fee
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 733-3713

ONGOING EVENTS / YEAR ROUND:

Fabing-McKay-Spanne House Tours
Mondays & Thursdays
Fourth Saturday of the month
Tap into history via a tour of the Fabing-McKay-Spanne House, an 1875 Victorian House and property named for the three families who had lived in it. This was the first two-story, wooden residence constructed in the city of Lompoc. Operated by the all-volunteer Lompoc Valley Historical Society, this Victorian “farmhouse” has been fully renovated and furnished. Visitors can also tour the Carriage House, Blacksmith Shop, Museum Room and Reference Library.
Hours: 9 to 11 am (Mondays and Thursdays) and fourth Saturday of the month, 10 am to 1 pm.
Admission: Free, donations appreciated
Location: Fabing-McKay-Spanne House, 207 North L Street, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 735-4626

La Purisima Mission Guided Walking Tours
Wednesdays to Sundays, Year Round
Gather with La Purisima guides as they lead visitors through a walking tour of the Visitors Center, historic buildings and share stories about mission life and the people who once lived there. Walking shoes recommended. The 1 ½ hour tour covers approximately one mile through rustic terrain and up some stairs.
Event Hours: 1 to 2:30 pm
Admission: $6 parking fee
Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 733-3713

Lompoc Certified Farmers Market
Friday Afternoons, Year Round

Browse and shop Old Town Lompoc as farmers and vendors gather every Friday afternoon to sell fresh-picked seasonal produce, fresh cut flowers, succulents, baked goods, and more. Rain or shine. Event Hours: 2 to 5 pm Winter and 2 to 6 pm Spring to Fall Admission: Free Location: Parking lot at the corner of South I Street and West Ocean Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436 Phone (805) 305-9829

Media Contacts:

Susan Bejeckian, Explore Lompoc PR Rep, 626-570-1051; sbejeckian@gmail.com

Maris Somerville, Explore Lompoc PR Rep, 310-701-6872; Maris@Somervillepr.com