Explore Lompoc Announces 2018 Events & Festivals

OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE: January 17, 2018

Discover Year-Round Adventure in Lompoc’s Sylvan Setting

Media Contacts / Photo Requests:

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

Maris Somerville, Explore Lompoc PR Rep, 310-508-1609, Maris@Somervillepr.com

 

Rich in art, history and culture, and boasting more than 30 wineries and tasting rooms, Lompoc, situated on California’s Central Coast, offers a robust lineup up of colorful year-round events and festivals. Couples, families and singles are attracted to its annual offerings as they discover what‘s new in this idyllic destination that is surrounded by majestic rolling hills and vineyards.

Whether planning a trip around the city’s seasonal iconic events: Lompoc Restaurant Week, Lompoc Valley Flower Festival or the West-Coast Cub Fly-In, one of many living history events at the La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, or discovering new happenings such as the Renaissance Faire at River Park and the Mission to Mars Launch at Vandenberg Space Force Base, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Nestled in a fertile valley, Lompoc offers a wide range of off-the-beaten path adventures and attractions, the fully restored La Purisma Mission, vibrant outdoor murals in Old Town, the Lompoc Wine Trail, biking, hiking, surfing, sky diving and world-class golf.  Situated where scenic Highway 1 meets Route 246, just 155 miles northwest from Los Angeles, Lompoc entices visitors year-round with its mild Mediterranean climate for mid-week escapes or weekend getaways. With 12 hotels and motels to welcome visitors, the destination makes a great base for exploring the Central Coast’s burgeoning wine region, nearby beaches and towns.

Below is a line-up of events worth the drive. For a comprehensive list of Lompoc’s year-round events, wineries, restaurants, lodging establishments and other attractions, visit the events calendar

ANNUAL EVENTS

Lompoc Restaurant Week

February 19 – 25, 2018

The Lompoc Valley will once again showcase its local chefs, winemakers, and restaurants 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, including a prix-fixe meal, two-for-one dining options, or special event for only $20.18 (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, ext. 223

 

Traditional Mission Life Day

March 17, 2018

Join costumed docents for demonstrations and activities such as on tortilla making, candle making, soap making, spinning and weaving, carpentry, blacksmithing and more.

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 24, 2018

Buckskin clad members of the American Mountain Men 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

 

Lompoc Renaissance Faire presented by Old Tyme Productions

March 24-25, 2018

Learn about life back in the Elizabethan Era, and enjoy lively entertainment, encampments of many Guilds, lives performances, and battle re-enactments.  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, watch the revelry of costumed participants as they take festival goes through portal to the past.

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: California 246 & Sweeney Road, Lompoc, CA  93436

Phone: (805) 665-0359

 

Natural History Day at La Purisima Mission

April 7, 2018

Explore the colors and critters 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

 

Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Festival
April 19 – 22, 2018

Grand Tasting in Lompoc:  April 21, 2018

Indulge in four days of unique wine tasting and culinary experiences throughout Santa Barbara Wine Country. A highlight of the weekend is the Festival Grand Tasting on Saturday, April 21, 1 to 4 pm, at River Park in Lompoc. Enjoy new release wines from participating member wineries, food sampling from regional food purveyors, live music, wine and culinary demonstrations, and a silent auction. Tickets are required for all special events. Presented by the Santa Barbara Vintners Association. Event hours, admission price, and location vary for each event.

 

Lompoc SpringFest

April 20 – 22, 2018

A three-day celebration featuring food and craft vendors, carnival rides and games, live entertainment, a car show (Saturday), BBQ competitions (Saturday/Sunday), and a motorcycle show (Sunday). No pets are allowed in the park during the festival. Presented by the Lompoc Valley Festival Association.

Carnival hours: Friday 2:30 to 11; 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 at “O” Street, Lompoc, CA Lompoc, CA 93436

Phone: (805) 735-8511

 

Sheep Shear Mission Life Day

April 21, 2018

Watch as the 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

 

Mission to Mars Launch from VSFB

May 5, 2018 – TENATIVE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE

NASA is aiming for May 2018 as the next available window to launch its Insight* spacecraft on a mission to Mars from Vandenberg Space Force Base, just six miles from Lompoc. This will be the only interplanetary launch in six decades from VSFB, and the first mission to focus on examining the deep interior of Mars.  Date subject to change.

*Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport

 

Hide & Tallow Mission Life Day

May 19, 2018

Come rope a steer, sew a leather pouch, dip a candle, and enjoy traditional mission crafts and other 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

 

Sanctuary Tours

Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary

May 26, June 30, July 28 and August 25, 2018 – 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 to 6 pm

Suggested minimum admission:  $50 for adults and $15 for children under 12 years old

Location: Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary, 4115 Jalama Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436

Phone: (805) 737-9246

 

Family Day at the Ranch

Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary

June 2, 2018 – date corrected

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

Admission: $65 for per child/adult pair and $20 for each additional child or adult

Location: Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary, 4115 Jalama Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436

Phone: (805) 737-9246

 

Lompoc Valley Flower Festival

June 20 – 24, 2018

Celebrate Lompoc Valley’s floral heritage with family activities, carnival rides and games, craft and commercial vendors, food booths, and musical entertainment at the 66th Annual Flower Festival themed “Space, The Final Frontier.” The carnival, food booths and commercial vendors are open all five days. The Arts and Craft vendors are open Friday through Sunday. Paid parking is available on site for a nominal fee. No pets are allowed in the park. Presented by the Lompoc Valley Festival Association.

Festival Admission: TBA

Carnival Hours: Wednesday & Thursday, noon to 11 pm; Friday noon to midnight; Saturday 10 am to midnight; Sunday 10 am to close.

Location: Ryon Park, 800 W. Ocean Avenue at “O” Street, Lompoc, CA Lompoc, CA 93436

Phone: (805) 735-8511

 

Lompoc Old Town Market

Friday Evenings, June 29 to August 10, 2018

Lompoc’s Old Town Market is a street fair and farmers market all rolled into one. Held during the summer on Friday evenings from June 29 through August 10, the event features live entertainment, food, merchandise and activities for the entire family. Presented by the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.

Admission: Free

Event Hours: 5 pm to 8pm

Location: 100 block of South H Street in Lompoc, CA 93436

Phone: (805) 736-4567

 

Annual West Coast Cub Fly-In

July 13 – 15, 2018

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. More than 100 planes are expected to participate. Among the popular events are flour bombing and spot landing contests, both thrilling to watch! Food and beverage offerings highlight a pancake on Saturday and Sunday mornings, a spaghetti dinner on Friday, a Tri-dinner on Saturday. T-shirts and souvenirs are available for purchase. Bring a lawn chair and your camera, and enjoy all of the activities! Free parking is limited on site.  Additional parking is nearby. Dogs must be on leashes and parents must closely watch children due to the presence of taxing aircraft.

Admission:  Free

Event Hours: Friday, noon – 7 pm; Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm; Sunday, 10 am – noon

Location: Lompoc Airport, 1801 North H Street, Lompoc, CA  93436

 

Children’s Mission Life Day

July 21, 2018

Families are invited to experience 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 28-29, 2018- 2018 dog show officially cancelled

Lompoc is going to the dogs at the annual Lompoc Valley Kennel Association Dog Show, 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, judged by standards approved by the American Kennel Club.

Event hours: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Admission: Free

Location: Ryon Park, 800 W. Ocean Avenue at “O” Street, Lompoc, CA 93436

 

Sta. Rita Hills Wine and Fire Weekend

August 17 – 18, 2018

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. 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 24 – 25, 2018

Buckskin clad members of the American Mountain Men 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 25, 2018

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

Admission: $6 parking fee

Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Phone: (805) 733-3713

 

 

Harvest Mission Life Day

September 15, 2018

Come 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

 

Candlelight Tours at La Purisima Mission

September 22, 2018

Escorted by candlelight, guests travel back in time to the 1820s on a walking tour, moving from scene to scene while enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of traditional mission life

Event hours:  6 to 9 pm

Admission:  $40 per person/reservations required

Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA  93436

Phone: (805) 733-3713

 

La Purisima Mission Gala & Auction

October 6, 2018

Enjoy a lovely evening in the Mission garden around the Padre’s fountain while sipping wine, tasting appetizers, and bidding on a bountiful array of auction items.

Event hours:  4 to 7 pm

Admission:  $50 per person/reservations required

Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA  93436

Phone: (805) 733-3713

 

Village Days at La Purisima Mission

November 3, 2018

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

Admission: $6 parking fee

Location: La Purisima Mission State Historical Park, 2295 Purisima Road, Lompoc, CA 93436

Phone: (805) 733-3713

 

Founding Day Remembrance at La Purisima Mission

December 8, 2018

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: Founding Day Mass at 12 pm; The Founding Day 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 15, 2018

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 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, 9 am to 11 am

Fourth Saturday of the month, 10 am to 1 pm

Tour 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.

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, 1 pm

Tours begin at the Mission Visitor Center, where guides lead visitors through the 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 thru rustic terrain and up some stairs.

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, 2 to 5 pm

Farmers and vendors gather every Friday afternoon in Old Town Lompoc to sell fresh-picked seasonal produce, fresh cut flowers, succulents, baked goods, and more. Rain or shine.

Event hours: 2 to 5 pm

Admission: Free

Location: Parking lot at the corner of South I Street and West Ocean Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436

 

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