Things to Do in SLO County in October: Local Events to Put on Your Calendar

October is one of those months when living in SLO County gives you a lot of choices.

You can spend a morning walking through Cambria looking at scarecrows, head into Paso Robles wine country during harvest, watch horses come through downtown Paso during Pioneer Day, or make your way toward the coast for the Pismo Beach Clam Festival.

And none of those days feel remotely the same.

If you're looking for things to do in SLO County in October, these are several dates worth putting on the calendar.

Cambria Scarecrow Festival

October 1 through 31

You don't have to plan your entire weekend around this one.

That's part of the appeal.

Throughout October, scarecrows pop up around Cambria, turning a normal walk through town into a bit of a scavenger hunt. Some are funny. Some get surprisingly elaborate.

It works especially well if you're already planning a Cambria day. Walk through town, stop into the shops, see how many scarecrows you can find, then head toward the coast.

Because it runs throughout October, you also have some flexibility if your weekends tend to fill up quickly.

Harvest Wine Month in Paso Robles

October 1 through 31

Living around Paso Robles, you get used to seeing vineyards everywhere.

October is different.

It's harvest season, and many Paso Robles wineries mark it with tastings, vineyard tours, and seasonal events throughout the month.

This can be a good time to revisit a winery you already know rather than trying to pack five tasting rooms into one afternoon. Harvest gives you something else to pay attention to besides what's being poured into the glass.

If you have friends visiting SLO County in October, this is also an easy way to give them a sense of what Paso Robles wine country is like during one of its busiest times of year.

Central Coast Railroad Festival

October 2 through 4

This one is for the person in your family who slows down every time a train goes by.

The Central Coast Railroad Festival focuses on the area's rail history with exhibits, model trains, tours, and activities for families.

It's a different kind of October event. No pumpkins required.

And if you have a child who can spend an unreasonable amount of time watching model trains go around a track, you already know who you're taking.

Pioneer Day Parade in Paso Robles

October 10

Pioneer Day is one of those events that makes considerably more sense when you've spent time in Paso Robles.

There are horses. Classic cars. Marching bands. Floats. And, of course, the bean feed.

It's tied closely to Paso Robles' Western and agricultural history, and generations of local families have made a tradition out of showing up.

For people who recently moved to North County, this is one I'd put on the calendar at least once.

Go downtown, find a spot for the parade, and don't schedule yourself too tightly afterward.

Atascadero Fall Festival

October 16 through 18

If you're looking for a North County fall weekend without heading very far, the Atascadero Fall Festival is an easy option.

The festival brings vendors, food, live entertainment, and family activities together in Atascadero.

I like events like this because you don't need an elaborate plan. You can head over for a couple of hours, walk around, get something to eat, and see what's happening.

Sometimes that's exactly what a weekend needs.

80th Annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival

For a completely different October day, head south.

The Pismo Beach Clam Festival combines seafood, local vendors, entertainment, and activities near the ocean. This year marks the festival's 80th year, according to the carousel event information.

There's also something distinctly Central Coast about eating seafood with the Pacific sitting a few blocks away.

Make a day of it. Walk through the festival, then head down toward the water before you drive home.

Halloween Carnival & Haunted Maze

October 24 and 25

By the end of October, the costumes come out.

The Halloween Carnival & Haunted Maze includes carnival games, treats, costumes, and a haunted maze, giving families an option before Halloween itself.

If your kids have been staring at their costumes hanging in the closet for three weeks, this gives them an excuse to finally put them on.

And parents know that's half the battle by late October.

What October Looks Like Around SLO County

This is one of my favorite things about living here.

Drive half an hour and the day changes.

October might mean grape harvest in Paso Robles, scarecrows in Cambria, a hometown parade in downtown Paso, a fall festival in Atascadero, or seafood by the water in Pismo Beach.

Those aren't interchangeable experiences. They're pieces of the different towns that make up San Luis Obispo County.

And there are plenty more than the ones I've included here.

So if your neighborhood, school, winery, nonprofit, or favorite local business has something happening this October, send it my way.

My calendar can always use another reason to get out of the office.

Amber Johnson, Founder
Pillar Real Estate
805.835.3425
[email protected]
1345 Park St. Paso Robles, CA 93446
DRE# 01925434