Art After Dark San Luis Obispo

Next Art Walk: Friday, August 7th

Art After Dark (AAD), hosted by SLO County Arts, is a monthly event held from 5pm to 8pm on the First Friday of each month in San Luis Obispo. Participating businesses transform into vibrant creative spaces, showcasing local art, music, performances, and more in a free, community-centered walking tour that highlights the artistic heart of San Luis Obispo.

Learn more about the program and how to get involved as a venue, artist, or sponsor!

Annual Venues — On the map every First Friday

  • The Bunker SLO

    810 Orcutt Road

    Closed for remodeling!

  • Central Coast Wines

    712 Higuera Street

    Central Coast Wines is a boutique wine shop and a tasting room located in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo. It specializes in small production and natural leaning wines with focus on local producers. Offering happy hour for Art After Dark!

  • EDNA Contemporary

    967 Osos Street

    EDNA Contemporary showcases exceptional artwork by local and national artists. We strive to create a relaxed and personal environment to view artwork and to connect collectors with art and the artists that enrich their lives.

  • Hands Gallery

    777 Higuera Street

    Our gallery is proud to showcase an exceptional collection of work from local, national and international artists. We have been located in the heart of Downtown San Luis Obispo for over 35 years.

  • HumanKind Fair Trade

    974 Monterey Street

    HumanKind is a nonprofit fair trade shop that carries handcrafted items from artisans around the world.

  • JunkGirls

    870 Monterey Street

    JunkGirls was founded in 2009 and was born out of Art Therapy for Jenny and Melissa’s love for all things handmade. We create over 70% of the items we sell using found, vintage, recycled and antique objects. We also do in store workshops and parties.

  • Linnaea's Cafe

    1110 Garden Street

    San Luis Obispo’s original coffee house, Linnaea’s Café has been showcasing local art and music for 42 years, serving locally roasted coffee, homemade pastries, and beer and wine in a cozy dining room and secret garden.

  • Luna Red

    1023 Chorro Street

    Local, Creative, Craft. Beside the historic Mission de Tolosa in downtown San Luis Obispo, Luna Red offers a vibrant dining experience featuring Latin-inspired cuisine, award-winning paella, crafted cocktails, and a curated wine selection.

  • Making SLO

    751 Higuera Street

    You can’t miss the tall iron gates and red carpet that lead you into Making SLO! Come in to see our curated collection of locally-made goods, gifts, and art from our talented creatives from this beautiful Central Coast community.

  • Shindig Cider

    3055 Duncan Road, Unit D

    Shindig is a community-driven neighborhood taproom & event space in SLO! A warm, welcoming hub for creativity, connection, and good times. From food pop-ups to live music, markets, and more, we’ve done it all and we’re always down for what’s next.

  • SLO Gallery

    1023 Broad Street

    SLO Gallery is across from the art museum (SLOMA), fronting along the creek. Our gallery is a place for Central Coast artists to display and sell their work in all its glorious variety.

  • SLO Museum of Art

    1023 Broad Street

    Small but mighty, free, two gallery museum in the heart of downtown.

  • Two Broads Ciderworks

    860 Capitolio Way, Suite B

    The Two Broads tasting room is a cozy oasis in a sea of industry, making space for arts, culture, and community. Events include: Art After Dark, SLO Cookbook Club, SLO Queers bookclub, Craft Coven, and We Drink And We Know Things.

Monthly Venues — Joining the map for August

  • Concerts in the Plaza

    Mission Plaza

    Live local music, dancing, and drinks! The Mother Corn Shuckers headline.

  • The Historic Octagon Barn

    4400 Octagon Way

    The Land Conservancy of SLO County and SLOPE (San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment) announce “Colors of Conservation 2026,” an exhibit of original landscape paintings of our open spaces, historic ranch lands, waterways, and coastal areas.

  • The Monday Club

    1815 Monterey Street

    Seven artists under one roof showcasing and selling a vibrant mix of ceramics, jewelry, photography, watercolor, mixed media, and oil paintings. Live music, refreshments, and on-site parking available.

View each month’s locations on the AAD SLO map! Virtual and printable options available.

If virtual map does not appear, please try refreshing this page. PDF map will be available the week of the event.

View and Download the PDF Map

Your Guide to a perfect Art After Dark evening

  • Visit local galleries and participating businesses! Each location has something unique to discover each month.

  • Take photos of the spots you visit on your art walk and share your favorite moments using #ArtAfterDarkSLO.

  • Stop by participating businesses for special deals or treats. Many businesses will stay open later than their usual hours for Art After Dark, so this is your chance to browse their selection of goods after hours!

  • Check back each month for the updated list of participating venues and new perks of the art walk. You can also follow us on Instagram at @slocounty_arts, on Facebook at @SLO County Arts, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for Art After Dark updates.