Community Calendar
Browse arts-related events happening across SLO County
Cal Poly - "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
"Cal Poly Theatre & Dance Department presents Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Cal Poly Faculty Karin Hendricks-Bolen.
This production blends physical comedy, magic, music, movement, and theatrical wonder into a bold and visually stunning interpretation of the classic play. Audiences will journey from the rigid order of the Medici court into a surreal Tuscan dreamscape filled with mischievous fairies, enchanted lovers, and sunflower forests.
A Midsummer Night's Dream runs at the Spanos Theatre from October 22nd-25th and October 29th-31st. Tickets are $28 for the public and $20 for students, senior citizens, and children. Tickets are available through the PAC SLO Box Office.”
Contact Email: knewbury@calpoly.edu
Light Filled Still Life Painting - A Simple Path
Come join Debbie Mueller for a 3 day still life workshop where she will break down the creation of a painting into simple steps that allow the painter to focus their decision making and efforts on one thing at a time leading to two successful pieces of art during the weekend.
The techniques taught during the workshop will be practiced using still life, but are completely appropriate and useful for any subject- landscape, portrait, interiors, etc. This is primarily an oil painting workshop. Acrylics or Gouache may be used as well, though certain techniques may not work as well with these mediums.
Fee: $350 for members, $375 for non members
Link to Sign up for Light Filled Still Life Painting:https://cambriaarts.org/sign-up?signupid=342&event=398
Link to Workshops:https://cambriaarts.org/adult-program-classes/
Contact Email: Lilynull127@gmail.com
Big Band Blow Out Concert
Join us for this exciting event as part of the Jazz Jubilee Central Coast festival! Featuring the honored big bands from five schools, this event will be overflowing with exciting sounds. Cuesta College, Cal Poly, Allan Hancock College, Atascadero High School, and Paso Robles High School will all perform short sets.
Tickets available online at tickets.cuesta.edu, or call the CPAC Box Office at (805) 546-3198.
Contact Email: joy_patterson@cuesta.edu
Free Charcoal Demo with Gerimi Burleigh
Geremi will bring to life the dynamic nature of the head and hands. Through his understanding of force, line, tension, tone, and structure, he will show us how to approach drawing these human features.
Artist Bio:
Gerimi Burleigh is a writer, artist, & graphic designer. He works mostly in the toy industry as a product/packaging designer, but after dark, he sweats and bleeds comic books. He graduated from UCLA with a BFA in Drawing and Painting, then went on to study for fifteen years under master draftsman KARL GNASS at the Animation Guild in Burbank. The craft of drawing the human figure has been essential to his professional and personal creative endeavors. In 2005, he co-created the animated series Alien Racers for MGA Entertainment and co-wrote a ninety-minute special for Cartoon Network. Since then, he has written and illustrated three graphic novels and is currently developing his fourth book.
INFO: artcentermorrobay.org and gerimi.net
Cuesta Wind Ensemble Concert
For their first concert of the season, the Cuesta Wind Ensemble features the music of Eric Whitacre with his work "Sleep." Eric gave a fantastic appearance this summer at the PAC as part of Festival Mozaic's Summer 2026 San Luis Obispo Music & Arts Festival. You'll also enjoy music of Percy Grainger, John Barnes Chance, John Philip Sousa, and others, conducted by Jennifer Martin.
Tickets available online at tickets.cuesta.edu, or call the CPAC Box Office at (805) 546-3198.
Winter Faire and Juried Craft Show
Morro Bay Art Association is proud to present The Annual Winter Faire & Juried Craft Show, featuring some of the finest artworks on the Central Coast.
We are exhibiting artists’ exceptional paintings, photography and fine crafts, spanning a variety of artistic mediums from traditional to contemporary. Crafts include fiber, wood, glass, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and more.
Art After Dark
Art After Dark (AAD), hosted by SLO County Arts, is a monthly event held on the First Friday of each month. 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.
Woman's Club of Arroyo Grande Artisan Faire
The most popular Arts & Crafts event of the year! This Woman's Club fundraiser offers over 40 artists, and the wonderful Artisan Cafe featuring homemade pies.
Gentle Bear - Children's Painting Class
This class is super beginner‑friendly and perfect for kids and adults who want a fun, creative bonding experience. I keep things flexible so everyone’s piece turns out unique and personal, with lots of room for individuality. Expect simple step‑by‑step guidance, upbeat music, and a relaxed, creative vibe where you can laugh, play, and bring out your creativity together! $25 (ages 3+)
Cuesta Jazz: CD Release Concert
This concert celebrates a fantastic cross-section of the whole jazz department. The CD project is the grand finale for retired Cuesta Music faculty George Stone, who served as the Head engineer on the project, handling all of the recording processes. (Fun fact: He also wrote one tune for the album and played on the faculty tracks!)
The last CD Release concert was back in 2012, so we're overdue for a party! All of the groups on the CD will be represented, with almost all individuals who recorded also playing in the concert. Featuring the big band, small groups, faculty and Voce - all of these performers will come together to give the audience a taste of what they recorded. The CD will be available for purchase, and you might even get them to sign your copy!
Come early for a glass of wine on the CPAC lobby patio, meet the players, and enjoy the exciting variety of the Cuesta Jazz Department!
Tickets available online at tickets.cuesta.edu, or call the CPAC Box Office at (805) 546-3198.
Contact Email: joy_patterson@cuesta.edu
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY, by Cuesta Drama
Cuesta Drama is hitting the sand this Fall with:
Psycho Beach Party
...a gloriously unhinged spoof: November 12-22, directed by new Performing Arts faculty member, Noah Lucé! This play by Charles Busch is a parody of 1950s beach movies, 1960s psychodramas, and 1970s slasher films. Limited tickets available per show - don't wait to secure yours!
It's the summer of 1962, and Malibu Beach is packed with sun-bleached surfers, beach bums, and a whole lot of teenage drama. Chicklet Forrest just wants to catch a wave and win the heart of dreamy surfer but a cast of scene-stealing characters is ready to crash the party. Psycho Beach Party is a fast, funny, wildly theatrical ride through surf culture, first love, and total chaos… with a few surprise personalities along for the ride!
Tickets available at tickets.cuesta.edu, or call the CPAC Box Office at (805) 546-3198.
Contact Email: joy_patterson@cuesta.edu
Beginning Cookie Decorating Class
Come learn the art of cookie decorating from Arty McGoo! Join Arty as she shares dough and icing recipes, gives tips on basic decorating techniques, and teaches you step by step how to decorate beautiful cookies. You’ll leave with new skills, new friends, and outstanding cookies!
Experience Fantasia
Ring in the New Year with a dazzling celebration of music made famous on the big screen in Fantasia and Fantasia 2000. Experience the magic of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas, the thrilling drama of Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky, and the timeless elegance of Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky. With beloved classics and cinematic favorites brought to life on stage, this festive concert is the perfect way to welcome the year with wonder, nostalgia, and exhilarating sound.
More info: https://slosymphony.org/2026-2027-season/experience-fantasia/
Contact Email: rachel@slosymphony.org
Among the Pines
Immerse yourself Among the Pines, a breathtaking SLO Symphony program inspired by the beauty and power of the natural world.
Nature comes alive with Chris & Dave Brubeck’s multimedia Ansel Adams: America, a tribute to the legendary photographer, blending music with iconic images of America’s landscapes. The journey continues with Respighi’s Pines of Rome, vividly portraying the city’s pine groves from sunlit gardens to ancient roads.
Step into a breathtaking journey of landscapes, sound, and imagination that will transport you far beyond the concert hall.
Contact Email: rachel@slosymphony.org
Grand Overtures
Experience a thrilling celebration of orchestral brilliance, headlined by Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture in its original concert setting, full of drama and spectacle. The program also features Brahms’ spirited Academic Festival Overture and Respighi’s elegant Ancient Airs and Dances Suite No.3. Organ virtuoso Felix Hell returns to perform Guilmant’s Symphony No.1 for Organ, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Forbes Organ at the Performing Arts Center. Feel the full force and excitement of the orchestra in a concert designed to awe, inspire, and leave you breathless.
Contact Email: rachel@slosymphony.org
Springtime Reverie
Delight in an afternoon of elegance and expressive beauty, with Mahler’s radiant Blumine, Shostakovich’s sparkling Piano Concerto No.2 performed by Sylvia Jiang, and César Franck’s passionate Symphony in D minor. Celebrate the season’s finale with an inspiring and luminous program that will leave your spirit lifted and your heart full.
Contact Email: rachel@slosymphony.org
Free Teen Crafting Workshop
Welcoming all middle school and high school teens to this FREE artist workshop!
Join Instructor Christy Wilkins for this fun, hands-on craft session. We'll be creating festive ghost art pieces. Bring your imagination, creative spirit, and a friend!
Please RSVP Christy: christy@studiosonthepark.org
Pumpkin Stack - Children's Painting Class
This class is super beginner‑friendly and perfect for kids and adults who want a fun, creative bonding experience. I keep things flexible so everyone’s piece turns out unique and personal, with lots of room for individuality. Expect simple step‑by‑step guidance, upbeat music, and a relaxed, creative vibe where you can laugh, play, and bring out your creativity together! $25 (ages 3+)
Contact Email: christy@studiosonthepark.org
Sculptural Lamp Stack with Mosaic
From foundation to final, learn to design and build your own unique & beautiful piece of focal garden art. Your sculptural stack may include lamps, ceramic pots, found objects, driftwood, as well as pre-made, ready-to-mosaic polystyrene/concrete forms. If you choose the three day option there will be class time to add mosaic to your forms. Each lamp stack will be completely portable for easy re-assembling at your home or site.
Advanced Cookie Decorating Class
Become a cookie ninja with Arty McGoo! We will be combining many skills and techniques, learning about the intricacies of royal icing, using different tools and textures, and painting with food coloring to create a complete set of amazing and beautiful cookies! Contact Email: christy@studiosonthepark.org
46th Annual West Coast Songwriters Conference
West Coast Songwriters will bring its songwriting community together for the 46th Annual West Coast Songwriters Conference, a three-day event at the Los Angeles College of Music, 307 S. Fair Oaks Ave. Pasadena, CA. Tickets to the event are available HERE.
Designed to educate, connect, and inspire songwriters at every stage of their careers, the annual conference will feature industry panels, one-on-one meetings, networking opportunities, a keynote presentation, and opportunities for attendees to share their music.
Panel speakers include Ben Kramer, head of artist and label development at YouTube; Lauren Christy, songwriter whose credits include Avril Lavigne, Hilary Duff, Jason Mraz, Bebe Rexha, Dua Lipa and Enrique Iglesias; Kasia “KC” Livingston, whose credits include Whitney Houston, the Pussycat Dolls, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and Jessie J and Heather Holley, whose credits include Christina Aguilera, Jackie Evancho and Skylar Grey.
“West Coast Songwriters has always been about bringing people together through the power of a great song. Our 46th Annual Conference is a celebration of that tradition while looking boldly toward the future of songwriting, music, and the industry. We’re creating a space where songwriters can learn from the best, make meaningful connections, and leave inspired to take the next step in their careers. I’m incredibly proud to lead WCS into this next chapter and to welcome our songwriting community to what I believe will be one of our most exciting conferences yet,” said Jen Adan, President, West Coast Songwriters.
The conference kicks off Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. with attendee registration and an open mic, giving songwriters an opportunity to connect and perform as the weekend gets underway.
Programming continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring educational panels, one-on-one meetings, and networking opportunities. Lunch is included with Saturday’s programming.
On Sunday, conference activities run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include a keynote presentation and a speed-networking round, providing attendees with additional opportunities to meet and engage with fellow songwriters and music industry professionals.
The weekend concludes Sunday evening with a wrap party at 7 p.m. at The Blue Room, 916 S. San Fernando Blvd. in Burbank.
For more than four decades, West Coast Songwriters has supported the development of songwriters by providing educational programs, performance opportunities, and access to music industry professionals. The annual conference continues that mission by creating an environment where aspiring and established songwriters can strengthen their craft, build relationships, and gain practical insight into an evolving music business.
Contact Email: bev@bnoticedpr.com
Pumpkin Sculpting Demo
Jordan Hockett is back with his pumpkin sculpting demos! Using a sculpting method, Jordan creates 3D masterpieces out of pumpkins! Join us for FREE between 2-5pm to watch his intricate designs unfold.
Contact Email: christy@studiosonthepark.org
28th Annual Vocal Jazz Festival Concert featuring The Sistering
The hottest new vocal jazz collective in the country, The Sistering, features Lois Deloatch, Nnenna Freelon, Kate McGarry, and Lenora Zenzalai Helm. Their first album came out in March and they performed at Carnegie Hall twelve days later!
The Sistering captures the pure magic that unfolds when four highly accomplished jazz artists join together to uplift and inspire one another—on and off the stage. Their compositions already reveal a beautifully interconnected journey through themes of family, love, loss, and badassery—rendering the project both a memoir and a cultural mirror.
Infused with soul, folk, funk, and spoken word, The Sistering ventures across wide musical terrain with improvisation at its heart. Song titles like “Combat Boots and Glass Slippers” by Lenora, “Circle” by Kate, “Follow the Stream” by Lois, and “A Brother Just Like You” by Nnenna hint at the emotional depth and narrative spirit behind the music.
Accompanied by a world-class jazz quartet, The Sistering takes shape as a powerful and vibrant testament to the power of creative alliance. Continuing that theme, Cuesta’s top student vocal ensemble, Cuesta Voce, will open the evening as well as close out the concert with our headliners in some spectacular large group pieces. It’ll be an unforgettable evening!
All nationally renowned educators, the members of The Sistering will be sharing their expertise with our Cuesta College music students throughout the festival.
Tickets available at tickets.cuesta.edu, or call the CPAC Box Office at (805) 546-3198.
Contact Email: joy_patterson@cuesta.edu
SLO Symphony Presents Rites of Passage
Celebrate innovation and legacy, bridging past and present, the 2026-2027 season opener pairs the groundbreaking ballet score, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, with a world premiere symphony commissioned Garret Foulke and Dorothy Correa, composed by Stefan Podell. This dynamic program opens with the vibrant Danse Nègre by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Witness the bold collision of tradition and innovation in a concert that promises to ignite your imagination from the first note.
Ring Stackers: Jewelry Class
Learn to form, forge, solder and finish simple silver ring stackers.
This beginner-friendly class guides you through crafting beautiful Sterling Silver Rings from scratch. It’s a quick project that introduces essential silversmithing skills, perfect for those new to jewelry making. All tools provided. You’ll leave with your completed project - typically 6 to 8 rings, depending on size. $130 - all supplies included.
* Best for: first-time students
CowGirl Magic
Susan Lyon's CowGirl Magic & "Saturday just before dark"
invites you to view a Veried Edition show that merges hand pulled Linocuts and abstract photography. Pastoral Cows on Vivid colored backgrounds available unframed and framed . Drop in, enjoy the show and take home some avocados from Cottontail Creek
Ranch
Contact Email: susan@ctcranch.com
Art Exhibition "Rollin' from A to B"
Studios on the Park will continue their exhibition "Rollin' from A to B" on display in the Atrium Gallery throughout October. This exhibit is free to the public and available to view during open hours. Sun-Thurs 12-4pm Fri-Sat 12-9pm
Contact Email: christy@studiosonthepark.org
Meet the Artist: SLO Box Art
Box Art artists from past and present will be available to meet and converse with all in one easy location. Artists will each have a table with process photos and examples of their collective portfolios. Guided tours of the Downtown Box Art will be offered.
The Expressive Figure Workshop
This workshop will approach mixed media figure drawing and painting as a creative, expressive activity. Students will respond to the model and to the manipulation of their chosen materials in order to arrive at dynamic and unique solutions. Be prepared to exaggerate, distort, twist and elongate the figure in order to create dynamic, powerful, bold, expressive and emotional pieces of art. To reserve your spot or find out more go to www.willowpondslo.com
Art After Dark
Art After Dark (AAD), hosted by SLO County Arts, is a monthly event held on the First Friday of each month. 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.
THE POSTER: The Art of Relational Seeing
The Poster is a three-day plein air workshop introducing Poster Vision—the perceptual capacity to see the landscape relationally rather than descriptively. Instead of composing object by object, participants learn to perceive the landscape as a relational whole, where color, value, and light are understood within the larger field of vision.
This workshop is on OCT 2, 3, and 4th at the same time every day.
Fee: $650 members, $675 non-members
Link to workshops: https://cambriaarts.org/adult-program-classes/
Link to sign up for THE POSTER: https://cambriaarts.org/sign-up?signupid=386&event=445
Contact Email: Lilynull127@gmail.com
San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra: "Autumn Radiance"
Join the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra for their Fall concert “Autumn Radiance” on September 27 at SLO United Methodist Church.
The San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra kicks off its season with music that is evocative of the fall. Included is Eric Whitacre's beautiful work "October." You'll also enjoy Morton Gould's whimsical "Halloween," Aaron Copland's grand "The Promise of Living" and more. Jennifer Martin conducts.
Tickets available online at tickets.cuesta.edu, or call the Box Office at (805) 546-3198.
Art Lab - Free Teen Block Printing Workshop
Welcoming all middle school and high school teens to this FREE artist workshop!
Join Instructor Christy Wilkins for this fun, hands-on block printing session. Create personalized T-shirts with your own block print creation. Bring your imagination, creative spirit, and a friend!
*All supplies are included by generous donations from our supportive community.
Please RSVP Christy: christy@studiosonthepark.org
Tide Pools - Acrylic Painting Class
Join Artist Christy Wilkins for a fun and relaxing painting experience. You'll learn to mix colors, blending techniques, and tips to paint tide pool creatures. Bring a friend for a creative morning at the studios!
*All levels of art experience are welcome.
Contact Email: christy@studiosonthepark.org
Pattern and Repetition: The Paper Art of Ryan Carroll
Ryan Carroll transforms paper into intricate worlds of pattern, geometry, light, and form. This exhibition offers an invitation to appreciate the remarkable intersection of patience, mathematics, craftsmanship, and imagination that can emerge from a single sheet of paper. Discussion by Ryan Carroll and wine by Mustard Creek Vineyard.
Contact Email: fieldworkart@gmail.com
Keys of Grandeur
Be swept into an unforgettable evening of passion, brilliance, and virtuosity. The program opens with the lively Mazurka from Halka by Stanisław Moniuszko, before showcasing the grandeur of Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” by Ludwig van Beethoven, performed by rising star Hyunjin Roy, winner of the 2025 Paderewski International Piano Competition. After intermission, the orchestra dives into the emotional depths of Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a work of haunting beauty and profound intensity. In partnership with the Paderewski Festival, this concert promises a powerful journey through some of classical music’s most moving and majestic masterpieces.
Contact Email: rachel@slosymphony.org
Creative Quills Community Poetry Collective
Creative Quills Community Poetry Collective provides a platform for local poets to share their creative works in a supportive environment.
We meet the 3rd Sunday of every month from 1-3 pm in the patio garden at TOP DOG COFFEE BAR.
All are welcomed to come share their creative works.
Contact Email: ellencasey777@gmail.com
Intro to Ink and Inktense with Linda Cunningham
Following a Derwent Inktense demonstration, you’ll receive step-by-step instruction for creating beautiful greeting cards. Using Strathmore mixed media cards with envelopes, black ink, and vivid colored Inktense pencils, you’ll create your own 5“ x 7“ cards. You’ll need to purchase black fine line pens like Pima Micron or similar (available at Art Central.) All other supplies will be provided. Beginners are welcome and no experience as necessary. Templates will be provided for those who just want to relax and experiment with these amazing pencils!
Beginning Cookie Decorating Class
Come learn the art of cookie decorating from Arty McGoo! Join Arty as she shares dough and icing recipes, gives tips on basic decorating techniques, and teaches you step by step how to decorate beautiful cookies.