Community Calendar
Browse arts-related events happening across SLO County
Poetry Reading: Tenny Arlen
Join SLOMA on Thursday, December 18 from 5:30–7 PM for a reading of Armenian-American Tenny Arlen's posthumously published, bilingual book of poetry.
Tenny Arlen was an author of Armenian and English poetry, and a San Luis Obispo local. Her debut book of poetry, To Say with Passion: Why Am I Here?, was published posthumously in 2021, and is one of the first books of creative literature written in Armenian by an American-born author. The new bilingual edition of Tenny Arlen's book was released October 30, 2025. Siji Krishnan’s exhibition The Secret Place at SLOMA offers a potent container for reflection on language, loss, and hope.
This event is free and open to the public but an RSVP is required via SLOMA's Eventbrite page. Seats are going fast so reserve yours today!
Creative Quills Monthly Open Mic Poetry Reading
Creative Quills Poetry Reading Collective fosters a supportive and inclusive environment, providing a platform for local aspiring, amateur, and published poets to share their creative works. Poets meet in the garden at Top Dog Cafe Bar every 3rd Sunday of the month for an afternoon of open mic poetry.
Sign up to read in the garden or contact Elley at creativequillsmb@gmail.com.
Fly Away Home Artist's Reception
Cambria Center for the Arts presents “Fly Away Home” exhibit with featured artist Roné Prinz December 30th-March 1st. This special exhibit happens during the 29th Morro Bay Bird Festival, January 15-19, 2026. Roné, our featured artist, has explored a variety of media, including everything from jewelry making to Japanese paper crafting throughout her creative career. Local artist’s works will reflect our avian world on the Central Coast.
For the Birds Reception
The "For the Birds" art exhibit offers a unique artistic experience that showcases a diverse range of mediums, from paintings to sculptures, all inspired by our avian friends. Visitors will have the opportunity to support and discover the talents of local artists who bring their unique perspectives to the theme of birds. This annual exhibit celebrates the vast array of indigenous bird species and all things bird-related, centering on the rich avian life found along the Central Coast of California. This region is home to a diverse array of bird species, each uniquely adapted to its coastal and terrestrial habitats.
“For the Birds” will run from January 6th to February 16th. The Artist’s Reception will take place on Sunday, January 11th from 2pm to 4pm.
Atascadero Holiday Window Wars
Watch downtown Atascadero come to life with holiday spirit! Artists of all ages will be painting and decorating the downtown shops you all know and love from 10 AM - 1 PM on Saturday, December 6th, and Sunday, December 7th. This is a family-friendly, completely free-to-participate-in and attend event!
First Saturdays at SLOMA
Due to the downtown holiday parade on Friday night, SLOMA is shifting their monthly after-hours event to the weekend. Celebrate the opening of our newest Nybak Gallery exhibition, Keith Wiley & Adria Arch: Still / Moving.
Handcrafted for the Holidays Second Reception
This annual showcase celebrates talented craftspeople and their one-of-a-kind creations. From returning artists to exciting new pieces, there’s something special for everyone, no matter your taste or budget.
Free Demo: Constructing the Figure
Gerimi Burleigh, a master artist of figure drawing, is giving a FREE demonstration Saturday, December 6th, from 3:00pm-5:00pm at Art Center Morro Bay. Burleigh shows us the steps he takes when constructing full 3-dimensional figures by first starting with simple stick figures. If you like drawing or painting figures, don’t miss this FREE demonstration on December 6th! No reservations needed. See artcentermorrobay.org or call (805) 772-2504 for details.
Atascadero Holiday Window Wars
Watch downtown Atascadero come to life with holiday spirit! Artists of all ages will be painting and decorating the downtown shops you all know and love from 10 AM - 1 PM on Saturday, December 6th, and Sunday, December 7th. This is a family-friendly, completely free-to-participate-in and attend event!
Cal Poly Choirs Presents the Ninth Annual Holiday Kaleidoscope
The Cal Poly Choirs will present the annual “Holiday Kaleidoscope” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in the Performing Arts Center. All four choirs — Cantabile, Chamber Choir, PolyPhonics and University Singers — will collaborate with local music groups and other Cal Poly ensembles for the concert.
Queer Indie Night
Join Gala Pride and Diversity Center for an evening of queer indie music at Libertine! Hear music from three award-winning CA artists and celebrate Caleb Nichols’ LP release. Plus, a silent auction and a portion of all ticket sales will go to support the Gala Pride and Diversity Center.
Pieces of Us Art Exhibition
Pieces of Us is an art installation in honor of Trans Day of Remembrance. This intimate community gathering and art show will feature art and pieces of memory by local TGNCI artists and community members as a way of marking this somber day.
The Gala Pride and Diversity Center is doing an open call for art and exhibition pieces and hope that people feel called to submit to the exhibit. To submit to the show, please complete this form.
Poetry Night at the Los Osos Library
The next Los Osos Library Poetry Night is taking place on Thursday, November 20th at 5:30pm. Featured poets will be Lisa Coffman and Kathryn deLancellotti. As usual, an open reading will follow a short intermission. The evening’s theme will be “Liminal Spaces.”
Creative Quills Monthly Open Mic Poetry Reading
Creative Quills Poetry Reading Collective fosters a supportive and inclusive environment, providing a platform for local aspiring, amateur, and published poets to share their creative works. Poets meet in the garden at Top Dog Cafe Bar every 3rd Sunday of the month for an afternoon of open mic poetry.
Sign up to read in the garden or contact Elley at creativequillsmb@gmail.com.
IDLE HEART Opening Reception
Cruise Control Contemporary is proud to close its 2025 program with Idle Heart, a solo exhibition of monochrome watercolors on aged paper by Sky Fusco, opening Saturday, November 15 from 4–7 p.m. Fusco, who lives and works on the Central Coast, becomes the first artist to return for a second solo show at the gallery – a full-circle gesture that mirrors her own practice: cyclical, reflective, and grounded in place.
Artists Reception: Annual Winter Faire and Juried Craft Show
This annual exhibit is Art Center's largest show of the year, both galleries are transformed into a winter wonderland. Find meaningful, memorable gifts that celebrate craftsmanship and support the community. The Winter Faire runs from Nov. 6, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026.
Museo by Muse Markets
MUSEO by Muse Markets is a one-day celebration of local art, community & culture AND a celebration of the Mission Plaza construction being completed!
Art After Dark
Art After Dark is the FREE event where art, culture, and community come to life! Join us for the LAST Art After Dark of 2025!
Handcrafted for the Holidays Opening Reception
This annual showcase celebrates talented craftspeople and their one-of-a-kind creations. From returning artists to exciting new pieces, there’s something special for everyone, no matter your taste or budget.
"Small Gems" Artist's Reception
The Cambria Center for the Arts will be having our annual Holiday Exhibit, “Small Gems.” We're ending 2025 with colorful squares once again. Our talented local artists created miniature masterpieces on 8- and 12-inch canvases - on any theme or topic. Each one will be unique and ready to gift or collect.
Exhibition Dates: Oct 28 - Dec 28 (Tuesday through Sunday 12-4pm)
Opening Reception: Eclectics II Group Exhibition
This group exhibition will feature works by Tony Martin, Dorothy Halic, Tim Anderson, Bill Hartley, Marie Ramey, Lisa R. Falk, Joyce Bauerle, Vicky Hoffman, Judy Johnson-Williams, and Larry Stone (curator).
After the artists’ reception on November 1st, the exhibition will be on view through November 8th (by appointment only Nov. 2-8, contact actsofworshipart@gmail.com)
Not Enough Future Opening Reception
Co-curated by Connie Martin Treviño, Not Enough Future features new work by June Edmonds, Kate Sikorski, Robin Strayhorn, Connie Martin Treviño, John Treviño, Lisa Diane Wedgeworth, and John Weston.
Through painting, ceramics, mixed media, and video, these artists explore the tension between the present moment and what’s yet to come—reflecting on time, uncertainty, and the creative drive to imagine beyond now.
Mark your calendars and join us for an evening of conversation, community, and new work by seven remarkable artists. The opening reception will feature wines by Hope Family Wines.
Artist Panel 6pm to 7pm
Arts Around Us: Seashore Trio
Come enjoy an afternoon of piano, oboe, violin chamber music with musicians from the SLO Symphony! The Seashore Trio will perform an eclectic program of Shostakovich, Telemann, Faure, Beatles, Morricone, and more. Music by John Astaire, Piano; Jessica Hoffman, Oboe; Grace Seng, Violin.
Free event. Please RSVP: email contact@studiosonthepark.org or call 805-238-9800.
Creative Quills Monthly Open Mic Poetry Reading
Creative Quills Poetry Reading Collective fosters a supportive and inclusive environment, providing a platform for local aspiring, amateur, and published poets to share their creative works. Poets meet in the garden at Top Dog Cafe Bar every 3rd Sunday of the month for an afternoon of open mic poetry.
Sign up to read in the garden or contact Elley at creativequillsmb@gmail.com.
Arts Around Us: Art of the Kimono - From Court to Street
Step into a world of color, elegance, and tradition at Art of the Kimono: From Court to Street, an illustrated presentation exploring one of Japan’s most enduring symbols of beauty and craftsmanship. Presented by Resident Artist, Lynn Kishiyama, this 40-minute talk blends vivid images, personal stories, and cultural insights to trace the kimono’s journey from its origins in the imperial courts of Japan to its place in modern fashion. Guests will discover the hidden meanings in patterns and colors, the artistry of obi tying, and how this centuries-old garment continues to inspire designers around the world.
Free event. Please RSVP: email contact@studiosonthepark.org or call 805-238-9800.
27th Annual Open Studios Art Tour: Weekend 2
The San Luis Obispo County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of SLO County Arts Council, takes place each year over two weekends in October, National Arts and Humanities Month. Free to the public, fine artists and crafters open their studios to showcase their art and share their processes. Visitors create their own self-guided tours using the catalog of participating artists.
Visiting studios during the tour gives you the chance to interact with artists on an intimate level and go deeper into their process, all while traveling around the landscapes and communities that inspire their work!
The 2025 tour takes place from 10am to 5pm over the weekends of October 11-12 and October 18-19.
Learn more and find out how to get a catalog of participating artists at slocountyarts.org/osat.
27th Annual Open Studios Art Tour: Weekend 2
The San Luis Obispo County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of SLO County Arts Council, takes place each year over two weekends in October, National Arts and Humanities Month. Free to the public, fine artists and crafters open their studios to showcase their art and share their processes. Visitors create their own self-guided tours using the catalog of participating artists.
Visiting studios during the tour gives you the chance to interact with artists on an intimate level and go deeper into their process, all while traveling around the landscapes and communities that inspire their work!
The 2025 tour takes place from 10am to 5pm over the weekends of October 11-12 and October 18-19.
Learn more and find out how to get a catalog of participating artists at slocountyarts.org/osat.
27th Annual Open Studios Art Tour: Weekend 1
The San Luis Obispo County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of SLO County Arts Council, takes place each year over two weekends in October, National Arts and Humanities Month. Free to the public, fine artists and crafters open their studios to showcase their art and share their processes. Visitors create their own self-guided tours using the catalog of participating artists.
Visiting studios during the tour gives you the chance to interact with artists on an intimate level and go deeper into their process, all while traveling around the landscapes and communities that inspire their work!
The 2025 tour takes place from 10am to 5pm over the weekends of October 11-12 and October 18-19.
Learn more and find out how to get a catalog of participating artists at slocountyarts.org/osat.
27th Annual Open Studios Art Tour: Weekend 1
The San Luis Obispo County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of SLO County Arts Council, takes place each year over two weekends in October, National Arts and Humanities Month. Free to the public, fine artists and crafters open their studios to showcase their art and share their processes. Visitors create their own self-guided tours using the catalog of participating artists.
Visiting studios during the tour gives you the chance to interact with artists on an intimate level and go deeper into their process, all while traveling around the landscapes and communities that inspire their work!
The 2025 tour takes place from 10am to 5pm over the weekends of October 11-12 and October 18-19.
Learn more and find out how to get a catalog of participating artists at slocountyarts.org/osat.
Lucía
A rising star in jazz, Lucía captivated audiences when she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2022 with her unique fusion of jazz and Latin influences. Her debut album, released in May 2025, showcases her stunning voice and versatile style, blending soulful jazz standards with the warmth of Latin folk. With a powerful stage presence and a sound rooted in her Mexican heritage, Lucía is set to redefine the global jazz scene.
Art After Dark
Art After Dark is the FREE event where art, culture, and community come to life!
Jake Shimabukuro
Jake Shimabukuro rose to fame in the early 2000s with his groundbreaking ukulele playing, blending genres and pushing the instrument’s limits.
Taught by his mother at age four, he became a local star and gained recognition after his viral cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” He has released over a dozen albums, performed at top venues, collaborated with the world’s best artists, and was appointed to the National Council on the Arts. Collaboration is central to his work, seen in projects like Trio, Jake & Friends, and Grateful, showcasing his versatility and creative spirit.
Out of the Blue Exhibition Opening Reception
Artists delve into the rich and multifaceted world of blue—a color that evokes a wide spectrum of emotions and meanings, by using cobalt, ultramarine, periwinkle and more. From the serenity of the sky and sea to the depths of introspection and melancholy, blue has the power to communicate on a deeply personal and universal level. In this exhibit artists explore how blue can be used to express identity, culture, nature, or abstraction, pushing the boundaries of creativity while reflecting the timeless allure and complexity that comes from Out of the Blue.
Creative Quills Monthly Open Mic Poetry Reading
Creative Quills Poetry Reading Collective fosters a supportive and inclusive environment, providing a platform for local aspiring, amateur, and published poets to share their creative works. Poets meet in the garden at Top Dog Cafe Bar every 3rd Sunday of the month for an afternoon of open mic poetry.
Sign up to read in the garden or contact Elley at creativequillsmb@gmail.com.