Atascadero Fall Festival brings music and carnival fun this weekend

By Atascadero News · Thu Oct 15 2026

Free admission, more than 40 bands and a new children’s pumpkin pie eating contest highlight the three-day celebration

ATASCADERO — Sunken Gardens will become a gathering place for live music, carnival rides and hometown traditions Oct. 16–18 as the Atascadero Fall Festival returns for three days of entertainment in downtown Atascadero.

The festival will feature free general admission, more than 40 bands performing across two stages, and carnival rides and games for all ages. Saturday’s activities will also include the Colony Days Parade, a beer and wine tasting event and the inaugural Kids Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest.

The weekend’s music schedule includes Friday’s Country Night with Los Hermanos Mendoza, a Saturday ’80s and ’90s Dance Party featuring the Molly Ringwald Project and the 90s Babiez, and Sunday’s Reggae Night headlined by Vana Liya.

“The music lineup is the best we’ve ever had and features all types of genres,” said event organizer Andres Nuño of En Fuego Events.

The festival coincides with one of Atascadero’s longstanding community traditions: the Colony Days Parade. Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, this year’s parade carries the theme “Wild About Atascadero!”

Local schools, businesses, organizations and community members will participate in the procession, celebrating the city’s history through floats, performances and marching groups. The parade’s partnership with the Fall Festival brings the annual celebration of Atascadero’s heritage into a broader weekend of downtown activities.

“From creative floats and festive performances to marching groups and local favorites, this cherished tradition showcases everything we love about Atascadero,” said Liz Enriguez-Phillips, a Colony Days Parade board member.

“Whether you’re a longtime resident or visiting for the weekend, join us as we celebrate the traditions, people, and community that make Atascadero a place worth going wild about,” she said.

Following the parade, children can join the festival’s first Kids Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest at noon, adding a seasonal competition to the family entertainment schedule.

Also beginning at noon Saturday, Suds at Sunken Gardens will offer a separate tasting experience featuring more than a dozen beer and wine producers. The boutique beverage festival runs until 3:30 p.m., with $35 tickets providing unlimited samples during the tasting session.

Admission to the larger Fall Festival remains free. The $35 ticket applies to the Suds at Sunken Gardens tasting event.

Throughout the weekend, attendees can move between performances on the festival’s two stages and explore the carnival attractions. The themed music nights span country, reggae and dance favorites, while the broader lineup offers a variety of genres.

For Nuño, the weekend is an opportunity to bring residents and visitors together in the center of town.

“The Atascadero Fall Festival has become one of the best events in San Luis Obispo County and we can’t wait to share an incredible weekend with everyone,” he said.

The Atascadero Fall Festival takes place Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16–18, at Sunken Gardens in downtown Atascadero. For schedules, entertainment updates and Suds at Sunken Gardens tickets, visit AtascaderoFallFestival.com.