Central Coast Craft Beer Festival returns to Atascadero

By Camille DeVaul · Wed Mar 26 2025

More than 1,500 attend annual Sunken Gardens event featuring 55-plus breweries and live music

ATASCADERO — The Central Coast Craft Beer Festival returned to the Sunken Gardens on Saturday, March 21, bringing together brewers, music lovers, and the community for a day dedicated to independent craft beverages and good times.

Now in its second decade, the festival featured samples from more than 55 independently owned craft breweries, wineries, cideries, and spirit companies, offering attendees a wide-ranging taste of the Central Coast and beyond. Guests gathered in the heart of downtown Atascadero to enjoy pours from both longtime regional favorites and first-time participants, while live performances by The 90’s Babiez, Dubwise Collective, and DJ Manuel Barba kept the atmosphere lively throughout the afternoon.

The event, organized by the Central Coast Brewers Guild and En Fuego Events, has grown significantly since its founding in 2013. George Peterson of Central Coast Brewing, who also serves as treasurer of the Guild, recalled the festival’s early days as a collaborative effort among a smaller group of breweries.

The City of Atascadero played a key role in helping the festival take root. At the time, officials were focused on revitalizing the downtown area, and the addition of events like the beer festival helped draw new visitors and energy to the Sunken Gardens.

Despite its continued popularity, organizers acknowledged that this year’s attendance dipped slightly compared to previous years. Peterson noted that shifts in consumer habits — including a general decline in beer consumption and changing social trends among younger generations — have presented challenges for the industry as a whole. Additionally, some breweries that once participated in the festival have since closed, making recruitment more difficult.

Even so, both organizers and attendees emphasized the unique experience the festival provides.

"It's one of my favorite festivals, because there are brewers out there," Peterson explained, having the people directly involved with making the beer gives a more personal touch that other festivals don't have.

Andres Nuño of En Fuego Events said the festival still drew more than 1,500 guests and remained a success for the Guild, even with the slight downturn.

“We did have over 50 independently owned craft breweries. We had some seltzers, we had ciders, and we had a couple spirit companies out there as well,” Nuño said. “This year was a little down from last year, but overall, it was still a successful event.”

This year also saw an influx of new breweries from outside the immediate region. Participating for the first time were well-known names such as Alvarado Street Brewery from Monterey, Sante Adairius Rustic Ales from Santa Cruz, and Topa Topa Brewing Co. from Ventura, along with Steel Bonnet Brewing from Scotts Valley and Pizza Port Brewing Co. from San Diego.

According to Nuño, bringing in new breweries will continue to be a key focus moving forward.

"Next year, we’d love to have another five new breweries that have never been up there pouring," he said.

Organizers reported that local hotels reached capacity over the weekend, with many visitors traveling from outside the area. Festivities extended beyond Saturday’s main event, beginning with a Friday disc golf tournament and a brewers’ gathering at Wild Fields Brewhouse, and continuing into the weekend as attendees filled downtown restaurants, bars, and shops.

The Central Coast Brewers Guild, which represents independently owned breweries from Ventura to San Luis Obispo counties, aims to promote and educate the public about the region’s craft beer scene. Events like the festival are central to that mission, fostering connections between brewers and consumers while supporting local businesses.

Organizers expressed gratitude to the City of Atascadero for its ongoing partnership, particularly in helping host and promote the event in the Sunken Gardens.

"We love being there," Nuño said. "We couldn't, we couldn't be in a better place."

For more information about the festival and updates on next year’s event, visit centralcoastcraftbeerfest.com

Feature Image: Where's Waldo? Well, a bunch of them were at the Central Coast Craft Beer Festival on March 21 at the Sunken Gardens. The event featured samples from more than 55 independently owned craft breweries, wineries, cideries, and spirit companies. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN