California’s scenic Pacific Coast Highway leads to the green, vineyard‑fringed valley of Lompoc, a welcoming base for walking, hiking, cycling and exploring. Autumn is an ideal season for the roughly 155‑mile drive northwest of Los Angeles. Here’s a concise guide to upcoming fall events and attractions.
Mural in a Weekend, Oct. 6–7, is produced by the Lompoc Mural Society in partnership with Explore Lompoc. Join residents and visiting artists to create a mural on the rear wall of a downtown building. Led by artist Art Mortimer, this new piece will join more than 30 existing murals in Old Town Lompoc. The theme for this year is “Chautauqua,” honoring 19th‑century traveling educational and entertainment shows. The project runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with a dedication ceremony on Oct. 7 at 5 p.m.
The weekend of Oct. 12–14 brings Lompoc Chalks, an outdoor street‑art festival that showcases chalk artists alongside performing artists, art vendors and food trucks. The event also features local wine and beer and live entertainment, organized by The Lompoc Theatre Project, and offers a lively, family‑friendly atmosphere.
Explore the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, a cluster of more than 20 boutique urban tasting rooms housed within a former industrial park. This compact wine district makes it easy to sample small‑batch, award‑winning wines and talk one‑on‑one with artisan winemakers. The Lompoc Wine Alliance presents Harvest in the Ghetto Oct. 6–7, featuring live music, scavenger hunts, grape‑stomping and glass‑blowing demonstrations—ideal activities for visitors who want both education and entertainment.
The countywide Celebration of the Harvest runs Oct. 12–14 and highlights Santa Barbara County’s wine season with vineyard tours, tasting room events, wine dinners and open houses at local wineries. Many participating estates lie along Route 246, including Babcock Winery & Vineyards, Foley Estates and Melville Vineyards & Winery, offering curated experiences that showcase the region’s viticulture and culinary pairings.
Beyond festivals and tastings, Lompoc’s surrounding landscape invites outdoor adventures. Rolling hills, vineyard lanes and quiet country roads are ideal for scenic drives, cycling routes and hiking trails. Old Town Lompoc itself offers a compact historic district with public art, shops and casual dining—perfect for an afternoon stroll between tastings or events.
Visiting in autumn brings moderate temperatures, vibrant foliage in some vineyard blocks and the energy of harvest season. Whether you come for a mural project, a street‑art festival, boutique tasting rooms or a countywide harvest celebration, Lompoc provides a blend of cultural events and rural charm that rewards a weekend getaway or a longer, unhurried stay.