Wine 4 Paws | April
Around Paso Robles, animal lovers adore Woods Humane Society. In addition to providing a safe haven for animals awaiting adoption, Woods offers a range of dog training courses, a spay & neuter clinic, youth programs, and more. It’s therefore a true pleasure to be able to support Woods… with wine! Wine 4 Paws is an annual weekend-long event in April with scores of wineries, cider producers, and olive oil makers donating 10% of their proceeds to Woods. A free downloadable map is available on the Wine 4 Paws site for visitors to plan out their wine tasting. And for those who aren’t able to visit that weekend but still would like to help, participating wineries include online, phone, and email orders in their donations!
Open Farm Days | June
Wine country wouldn’t exist without the families that tend the land, cultivate the vines, and craft the wines. Open Farm Days, presented by FARMstead ED and SLO County Farm Trail, invites guests to visit their favorite family-friendly vineyards and farms along the SLO Co Farm Trail. This is a wonderful opportunity to help the kids learn all agriculture and animal husbandry. Local farmers showcase bee keeping, pig feeding, olive oil production, and more while providing samples of their goods for sale and picnic spots around their properties. Held over a weekend in June, Open Farm Days is the perfect way to enjoy the long summer days out in the fresh air and sunshine that grace San Luis Obispo County while supporting favorite growers and makers.
Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival | September
What happens when a local winery is – ahem – encouraged by a bunch of lawyers to not name their festival anything ending in “-stock”? If that winery is Castoro Cellars, the festival just gets bigger and better! The re-named Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival began in the spirit of that other concert back in New York and has grown into a weekend long event in mid-September that supports local artists and artisans. In addition to supporting the arts, proceeds from Whale Rock help support local school district music and education initiatives. The Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival is a must, with an impressive lineup of musicians, daily yoga practices, face painting & tie-dying for kids, and of course, plenty of incredible food and wine.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary Block Party | September
Whether you’re an avid equestrian or just dreamed of owning a horse when you were a kid, the Redwings Horse Sanctuary Block Party Fundraiser is the perfect way to support your love of all things equine! Redwings Horse Sanctuary rescues abused and neglected horse – we know, we can’t imagine that either! – and provides a permanent home or adoption to carefully vetted applicants. In partnership with co-host Cass Winery, the annual block party is typically held towards the end of September when the weather is perfect for savoring local wines, beers, and nibbles alongside these beautiful creatures.
