SAME THING ONLY DIFFERENT…read more Ah... festivals. Always different. Always the same. Everything smells like weed. Except the guy standing in line beside me. He smells like sardines. And weed. Out-of-town dudes in man-buns crowd alongside pretty young women dressed vaguely like Native American princesses. Not sure Indians had bubble-gum flavored lip gloss though. Everyone is 'Gramming. A giant beach ball passes by with intention. The volume is concussive. The energy palpable. When the live music starts, I picture my 9th grade English teacher Mrs. Delaney, hands on her hips, shouting back grammar corrections. "Cause I'mma pimp you up" "'BE-cause I am GOING TO pimp you up', young man!" "Cold split you in two" "COLDLY split you INTO two!" "Then let you catch it in the du-rang" "OK not bad..." "Take the Bentley back to school" "YOU GOT THIS! WOOO!!" Good music, passionate people, and great alcohol-- the keys to success for all festivals. But after a while, an existential question rises out of the chili pot smoke... Use the filth-laden portable toilets, or risk sobering up too soon by discontinuing the refreshing beverage routine in the hot afternoon sun? Maybe we'll just go find sardine dude to pick up some herring-infused indo... Pro tip: Had a great time. We sampled a lot of chili dishes, enjoyed copious amounts of local beer and wine, and clapped a lot because... well like most white people, we have no idea what to do with our hands when we dance.

First timer and was hesitant because of the weather forecast, but glad I came!…read more It was outdoors in the camp grounds and surprisingly it was warm with a slight breeze and only sprinkled a little red here and there! There were many vendors just selling merch like novelty items, kitchen towels and trivets, jewelry, and soap. At the entrance there was a stage where a band played for the first half then a DJ took over for the second half! Music was great and the crowd was lively! A lot of the vendors say this was much bigger than last year. There were many vendors some large breweries we'll known breweries like SLO brew, Fig mountain and smaller local ones as well. Really enjoyed the sparkling rose and the rose from a veteran owned stall (there's a pic included). There were tastings for wine, seltzers, gin, and whiskey!! Each stand either had an entry in Chile verde, red chili, salsa, or alcohol - some stands were were entered in multiple areas. Some stands had toppings you could add like corn bread, sour cream, cheese, and onions and the chips were all served with the central coast favorite taco works tortilla chips! One chili that stood out for me was a ground turkey butternut squash one made by the rotary club - it was hearty and had a slight sweetness, didn't think I would have liked it but it was one of my tops! So at end of your tastings you vote on best choice! Overall would deff come here again!!

This was a super fun event! I believe this is the first year for the event (2022) and it was so…read moregreat to see the small community of Buellton offer more activities. Attending this right at the beginning of December really helped get me into the holiday spirit! Lots of people were there. The park had activities, including pictures with Santa, roasting marshmallows, hot chocolate for purchase, a beer garden, and food trucks! Lots of kids running around and families creating memories. It seemed a bit pricey for $25/ticket for 13y/o and up, but they did a great job with the lights and it made for several photo opportunities!

It was a cozy event, wasn't too bad to walk in heels! Great for a date night or a fun little trip…read morewith the family. There were opportunities for photo ops throughout, a couple food trucks, cotton candy booth, hot chocolate station and fires to sit down/warm up near. The field of lit up flowers and the lights that made it look like a river flowing was my favorite part of the walk!

What a great time! Beautiful weather, great beer and wine, fantastic food, and an awesome crowd…read more This event was just what the doctor ordered. Standouts included Opuntia Prickly Pear "brandy," which was very unique and deliciously exotic. Transmission Brewery's new Street Glide hazy IPA. And of course, the AR Catering BBQ truck's amazing and slutty pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich. It was very cool to listen to the vendors explain their products and their processes with pride. Very interesting! I really appreciated the nice wide-open area for the event. It gave off a cool, relaxed vibe, rather than a dusty stampede of drinkers that you might experience in a smaller, more crowded space. Unfortunately we had to leave before the music started. We didn't take one of the special buses to the event, but I really appreciated that people could ride from Santa Barbara, Goleta, Santa Maria, and Lompoc to attend the event, drink their hearts out and go home safely. Bravo to the organizers!

Another wonder time at the Buellton Brew Fst This event is…read morealways a great time to catch up with friends and to meet new ones. The venders are awesome and truly shower their guests with appreciation . En Fuefo you have outdone yourselves again!!

Different locations, same talented vintners…read more My top 2 wine events of year, the Santa Barbara Vintners Festival delivers a day geared to all types of wine lovers. What sets this gathering apart is large number of talented wine makers and owners representing their brands. If you want to learn a little more about what your drinking, beyond the canned tasing notes, you want to be here. Winemakers love to talk about their passion and most will take a moment to tell you all about what's in your glass. This fear is looking for its home. I attended years at the Riverfront Park in Buellton. Last year it moved out to Lompoc and now up at Rancho Sisquoc Winery. Translation from Santa Barbara is always available but this year was downgraded from an Airbus like motor coach to The party busses from Jump on the School Bus. Noting against Darin and Sierra's party busses, I've ridden them may times. This event it higher end with no need for a stripper pole. But I digress.

FABULOUS FESTIVAL. Lots of wine, fun n' nice people, live…read moreband, local food, and beautiful environment. So busy but also amazingly peaceful. Very well organized. I've always been impressed. I'ts coming up very soon. Hope you go!

If you love lavender, come visit. This is a great way to not only have five hours of fun, but…read moresupport local farmers. This place is beautiful and peaceful. The good is delicious and the vendors sell great items, lavender and others things. When you come, you must try the lavender ice cream and lemonade. You'll want to come back!

While visiting and talking to the small business owners at at Santa Rita Hills, it's apparent this…read moremother/son duo are passionate about their fields of flowers. So happy we got to see all you offer and the work you put into making it successful. The Festival starts next week. Enjoy!

Hubs had a birthday drink from Starbucks and this was the only one we could find on our 6+ hour…read moreroad trip. We visited earlier in the day then double backed to get some late afternoon refreshment as the weather had turned very warm.

Enjoyed a great day at Buellton First Fall Festival The…read moreweather a warm 90 degrees, accompanied by good food, music, entertainment, carnival rides and my beautiful granddaughter made the day more memorable. The festival included beer tasting, venders and an amazing environment Entrance was free, parking was ample.

Such a fun event in 2023! Figueroa's set-up is perfect with how much outdoor area they have. Part…read moreof Industrial way was closed off and the beer tastings felt endless! So many options and it was really well spread out. I also loved the food options- felt like a variety of choices for everyone. They set-up a seating area with tables for people to eat at. Water bottles were available throughout for free, which was super smart for a festival based around drinking. The souvenir glass is so cute. Weather was perfect. The music was great all day. Some people brought their kids and I also saw dogs, so felt like a pretty comfortable, relaxed day. Can't wait to go again!

Outstanding event! Great beer, great weather and great people. Hardly had to wait for a taster…read more Can't wait to go again this year!

Must visit if you're staying in the area of Solvang and a fun stop on a road trip if you're just…read morepassing through. The place is not huge but there are a TON of ostriches and emus to feed and look at as well some bunnies. My kids loved feeding the animals and like I said there is no shortage of them to feed (especially in the AM for breakfast) I do regret not going an ostrich egg to try bc we were staying in the area and we had a kitchen to cook it in. We spend a couple hours there bc our kids took a lot of time feeding and we took a break for lunch. They have a few picnic tables available. We brought our own lunch (they don't serve food) Then gave a small gift shop and some photo ops spread around the farm. Super fun morning activity to get everyone excited.

This was a good experience. Got to see a good amount of Ostriches and Emus in a single place…read more It is a dirt farm for the birds so don't wear your best white shoes, they will get very dusty. They seemed pretty friendly even though they looked a little scary. As long as you feed these birds don't won't go ape. Fun site to visit if you pass by the area.

We went in 2024 and again this year (2025) and we were a bit disappointed by the low turnout of…read moreactual breweries. Instead you find some wineries, hard liquor, and Beatbox booze. Plus popcorn and homemade potato chip stands for 9 bucks a bag. There were zero sours and only one dark beer to be found among the mostly IPA's (too hoppy for us). They had about 1500 attendees paying around 55 bucks so I'm sure it's a money maker. Country bands were pretty good and you could bring chairs/blankets to sit on the lawn. TONS of security for some reason -- the crowd did look a bit rough -- but everything was cool. Don't like the fact they allow cigar smoking -- one star removed for that. Food trucks were ok -- no lines for those as there were plenty. Not sure if we'll go again next year -- I can see if you go with a large group and like IPA's you'll have fun.

The road to Yelp Spring Break 2016 in San Diego was a long one. With many trials & tribulations…read morealong the way that may only come to light once it's all over.* But that's how I ended up at the Buellton Brewfest. The SOP for YSB has become getting into town early & staying the whole week. Driving down from the SF Bay Area, Buellton is more or less on the way to SD. So when I saw the Yelp Ticket Giveaway: Buellton BrewFest, I threw my hat in the ring. I'm a hardcore beer nerd & this was a matter of right place/right time. & I scored a ticket! Oh, it was so on! I drove 5 hours from home & managed to arrive right before the VIP admission time. That's right, the ticket was VIP. Which meant getting in an hour earlier. Which meant 5 whole hours of open beer tasting, oh my! VIP also gave access to VIP beers that a few breweries were only pouring during that 1st VIP hour. Yeah, I drank a lot, a lot, a lot of beer! & it was all the good stuff. Down to the nuts & bolts. As a hardcore beer nerd, I am a beer festival veteran. I've been to a bunch of these things & seen when it's done right or otherwise. For 2016, the organizers of the Buellton BrewFest got it right. There was plenty of breweries with plenty of beers so waits for pours was never long. There was a wall of 36 porta-potties off to the side of the entrance, so waits for that was short too. & while there were only 3 food trucks + a couple food stands, wait for food wasn't long either. Water at beer festivals is hugely important. Buellton BrewFest got that right too, with essentially unlimited free drinking water stationed all over. On a beautiful day, in a beautiful location, with everything else Buellton BrewFest got right, it doesn't get better. Thanks Luke W. & SLO Yelp for the free VIP ticket to Buellton BrewFest. What an epic interlude on the road to an entire week in San Diego & the epic 4-day weekend of Yelp Spring Break 2016. * & I make a list of Yelp reviews for all the places that went into getting to & from YSB SD '16

I just opened (at 1:30 pm -on vacation) 2004 Ken Brown Pinot Noir -…read moreSanta Barbara County. I did aerate into a decanter. Truly a wonderful encounter.

Some of the best wine in the region and amazing service at the tasting room. A resounding focus on…read moreexcellent product