Easter weekend is stacked this year. Here's what's worth your time across all three counties, ranked 10 to 1.
10. SLO Spring Fling — Meadow Park, San Luis Obispo (Saturday, April 4)
Free annual egg hunt at Meadow Park. Hunt starts at 11:15 AM, runs until 1 PM. Good low-key Saturday morning for families. 2251 Meadow St, SLO.
9. Easter on Main — Downtown Ventura (Saturday, April 4)
Main Street Ventura is hosting a full day of vendors and shopping from 10 AM–5 PM with a community egg hunt at 1 PM. Free to attend, easy way to spend a Saturday afternoon in downtown Ventura.
8. Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show — Cabrillo Blvd, SB (Sunday, April 5)
This runs every Sunday year-round, but Easter Sunday on the waterfront hits different. 200+ local artists, 10 AM to dusk, completely free. Walk it after brunch.
7. Easter Brunch in the Garden — Cambria Pines Lodge (Sunday, April 5)
Up the coast in Cambria, full Easter brunch buffet from 12–3 PM. Bottomless mimosas, prime rib, shrimp cocktail, made-to-order omelets. Reservation required. Worth the drive.
6. Easter Brunch at Hotel SLO (Piadina) — San Luis Obispo (Sunday, April 5)
Farm-fresh Easter brunch buffet from Executive Chef Ryan Francher. Solid alternative if the Madonna Inn is booked. Reservation required.
5. Easter Sunday Brunch at Madonna Inn — San Luis Obispo (Sunday, April 5)
Full brunch buffet, 9 AM–2 PM, in that gloriously over-the-top pink dining room. One of those only-in-SLO experiences. Reservation required.
4. Marinelli Bros. Circus — Ventura County Fairgrounds (Fri–Sun, April 3–5)
A full circus at the Ventura County Fairgrounds running all weekend. Acrobats, clowns, real production value. Great for families or anyone who wants to do something genuinely different. Friday at 7:30 PM, multiple shows Saturday and Sunday. 10 E Harbor Blvd, Ventura.
3. RomCom Easter Weekend — Ojai Playhouse (Friday–Saturday, April 3–4)
The Ojai Playhouse is screening Saving Face, The Handmaiden, and Fire Island with in-person appearances from directors and cast — including Bowen Yang, Joan Chen, and Joel Kim Booster. Rare talent for a small-town theater. Search Ojai Playhouse to grab tickets.
2. State Fest — Downtown Santa Barbara (Saturday, April 4)
Brand new event turning multiple venues along State Street into one big night out. Multiple stages, one wristband, all of downtown. First year it's happening — worth showing up just to say you were there for the inaugural run.
1. Easter Sunday Gray Whale Migration Cruise — Ventura Harbor (Sunday, April 5)
The gray whale migration is in full swing and the Channel Islands are one of the best places in California to see it. Channel Islands Sportfishing is running dedicated Easter Sunday whale watch trips out of Ventura Harbor — morning at 9 AM, afternoon at 1 PM, $70/person. Spots are going fast so book ahead. This is the one.
Happy Easter weekend, 805. 🌊
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