Central Coast Craft Beer Fest Returns to Atascadero in March 2026

The Famous Sunken Gardens in downtown Atascadero filled with hop-heads and cider fans on Saturday, March 21, as the Central Coast Brewers Guild brought its annual craft beer festival back to 15 E Mall for a four-hour run from noon to 4 p.m.

More than 55 independently owned craft breweries, wineries, cideries, seltzers, and kombucha producers from across California and beyond set up pours at the outdoor venue. Every ticket included a souvenir tasting glass and access to samples across the full roster of participating vendors, with spirits appearing on at least some pours as well.

Ticketing split into two tiers. VIP holders paid $70 in advance for a noon entry call and access to specialty beers that never made it to the general floor. General Admission came in at $55 for a 1 p.m. start, with door prices rising to $65 GA and $75 VIP for anyone who waited. The VIP session was flagged as a limited ticket that historically sells out quickly, and the last pour closed at 4 p.m. with no re-entry permitted after leaving the gates.

The live entertainment lineup brought three acts to the Sunken Gardens lawn: The 90s Babiez, Dubwise Collective, and DJ Manuel Barba from Traffic Records. Beyond the music, the grounds also featured more than 20 food and merchant vendors, a selection of food trucks, and lawn games headlined by Mega-Sized Beer Pong.

Shuttle service ran from San Luis Obispo, with complimentary pickups for guests staying at Holiday Inn Express and Suites, SpringHill Suites, and Fairfield Suites in Atascadero. General shuttle tickets were priced at $30 round-trip. Free parking was also available at the venue.

The event was strictly 21 and over, with valid photo ID required at the gate and no exceptions made for children or strollers. Leashed pets were welcome provided they behaved around other guests. The festival ran rain or shine with a no-refund policy, and attendees were welcome to bring lawn chairs but not tents.

The Central Coast Brewers Guild produced the festival, with Visit Atascadero, the Atascadero Tourism Business Improvement District, and the City of Atascadero listed as proud sponsors. Holiday Inn Express and Suites appeared as a presenting partner in some promotional materials. The Guild's website, centralcoastbrewersguild.com, served as the primary information and ticketing hub, with info@surfbeerfest.com listed as the event contact.