The Live Oak Festival is a lively and fun music festival and one of the best Pismo Beach events around! Named for the famous oaks and sycamores growing on the grounds, this beautiful three-day event offers attendees a space to relax and unwind with food, drink, and, most importantly, music. With everything from bluegrass and folk to jazz, blues, soul, and a little of everything in between, this festival is the perfect way to kick off summer!
Hosted each year in the early summer days, the warm breeze creates the ideal setting to sit back and listen to music with your family or friends.
About Live Oak Festival
The Live Oak Festival is a music hub for main-stage performances with talented, worldwide musicians performing at one of the best Pismo Beach concerts. Whatever your musical preference is, there is something for you! These entertainers feature traditional folk, bluegrass, gospel, blues, jazz, soul, and other music from around the world!
Since 1988, the Live Oak Festival has entertained countless visitors searching for fun, family-friendly music that everyone can enjoy. It all started when some music lovers met at a café in San Luis Obispo, California, to discuss expanding the acoustic and roots music scene.
The following year, a one-day music festival was hosted at Biddle Regional Park and sponsored by KCBX Public Radio. Its location later moved to Camp San Marcos, eventually renamed Live Oak Camp in honor of the festival.
Today The Live Oak Music Festival now runs for three days and is one of California’s most popular family-friendly music festivals!
What To Expect
If you’re staying in one of our Pismo Beach house rentals or Grover Beach rentals, the Live Oak Festival is only a 25-minute drive away.
The live music isn’t the only thing you’ll find at the festival. There are two side stages, arts and crafts booths, music workshops, fireside jamming sessions, dancing on Friday and Saturday nights, and entertainment for children.
During the day, children can enjoy exploring the fairie garden, arts and crafts activities, and a talent show. For teenagers looking to hang out, they can also find a variety of activities at the festival for their age group.
Music
This year’s talented headliners of different genres include the Roots Reggae group The Wailers, Indie Singer-Songwriter Neko Case, and New Orleans Funk Jam Band Galactic featuring Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Joseph.
Featured performers include Wild Child, Cracker, Brothers Comatose, Próxima Parada, Parker Millsap, Las Cafeteras, Kyshona, Diggin Dirt, Carolyn Sills Combo, Wordsauce, Boot Juice, Shawn Clark and Ryan Delmore, Miss Leo, and the Handsome Fellers, and Hot 45.
These performers each bring something new and different to the stage, and with such a diverse lineup of headliners and featured performers, you’re bound to find a new favorite music genre at this festival!
Vendors
Get ready to shop at the Live Oak Festival with the various vendors selling all kinds of fantastic products and merchandise.
The Mercantile is where you’ll find the festival’s official merch, refillable water bottles, children’s toys, and other festival items. Come by this vendor to find an ATM during the festival and buy raffle tickets!
Within the vendor area, you’ll find many unique finds among various artisans, like gold and silver jewelry, stained glass, hand-crafted pottery, handmade baskets, hand-woven clothing, and musical instruments.
You can relax with a soothing massage or get your face painted by the “Painter of Faces” to get your colorful festival look ready!
If you enjoyed a particular musician’s performance, you can visit them at the Performer’s Concession Tent to visit, purchase their music, and get an autograph.
While in the vendor area, you must check out the Art Walk featuring a wide selection of beautiful artwork created by local artisans of the Central Coast. You’ll find the Art Walk at the Open Mic Stage in the Botanical Garden pavilion, where you’ll find paintings, jewelry, glass, metalwork, photography, ceramics, sculpture, fiber, folk art, and crafts.
Meet with the artists and chat about their work, watch them showcase their creativity, and discover one-of-a-kind pieces of art at pre-gallery prices.
Plan Your Pismo Beach Vacation
Come Experience the music and art, and see just how amazing Pismo Beach is on your next getaway, book your stay with Beach Bum Holiday Rentals today and stay in a rental just as beautiful as the area!
Dining
For a bite to eat during your stay at the Live Oak Festival, check out the food vendors with a wide selection of delicious options. This year, you’ll find great eats like Pasta Prego, Beachwalk BBQ, Ruddell’s Smokehouse, Crave Mini Donut, JC Concessions, Whalebird Kombucha, Hanohano Shave Ice, Breaking Bread Bakery, and more.
Wander into the Beer Garden for local beer, wine, soda, and juices, and check out the beer and wine tastings at this vendor on Saturday and Sunday!
What To Bring
The festival provides basic camping accommodations, but it’s best to prepare with sunscreen, hats, bug spray, reusable water bottles, fold-up chairs, or blankets to sit comfortably.
You can also bring your bike or musical instrument to play during the jam sessions. Bringing your own food is allowed, as well. Just keep the park clean for everyone to enjoy!
If you forget anything, you can find items available to purchase at the Mercantile at the back of the audience area, just in case.
Book Your Pismo Beach Rentals With Beach Bum Holiday Rentals
When you’re looking for the perfect place to stay for your vacation, our Pismo Beach rental homes offer clean and comfortable accommodations. These beautiful homes give your family privacy and space while only being a short walk or drive away from the best things to do near Pismo Beach.
Our Pismo Beach vacation rentals have everything you need to enjoy everything Pismo Beach has to offer. All of our rentals are individually designed with essential amenities like multiple parking spaces, spacious living and dining rooms, flatscreen TVs throughout each rental, fully equipped kitchens, and high-speed internet access.
While staying at Pismo Beach, you’ll be close to popular family-friendly attractions like the San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens, the Pismo Beach Pier, and Dinosaur Caves Park. For the adults, check out delicious local wines at Tastes of the Valleys or have a romantic dinner at one of Pismo Beach’s delicious beachfront restaurants. Then, take the whole family exploring nearby towns like Oceano, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande.
Our dedicated and friendly team of locals is ready to help you with anything that might come up during your stay and is happy to answer any questions about the area or recommendations. Are you ready for the vacation of a lifetime? Book your stay with Beach Bum Holiday Rentals today and plan a vacation in paradise!
