Photos courtesy of Explore Lompoc.
LOMPOC — Fall looks good on Lompoc.
Cooler days, vineyard views, pumpkins, seasonal treats, and just the right amount of spooky make this an especially fun time to visit.
Whether you’re planning a weekend in wine country, a family getaway, or simply looking for a reason to hit the road, Lompoc has plenty of ways to make the most of the season.
Fall Events
If your idea of fall fun includes ghost stories, glowing pumpkins, sharks, or a harvest party, Lompoc has you covered. Mark your calendar and build a fall outing around one of these can’t-miss events.
Lompoc Ghost Hunting Tour
October weekends, 7 pm
Meeting point specified upon booking
Ready to get a little spooky? This 1.25-hour outdoor walking tour takes you to some of Lompoc’s most haunted historic landmarks while a local guide shares tales of restless spirits, eerie happenings, and the city’s darker history.
You’ll get to put the ghost-hunting tools to work, too, with EMF meters, spirit boxes, and dowsing rods along the way.
Light Up Pumpkins & Lavender Wine Bottle
October 10, 3–5 pm
1900 Tularosa Road
Paint your own glowing pumpkin-and-lavender wine bottle at Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm, with fairy lights included to give your creation a little extra sparkle.
The outdoor painting session takes place beneath the farm’s majestic oak trees, with plenty of room to soak up the scenery and enjoy the peaceful setting. Bring a picnic and BYOB if you’d like, then stay awhile and explore this scenic wildlife sanctuary.
Rock 12 Harvest Party
October 17, 5:30 pm
6605 CA-246
Celebrate the season at Rock 12 Distillery with an old-fashioned harvest party centered around apples, quince, and plenty of good times. Settle in for live music from Serendipity, bites from Tubby’s Cravings, and cocktails while you soak up the Sta. Rita Hills setting.
There’s even a surprise bottle release, so you never know what might be coming out of the still or the bottle.
Sharktoberfest
October 21, 6–8 pm
4350 Constellation Road
Go under the sea without leaving Lompoc at this free, family-friendly open house at the Cabrillo High School Aquarium. Meet the student aquarists, check out the aquarium’s marine life, and get up close with some of the creatures that make this student-run aquarium such a fun local experience.
Dunkin’ for Pumpkins
October 25, 3:30–5:30 pm
207 W. College Ave.
Forget the pumpkin patch. This one floats! Dive into the Lompoc Aquatic Center’s Activity Pool, swim for your favorite floating pumpkin, then head to the patio to decorate your pick. It’s a splashy, silly spin on a classic fall tradition that’s made for families.
Fall Experiences
Not every fall adventure needs a date on the calendar. From pumpkin-filled farm days to vineyard-hopping, and a little well-deserved pampering, these are the kinds of experiences that make a Lompoc getaway feel like fall.
Visit Zellers Farms
Make a fall outing of it at Zellers Farms, where pumpkin season brings a corn maze, farm animals, and plenty of pumpkins to choose from.
It’s a laid-back, local farm experience with that classic autumn feel, making it an easy stop for families and anyone who wants to spend a little time in the country.
Build Your Own Fall Wine Tour
Turn a crisp fall afternoon into a wine-country road trip through Sta. Rita Hills, where harvest season adds an extra layer of energy to the vineyards. Start along Santa Rosa Road, then make your way through this scenic stretch of wine country with stops at:
Sip Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, take in the vineyard views, and settle into those slower fall afternoons.
Check tasting-room hours and reservations before you go, since several wineries require or recommend appointments.
Make Time for a Fall Reset
Cooler days and a change of season make fall a good time to slow down, recharge, and book a little time for yourself.
Treat yourself to a massage at Massage Yee & Spa, a facial at Blossoms Beauty & Skincare, or a full salon-and-spa experience at Jael and Jabez. Whether you spend an hour or an afternoon unwinding, consider it your excuse to hit reset during your Lompoc getaway.
Fall Treats & Finds
Of course, no fall getaway is complete without a few seasonal sips, sweet treats, and things to take home. Leave a little room in your itinerary for browsing, snacking, and finding your new favorite fall treasure.
Try a pumpkin spice drink at Sweet Baking Co.
Fall has officially arrived in a cup at Sweet Baking Co., where pumpkin spice drinks bring all the cozy autumn flavor. Pair your seasonal sip with one of the bakery’s sweet treats for the perfect fall pick-me-up.
Shop for autumn finds at Lompoc Florist
Stop by Lompoc Florist for fresh flowers, potted plants, and seasonal blooms that make an easy fall souvenir. Whether you’re looking for a colorful bouquet or a new plant to take home, it’s a simple way to add a little something from Lompoc to your space.
Ready for a Lompoc fall getaway?
Pack a sweater, leave some room for pumpkin treats, and make a little time for wine country, because fall is a great time to visit Lompoc. Get the Visitor Guide to plan your fall trip and start mapping out your seasonal escape.
Browse fall finds
Get into the season with a little local shopping. Find autumn décor at The Garden Shoppe, hunt for seasonal treasures while thrifting at Jupiter’s Spark Collection, and settle in with a good fall read from Chapter 2 Bookstore.
About Lompoc:
Located on scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1, just 155 miles northwest from Los Angeles with close proximity to Santa Barbara and Solvang,
Lompoc takes on a world of its own. Its valley setting, surrounded by spectacular rolling hills and vineyards, creates an invitation for visitors to detour off the main road, and explore what’s around the bend. Lompoc is a destination for wine tasting, golf, cycling, hiking, skydiving, birding, and surfing at nearby Jalama Beach. It is home to La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, the most fully restored and furnished of the 21 California missions, and adjacent to Vandenberg Space Force Base, where rockets are launched throughout the year by such entities as NASA, SpaceX, and ULA, to name a few. Lompoc has 12 hotels to welcome visitors. To discover more about the Lompoc Valley, and other things to see and do,
visit: www.explorelompoc.com