Free admission event includes 40-plus bands, carnival rides, and games
Staff Report
The fifth annual Buellton Fall Festival will return to the Avenue of the Flags in Buellton from Nov. 7-9. The event schedule is Friday, Nov. 7, from 4 to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8 and 9, from 12 to 10 p.m.
The family-friendly, free-admission event will feature a carnival with rides and games, over 40 bands on two stages, and over 60 food and merchant vendors. It’s conveniently located right off Highway 101 in Buellton.
This year, the event organizers have focused on bringing in more carnival rides, headliners, and special entertainment nights.
“The Buellton Fall Fest is a great event for the entire community and visitors alike,” said Kathy Vreeland, executive director of the Buellton Chamber of Commerce. “Being on a holiday weekend allows families to come out every day and enjoy all the rides, games, food, and the live music. We look forward to this event each year and are so thankful for En Fuego Events for bringing this event to Buellton. The festival takes place on the Avenue of Flags and showcases the heart of our city. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Buellton.”
On Friday, Nov. 7, the Fall Fest kicks off with an ’80s and ’90s Dance Party on the Rio Vista Chevrolet Main Stage featuring everyone’s favorite, The Molly Ringwald Project. Also playing will be the 90s Babies, Smelly Cat, and The Last Decade.
Saturday, Nov. 8, will be the “Funk ‘n’ Rock the Block Party,” with Nautical Thrust, The New Vibe, and False Puppet. Saturday evening will be Reggae Night, featuring local band Cornerstone, and reggae legend and
icon, Pato Banton. Pato is a Grammy-nominated reggae legend who has recorded and toured the world with The English Beat, Steel Pulse, UB40, and Sting, among many others.
Pato’s concerts are upbeat, positive, energetic, and family-friendly. He travels all over the world, and now he will host a free concert at the Buellton Fall Fest.
“Having Pato come back and do this free concert during the Buellton Fall Festival is going to be amazing for the community,” said event organizer and co-owner of En Fuego Events, Andres Nuño. “We had a lot of people reach out hoping to have him come back and play the Fall Fest, and we are excited we finally were able to make it happen.”
Sunday, Nov. 9, starts with Fiesta Sunday, featuring Traviesos Jr., Equipo Marcado, and Equipo Elite.
The event ends with Country Night, featuring the Jimi Nelson Band, and local favorites Agin Brothers and Territorial Law, and Jayden Secor. Adding to the fun will be the Central Coast’s finest line dance instructor, Vanessa Robertson.
You can see the full entertainment schedule, including the bands playing on the Discover Buellton Stage at www.BuelltonFallFest.com/entertainment.
The carnival will feature rides and games for all ages, including the Century Ferris Wheel, the Zipper, bumper cars, a carousel, Super Slide, Extreme, Kamikaze, Pharaohs Fury, and other favorites.
Carnival presale All-You-Can-Ride wristbands ($38) are available online until Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10 p.m. Carnival wristbands and credits will continue to be available online and at the Fall Fest after the presale deadline. You can also purchase All-You-Can-Ride wristbands in person at the Buellton Chamber of Commerce located at 597 Avenue of the Flags, Suite 101.
For guests over 21, the Ales on the Avenue boutique-style Beer and Wine Festival will feature more than 12 breweries, ciders, and wineries on Saturday, Nov. 8. The event is from 12 to 3:30 p.m. and tickets are $35 presale. Tickets are available on the event website.
The Buellton Fall Festival donates a portion of proceeds to the Buellton Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund that benefits local high school seniors.
For more information about the Buellton Fall Festival, visit www.BuelltonFallFest.com.
