Food, carnival thrills, fun and lots of music as the yearly event goes into a fifth year
The fifth annual Buellton Fall Festival returned to the Avenue of the Flags in Buellton the weekend of Nov. 7-9, turning the area north of 246 and west of 101 into a three-day event that was a music festival, street fair, shopping bazaar, and a “restaurant row” all in one.
And according to Buellton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kathy Vreeland, it was the most successful one yet.
“I talked to Andres (Nuno) from En Fuego Events, and he said we had our biggest year yet for this event, though we don’t have specific numbers,” Vreeland said. “It really worked out well for us with the weather and the bands we’re just great. Plus, I’m hearing from the city, that the Fall Fest helped outside the event with people spending money at businesses and staying in hotels.”
The family-friendly, free-admission event featured a carnival with rides and games, over 40 bands on two stages, and over 60 food and merchant vendors.
This year, each night was split into themes with like-minded bands playing for the crowds.
On Friday, it was an ’80s and ’90s Dance Party on the Rio Vista Chevrolet Main Stage featuring local favorite, The Molly Ringwald Project, with its renditions of 1980s tunes. Also playing were the 90s Babies, Smelly Cat, and The Last Decade to represent the 1990s.
Saturday brought the “Funk ’n’ Rock the Block Party,” with Nautical Thrust, The New Vibe, and False Puppet, going into Reggae Night on Saturday evening with local band Cornerstone, and reggae legend and icon Pato Banton, a Grammy-nominated reggae legend who has recorded and toured the world with The English Beat, Steel Pulse, UB40, and Sting, among many others. The audience was treated to the headliner a little bit early, as Banton joined Cornerstone for a couple of songs at the end of that band’s set.
Then Banton took the stage with his own band, giving the crowd the upbeat, positive, energetic, and family-friendly show he’s known for to close out the second evening.
Sunday started with Fiesta Sunday, featuring Traviesos Jr., Equipo Marcado, and Equipo Elite, whose energetic playing turned the entire lawn in front of them into a huge outdoor dance floor. The fest ended with Country Night, featuring the Jimi Nelson Band, and local favorites Agin Brothers and Territorial Law, and Jayden Secor.
The event was co-sponsored by the City of Buellton, Discover Buellton, the Buellton Arts and Culture Program, and Rio Vista Chevrolet, and was put on by En Fuego Events, a well-known event organizer in these parts.
While the music was going on from two stages, there was a lot happening outside of that also. Off to the right was the carnival, featuring midway games and, of course, numerous rides, some with thrilling names like Star Dancer, Kamikaze, and Sea Ray.
Also, for those clamoring for a bite to eat, several food trucks were parked along the avenue with all sorts of delicacies, whether its burgers, tacos, hot dogs, or noodles. There was even a local vendor from nearby Solvang fixing that town’s signature dish, the aebleskiver.
“I don’t actually have a restaurant there or anything,” said
Thorn Kinersly, who was working at his first Fall Fest and serving up the “pancake balls.” “I was able to acquire the recipe for this one, and I’ve been serving it for people. I like to bring this around to different places. I’ve taken this as far as Oregon.”
The Fall Fest was a destination for folks in the Valley, as, in its fifth year now, it’s becoming a bit of a staple in the area. But it has been drawing people from surrounding areas also.
“We just got here and it’s our first time, but it seems really fun, it’s like a street fair,” said Kalli Brinson, who came with her husband, Shawn, and young son, Zane. “Just thought it would be a great place to hang out and have some fun as a family.”
Back to the bands, while many of the big names and crowds drifted to the bigger Rio Vista Chevrolet stage on the south end, the smaller stage had its share of young hungry music groups trying to make a dent.
One of them was a trio called Simeon, Werre, and Matthes played their brand of what guitarist/lead singer Chris Simeon calls “soul rock.”
“I live in Oxnard, and play around there, but we got a chance to come up here and it’s been great,” said Simeon, whose band- mates are, of course, (Dave) Werre and (Sean) Matthes. “Actually, we haven’t been together that long. I think it’s been just a few weeks ago we were jamming, it felt good, and now we’re giving it a shot. It’s just a matter of getting gigs.
“But we got a good vibe here from the crowd, and hopefully we’ll be back.”
And the Fall Fest should be back in 2026, most likely the first or second weekend in November.
