Attendees encouraged to patronize local businesses during event

By Raiza Giorgi

If there’s one thing the Santa Ynez Valley does right, it’s small-town charm, and there’s no better time to see it for yourself with the annual Los Olivos Day in the Country. There is a whole day of fun family activities scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 16.

The day starts with the NatureTrack 5K and Fun Run at 7 a.m. Also starting at 7 a.m., and served until sold out, is a burrito breakfast produced by members of the Lucky Clover 4-H Club at the Los Olivos Community Organization Hall (formerly known as the Santa Ynez Valley Grange Hall).

All the running and walking will be followed by the parade at 10 a.m., which showcases tractors, classic cars, local organizations and businesses walking up Grand Avenue.

The streets will be lined with more than 100 vendor booths and a beer garden at Figueroa Mountain Brewing.

Also on tap is the Wine Roundup, which provides tasters with a ticketed Roundup Pass good for both Saturday and Sunday ($35 per person; 21 and over), allowing them more than 18 tastes from at least nine local wineries including Epiphany Cellars, Larner Vineyard & Winery, E11even Wines by Andrew Murray, Arthur Earl, Coquelicot, Liquid Farm, Samsara and others.

Food trucks and pop-ups will mingle with shopping opportunities for original, local artisan goods as well as live music.

Don’t miss the NatureTrack Film Festival, Igniting Passion for Nature Through Film! This all-nature related film festival is ready for everyone to enjoy in a hybrid way: in-person on Oct. 16 at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church, and continues online for two weeks to view the award-winning films from the first three years combined with new, carefully curated documentaries. Online viewing is expanded from last year.

Folks will also be able to walk around town to see all the Scarecrow Fest entries and vote for their favorites.

Day in the Country is produced by the Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce, a volunteer organization that funds town services such as maintenance for the village’s central flagpole, public restroom facilities and trash removal.

For more information and tickets, go to www.losolivosca.com.