Day in the Country is Los Olivos' most highly acclaimed festival of the year. It’s a special day and a wonderful opportunity for families, both local and visiting, to enjoy country living the way it used to be...meshed with the modern conveniences that the backdrop of present-day Los Olivos provides
LOS OLIVOS, Calif. (PRWEB) August 21, 2018
Los Olivos, CA (http://www.losolivosca.com/), the historic, wine-drenched Santa Ynez Valley town in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine region, will welcome guests to its 39th annual Day in the Country festival (http://www.losolivosca.com/day-in-the-country/) on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The largest of Los Olivos’ event productions, Day in the Country embodies the village’s history-laden atmosphere, featuring an entertaining mix of Victorian-era, Western-style and harvest season activities and experiences.
The day-long fall event begins with an early morning, Platinum Performance-sponsored 5K Fun Run (7:00 AM-9:30 AM) – which is dog-friendly, and also features a one-mile Kids’ Run. Runners may sign up online in advance (http://www.losolivosca.com/day-in-the-country/), or day-of, starting at 7:00 AM in downtown Los Olivos.
Also starting at 7:00 AM (runs through 10:00 AM), is a Burrito Breakfast produced by members of the Lucky Clover 4-H Club, at the Santa Ynez Valley Grange Hall. True to the region’s agricultural roots, the historic Grange Hall in downtown Los Olivos plays host to the Santa Ynez Valley Grange, #644, an official chapter in the nationwide association of Granges, originally founded in the 19th century as a farmer’s association.
At 10:00 AM, Los Olivos’ main thoroughfare of Grand Avenue transforms into a parade route displaying vintage tractors, antique autos, professional square dancers, musicians and animals. Presiding over the 2018 Day in the Country Parade, are this year’s Grand Marshals: Mike and Maggie Mesikep, longtime Los Olivos business owners. The parade is followed by a street fair (opens at 11:00 AM), with more than 100 local and regional vendors, crafters and food purveyors. Food trucks and pop-ups will mingle with shopping opportunities for original, local artisan goods.
The Los Olivos outpost of Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. hosts a Beer Garden, which pairs well with town-wide eats provided by The Bear and Star, Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, and the First & Oak Kitchen gourmet food truck. BBQ fans will delight in the tri-tip offered by Los Olivos Rotary, while sweets-seekers will find craft cookies, wine slushies, Aebleskiver, shave ice and other sugary delights.
Los Olivos will be filled with live music during this year’s Day in the Country, with performances throughout town starting at 11:00 AM. A town-wide raffle will run from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, offering valuable prizes such as travel, food and wine experiences. Los Olivos businesses will be showcasing their entries in the 2018 Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest (http://syvscarecrows.com/), inviting Day in the Country revelers to cast votes for their favorite scarecrows in the friendly competition.
Day in the Country’s expanded Kiddie Korral kicks off at 11:00 AM in Saarloos Paark, with an entrance marked by the now-iconic, oversized citrus-shaped stand belonging to Los Olivos Lemons. Entry to the Korral is granted with a small donation and inside, littles and grown-ups will find mini-horses, kiddie steer roping, giant yard games, face painting and more family fun.
The 2018 Day in the Country Wine Roundup provides tasters with a Roundup Pass good for both Saturday and Sunday ($25.00 per person; 21 and over), allowing them to taste 18 wines from nine local wineries including Bien Nacido & Solomon Hills Estates, Crawford Family Wines, Epiphany Cellars, Kaena Wine, Larner Vineyard & Winery, E11even Wines by Andrew Murray, Solminer Wine Company and more.
“Day in the Country is Los Olivos’ most highly acclaimed festival of the year. It’s a special day and a wonderful opportunity for families, both local and visiting, to enjoy country living the way it used to be in simpler times, meshed with the modern conveniences that the backdrop of present-day Los Olivos provides. And best of all? Day in the Country attendance is free,” said Liz Dodder, Executive Director of the Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce.
Day in the Country is produced by the Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce (http://www.losolivosca.com/about/lobo/), a volunteer organization which funds town services such as maintenance for the village’s central flagpole, public restroom facilities and trash removal.
Current “Day in the Country” sponsors are as follows; additional sponsors will be announced as the event nears and will be listed on the event’s web page (http://www.losolivosca.com/day-in-the-country/) or on the Facebook event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/1848405095247198/):
Visit Santa Ynez Valley; a santé Spa; The Bear and Star; The Bubble Shack; Fess Parker Wine Country Inn; Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard; Epiphany Cellars; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation; Jones Land Use Planning; KRAZy Country 105.9; Larner Vineyard & Winery; Los Olivos General Store; Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café; Mission Sanitation; Nielsen Building Materials; Platinum Performance; Saarloos + Sons; and Stafford’s Famous Chocolates.
Located just a couple of hours north of Los Angeles, the walkable – and Instagram-able – Santa Ynez Valley town of Los Olivos boasts an abundance of wine tasting options; wine, beer and craft cocktail bars; foodie havens in the town’s restaurants and gourmet culinary counters; art galleries and carefully-curated boutique shopping for clothing, accessories and home décor – both new and vintage; plus, luxury lodging and an equally luxurious spa. Many of the town’s businesses are housed in 100-year-old buildings, which have been meticulously maintained.
Los Olivos also hosts other seasonal, family-friendly events: the summer-starter "Locals Love” Block Party (June 2019) and Olde Fashioned Christmas (December 1, 2018; http://www.losolivosca.com/los-olivos-olde-fashioned-christmas/). Additional information about Los Olivos may be found at LosOlivosCA.com, including a brief history of the Western town.
For further information about Los Olivos’ October 20 Day in the Country festival, please contact Anna Ferguson-Sparks, Stiletto Marketing, at 1.877.327.2656 or info [at] stilettomarketing [dot] com.
About Los Olivos, CA
Located in the vista-filled Santa Ynez Valley, the charming, historic town of Los Olivos is a rewarding and relaxing weekend getaway or fun-filled day. Founded in 1887 as a stop on the stagecoach route from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo, Los Olivos is noted for its support of the arts, wine tasting opportunities, unique shopping, epicurean restaurants, seasonal festivals, antiques, recreational landscapes, and friendly village residents. Boasting expansive views of Santa Barbara County’s vineyards and horse ranches, Foxen Canyon Wine Trail starts in Los Olivos and stretches north, winding its way through the rolling hills of California's Central Coast.
