The Main Event
11 am – 4 pm Saturday, September 26 and
Sunday, September 27, 2015
The Main Event invites you to experience an epicurean and adventure playground where you can taste, sip, and indulge. The historic Santa Margarita Ranch hosts this two day extravaganza on September 26 and 27 showcases celebrity and master chefs, Sunset experts, brew masters, as well as local fishermen and artisanal food producers from throughout California.
Enjoy unlimited food and wine tasting as you wander the rows of Main Event Exhibitors where over 100 wineries, restaurants, and food purveyors invite you to sample delicious food and drink. Relax while you listen to live music in the Estrada Garden. Learn from the experts at the CA Grown Stage or have fun with a mini tour through your favorite coastal region at the Travel and Adventure Stage.
Cruise through the all new Artists’ Village presented by Travel Paso Robles Alliance, shining a well-deserved spotlight on the incredible artists throughout the San Luis Obispo County region. This year’s Village includes the 2015 Featured Artist, Helen K Davie, and a special installation from Studios on the Park - a local non-profit organization dedicated to providing a creative educational and transformational experience to enhance understanding and appreciation of the visual arts.
Stroll through the Central Coast Pavilion and sample award-winning wines from the Sunset International Wine Competition. Make sure to reserve your spot in Chef Central and Winemaker Central, offering in-depth educational seminars throughout the weekend, allowing you to explore your favorite topic at a deeper level. Cost is $25 per seminar with the purchase of your main event ticket.
Take time to play and purchase your ticket today! Be sure to check back often for updates on new happenings, wineries, breweries, chefs, and more!
History of the Santa Margarita Ranch
Santa Margarita’s fertile valley and year-round flowing creeks led the Spanish padres, with assistance from the local Chumash Indians, to establish a farm here, lands that in 1787 were formally recognized as an outpost of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Just one day’s journey from San Luis Obispo and the San Miguel Mission, the ranch was a convenient layover for travelers on El Camino Real. The Asistencia was built circa 1817, and is one of the first recorded uses of mortar in California. Today the 13,900 acre ranch is owned by the Rossi, Filipponi, and Wittstrom families, whose land management practices have been recognized with several stewardship awards. Using rotational cattle grazing, ranchers have allowed native oaks and perennial grasses to once again thrive, and lush riparian habitat has been restored. A 975-acre vineyard ranks as one of the first in the Central Coast to employ resource conservation practices. What's more, the ranch has once again become a community focal point, hosting grand fiestas, non-profit fundraisers, and tours and private events throughout the year. Santa Margarita Ranch (historicsantamargaritaranch.com) is also home to the Pacific Coast Railroad, offering a scenic, 2-mile loop tour around the ranch.
