Ahhhh, the winter weather is finally making its way into San Luis Obispo! Fortunately, we don’t have to worry about ice, snow, or any weather too extreme to keep us from spending time outside during these cooler months, which means the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market is still in full swing.
Throw on your favorite warm coat, grab a reusable bag (or purchase one from the Market information booth), and head Downtown to see what the winter months have brought to The Market. Twinkling lights strung through the trees illuminate Higuera Street and add bright holiday-vibrancy that only comes once a year.
To add even more cheer, The Market will host its 10th annual Holiday Booth Decorating Contest! Vendors are encouraged to show off their holiday spirit by adorning their booth, BBQ or delegated space.
Vendors are prepping for the chilly nights with their warmest, most comforting dishes. Try some hearty clam chowder in a delicious bread bowl from Splash Café, a stir-fried noodle bowl from Mee Heng Low or warm veggie Stromboli and spanakopita from Bliss Café. For dessert, treat yourself to mini donuts from Sugar Lips, a fresh-baked cookie from Cowboy Cookie n’ Grub, or pick up a homemade pie from Marcie’s Pies to take home for a warm, late night snack!
Don’t forget to explore the certified farmers’ market and stock up on winter’s freshest fruits and vegetables – everything from sweet potatoes, squash, blood oranges, pomegranates, kale, and more. Stop by the SLO Downtown Association’s booth on the corner of Chorro Street every week and browse the free recipe cards to spark some ideas for healthy holiday feasts.
Each Thursday in December you’ll find entertainment on nearly every side-street but a couple to look out for are Loren Radis and The Wandering Madman. Loren is a Central Coast native and has called this beautiful area home his whole life. He’s been pouring his heart into every live performance since playing his first show at Linnea’s Café in Downtown SLO eight years ago. Radis says, “I’ve played all these songs literally thousands of times, but I still get chills when I sing the last chorus of ‘The Runaway’ and I still tear up when I sing ‘Amelia,’ the song I wrote for my daughter when she was 3 months old.” Be sure to catch his soulful performance on December 3rd at Morro Street.
On December 17th, The Wandering Madman, will be hard to miss in his box truck named “Betsy” that he has converted into a mobile concert venue. Self proclaimed as the “crazy guy inside who plays piano,” this performer guarantees to put a smile on his listeners’ faces with his “one of a kind” music. Be sure to stop by and request a performance of one of the 600 songs from his songbook and pick up some free music while you’re at it.
Keep in mind that there will not be a Market held on December 24th or 31st in recognition of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, so make sure to get your fix of Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market on the first three weeks of December.
Happy Holidays!
