With the new year come new opportunities, and Lompoc is promoting 12 months of local activities that run through Dec. 31. Some top local events for 2023 include:
Boscutti Ballet Theatre Presents “Pirates! The Curse of the Shadow Stones”
Sunday, Jan. 29, 2:30 p.m. at Lompoc Civic Auditorium.
The show: The 21st Anniversary Production of “Pirates! The Curse of the Shadow Stones.” Ticket cost $20.
Lompoc Valley Restaurant Week 2023
Monday, Feb. 20-Sunday, Feb. 26.
The 8th annual Lompoc Valley Restaurant Week offers foodies of all ages a celebration of libation and culinary creativity, all presented by Lompoc Valley restaurant owners.
Attendees can enjoy a prix-fixe meal, a two-for-one dining option, and a special event or wine/beer flight with food pairings at participating restaurants and tasting rooms. Cost is $20.23 (plus tax and tip).
Lompoc Valley Flower Festival
Thursday, June 22-Sunday, June 25
Spend a weekend exploring the flower fields of Lompoc. The hometown tradition celebrates the valley’s agricultural heritage with 3 days of fun that include a carnival, live music, food and vendor booths, and a parade.
Old Town Market
Friday Evenings, July 7-Aug. 11
Every Friday, the 100 block of South H Street will come to vibrant life. Each of the six evenings will feature a unique theme and include food booths, regional vendors, live music, kids’ activities, and a farmers market.
Sta. Rita Wine and Fire Weekend
August, Dates TBA
Hosted by the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance, the Sta. Rita Wine and Fire Weekend offers wine lovers a bounty of activities and experiences. The four-day celebration features an open-door, open-pour policy at participating wineries and tasting rooms; and will include a celebration of the 2023 Vintner of the Year. Tickets to this event are limited.
La Purisma Mission Historic Park 2023 events:
Founded in 1787, La Purísima Mission has served as a home to both the Chumash people and Spanish settlers. Nestled between the Santa Maria River and the Gaviota coastline, the mission and its people were renowned for their production of hearty hides and blankets.
The mission’s population peaked at 2,000 people and 24,000 cattle and sheep. Today, La Purísima Mission State Historic Park welcomes more than 200,000 visitors every year.
The park often provides immersive recreations of mission life during the 1820s, complete with blacksmithing, pottery and candle making, and leatherwork, and more.
Some of activities planned for 2023 are:
American Mountain Men at La Purísima Mission State Historic Park
Friday, March 17-Saturday, March 18
Step back in history to a time when manly mountain men wore buckskin clothes, and hear them tell tall tales and share stories of superior skills over a crackling campfire. The event features hide preparation and tanning, leather working, and blacksmithing.
Founding Day at La Purísima Mission State Historic ParkFro
Every year, rain or shine, people gather to celebrate the founding of La Purísima Mission, which was christened on Dec. 8, 1787. A noon mass in the main church will be followed by a 7 p.m. candlelit concert in the historic venue.
After the musical performance, guests are invited to enjoy connection and refreshments at nearby La Sala. Seating is limited.
For more about the Lompoc Valley, and other things to see and do, visit www.explorelompoc.com.