As the summer concert season quickly comes to a close, there is no better way to celebrate than with the infectious “CaliCubano” sound of the Zongo All-Stars at Sea Pines Golf Resort in Los Osos on Saturday, October 17. Taking the stage as part of the popular “Barefoot on the Green Series,” this powerhouse seven-piece ensemble blends Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latin, jazz, and funk influences into an irresistible, high-energy dance groove. Fueled by a top-tier rhythm section, horn section, and steel drums, this highly anticipated show marks the band’s final performance of the year. Kick off your dancing shoes, gather your friends, and head out to the scenic greens for one last vibrant outdoor party against the beautiful backdrop of the bay before the season ends.
Curtis & Friends will be opening the show, which runs from 2 – 6 p.m. is family-friendly, and free.
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Join Cal Poly’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble for an evening of unforgettable music from the stage and screen. This exciting concert celebrates some of the most beloved cinematic scores ever written, featuring selections from the legendary John Williams catalogue, including music from “Star Wars,” “Lord of the Rings,” “Far and Away” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The audience will also experience the grandeur and brilliance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s iconic “Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini” in a wind band setting of the masterpiece that has inspired generations of composers and film scorers alike. From sweeping adventures and magical worlds to majestic symphonic traditions, this program promises an inspiring journey through music that continues to captivate audiences of all ages.
Tickets are $17 and $22 general, and $12 students. Get them at pacslo.org.
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The Morro Coast Audubon Society’s October Zoom Community Program is “RaptorQuest: Chasing America’s Raptors,” presented by Scott Harris. Join them on Monday, October 19, from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. via Zoom. For Zoom information, go to morrocoastaudubon.org and click on the MCAS Events Calendar for the link.
Scott Harris spent 17 months chasing 53 Raptor species across 34 states — his version of a Raptor Big Year. RaptorQuest is about his adventures, misadventures, successes and failures. From -36℉ days, to ones over 100℉, to getting on the bird just in time, to the frustrations of missing one by minutes. It’s about the birds — of course — but it’s also about the people he met, the things he learned, and why he’s already working on his next adventure.
Harris became an avid birder when he and his wife, Randi, retired to South Carolina in March of 2020. It was a hobby he never imagined himself participating in but now can’t imagine living without. He has since added a fascination with mammals and has sold his photographs around the world.
His most recent book, “RaptorQuest: Chasing America’s Raptors,” is the story of his year-long adventure tracking down every species of Raptor in the Lower 48 states. In addition to his writing, Scott also hosts a podcast, NaturallyScott, that focuses on birds, wildlife and the great outdoors. His interests and hobbies include the largest collection of John Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley” in the world, playing harmonica in a blues band, and he has written more than fifty books in the past ten years – though the one he’ll be discussing today is his first entrée into the world of birding and birds.
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Bear Valley Quilters’ Holiday Boutique takes place on Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The community is invited to join this event for unique hand-crafted items at South Bay Community Center. Admission is free. We will have quilts, holiday themed items, and many other handmade items for sale. It’s a great time to start shopping for that one-of-a-kind gift! Our opportunity quilt will be on display, and tickets will be available to purchase. We will draw random winner’s name at 3 p.m. Rain or shine – the event goes on!
Bear Valley Quilters supports our community through our Bear Hugs program. Bear Hugs are quilts made by members that are given to local groups such as Los Osos Cares and Morro Bay Community Resource Connection for distribution to families, senior homes and other agencies in Los Osos and Morro Bay. We typically donate 90-100 quilts every year in support of our community. Our Boutique helps fund our projects.
Bear Valley Quilters is dedicated to promoting the art, practice, and history of quilting by bringing together quilters, fiber artists, and sewists for social interaction, education, and creative sharing in a supportive community setting. We welcome those who have similar interests. The guild is a non-profit organization. We meet in person at the SBCC on the second Friday of most months and by Zoom the third Sunday of the month starting at 1 p.m. Visit us at bearvalleyquilters.org.
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Pianist Elizabeth Dorman will be the soloist with the Cal Poly Symphony at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the Performing Arts Center for Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The symphony will also perform Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Capriccio Espagnol,” and collaborate with the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony for a performance of Mikhail Glinka’s “Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila.” Dorman will give two free presentations on Oct. 9 in the Davidson Music Center.
A finalist of the 2018 Leipzig International Bach Competition, Dorman has been widely recognized as a leading performer for her inquisitive interpretations of Bach’s music on the modern piano.
Tickets are $17 and $22 general, and $12 students. Get them at pacslo.org.
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Free programs at the Los Osos Library for October at 2075 Palisades Ave.
Storytime – Thursdays, 10:30 – 11 a.m.
Stories, dance, and music for toddlers and preschoolers.
Make a Spooky Skeleton Puppet – Thursday, October 8, 3 – 4 p.m. Assemble, color and decorate a spooky (or cute) paper skeleton puppet. All materials provided! School age, tween.
Legos – Friday, October 9, 3 – 4:30 p.m. Kids ages 5-11 are invited to engineer, build, and create with Legos. All bricks provided by the library. Self-directed.
Bears Book Club – Tuesday, October 13, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
“Frankenstein” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Adult, drop in. Costume Exchange – Tuesday, October 13 – Saturday, October 17.
The Los Osos Library is having a weeklong costume exchange for all families! Come pick up some new-to-you Halloween costume supplies and bring good condition past costumes to donate if you want. It’s totally free! Children, baby, toddler, school age, tween, teen.
Winne the Pooh’s 100th Birthday Party – Wednesday, October 14, 3 – 4:30 p.m. Come celebrate Winnie the Pooh’s 100th Birthday! We will have a scavenger hunt, games, crafts, and videos. You do not want to miss this special event! All ages.
Read Together – Thursday, October 15, 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.
Come read a play script with like-minded enthusiasts. Jonniepat Mobley will provide the scripts and assign roles for a fun and entertaining read through for all. Adults.
Origami – Friday, October 16, 3 – 4:30 p.m. Origami folding activity. Bring your adult and work together to make a crane, a frog, and other fun projects. Paper and printed instructions provided by the library. Self-directed. School age and tweens.
Kinetic Sand Box – Friday, October 23, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Play and build with easy-to-mold Kinetic Sand. Children up to school age.
Spooky Cartooning Workshop – Friday, October 23, 3 – 4:30 p.m. Join cartoonist Kane Lynch for a spooky cartooning workshop. Tweens, teens.
Interactive Ofrenda Program – Saturday, October 31, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Maria Belen Luzuriaga presents the meaning and history behind the tradition, while also helping attendees construct their own ofrenda with provided materials. Adults, teens, school age with adult. Registration required.
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The American Association of University Women Morro Bay Branch meets on Saturday October 10, at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, 545 Shasta in Morro Bay, at 10 a.m. This month Brynn Albanese will play her captivating violin and inform us of her incredible musical journey, from an international concert mistress to a transition doula using music as medicine. Whether it’s Beethoven, or the Blues, or anything in between, music affects us all.
We welcome anyone to attend our meetings who is interested in the AAUW mission to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy and education. For membership information, contact Linda Briney, membership chairperson, at (805)225-1063.
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The nationally touring Emo Kids Live Experience returns to Morro Bay for a full-band emo night at The Siren in Morro Bay on Friday, October 23 from 7 to 10:30 p.m. This is not a DJ night — it’s a high-energy live show featuring the songs people grew up with from My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, Blink-182, The All-American Rejects, and more. This is a 21 and over show. General admission is $23.27. Tickets can be purchased at the sirenmorrobay.com.
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Local photographer and artisan Linda Detwiler Burner opens their studio workshop doors to the public during the SLO County Arts – Open
Studio Art Tour on October 10 – 11 and October 17 -18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1850 10th St, Los Osos, Artist #41.
Visitors to the open workshop will get a firsthand look at the intricate processes behind handcrafted glasswork and high-definition sublimation printing — a method that uses heat and pressure to permanently fuse vibrant imagery into metal, ceramics, and textiles.
In addition to exploring the studio workspace, attendees can witness a live portrait studio in action. Burner has transformed a portion of the
workshop into a fully styled, real prop “Fall Harvest” portrait set, featuring authentic autumn haystacks, heirloom pumpkins, and professional studio lighting. Local families can partake in a short-format mini-sessions during the weekend, in costume or not, walking away with both digital memories and custom-sublimated holiday art pieces baked available for pick up within a few days after the event. Remaining family portrait time slots are highly limited. Casual browsers, art lovers, and families looking for a unique holiday experience are invited to stop by throughout the
weekend. For more information, to view art displays, or to secure a portrait time slot, contact Burner at 805-776-3223 or visit www.LindaDetwilerBurner.com.
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Join Lunch with the League (League of Women Voters) for Election Daze: Making Sense of Recent SCOTUS Decisions on Elections and Vote-By-Mail Ballots
The Supreme Court’s 2026 term reshaped American democracy in real time. Recent judicial rulings affecting the November election raised as many issues as they settled. Where do we stand with challenges to mail-in ballots and the states’ authority to determine how elections are run? Retired federal judge Alex Karlin will break down the Court’s most consequential rulings of the year and what they mean for all of us on Monday, October 19 from 12 – 1 p.m. on Zoom. Free, but registration is required at lwv.org.
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The pressure to see people as “other” seems to be growing. This concerning trend makes the recent publication of “See Us, Know Us: Profiles of Disability” all the more important.
Join author Jennifer “Jenn” Chassman Browne at Volumes of Pleasure Bookshop, Saturday, October 17 from 1 – 2 p.m. for a book reading, discussion, and signing of her book.
Jenn invites readers to connect with real people who happen to have disabilities.
She does this through her narrative biographies and original poems for each of the 30 individuals featured; these are then matched with captivating black-and-white portraits by photographer Natalie Brescia.
The stories enable readers to connect with the people being featured and to see them first as human beings, rather than their disabilities.
It is a diverse group of people profiled with a broad range of identities and challenges that will help readers see the commonalities they have with each person.
This book is timely and important. Case in point, the U.S. Department of Justice just released a memo this past June questioning decades of civil rights protections for Americans with disabilities by calling into question whether states need to provide in- home or community-based care to support their ability to continue to “live, learn and work at home or in their own communities, among family and friends.” (NPR 6/20/2026).
Light, homemade refreshments will be served. For more information about Jenn, go to jenniferchassmanbrowne.com.
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Central Coast Dance Community Presents: “Western BBQ and Dance” on October 21, Morro Bay Community Center from Noon – 3 p.m. with The Rockin’ B’s band. There will be a Country Two-Step lesson taught by Shari Fortino at 12:30. Join us for a delicious BBQ featuring hamburgers and salads! This annual fundraiser supports the Central Coast Dance Community’s expenses for the year. The funds raised will help cover the expenses for bands, teachers, and the facility. Come enjoy a great time with food and a dancing lesson while supporting dancing and live music! You can pay at the door. Normal admission is $10. Barbeque for singles is $25, couples are $45. Entry donations help support the non-profit.
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Cal Poly Choirs to Present ‘Songs of Joy and Remembrance’ Concert on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in the San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church. Acting choral directors Meredith Brammeier and Julie Dana will lead the program. Cantabile will premiere Brammeier’s “Hark to the Wind of the World,” the University Singers will sing Paul Basler’s “Alleluia,” the Chamber Choir will perform “Dance, Dance My Heart” by Emma Lou Diemer, and PolyPhonics will close the concert with Hans Bridger Heruth’s “Joy.” Tickets are $22 general and $12 students. Get them at pacslo.org.
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