SLO Symphony Instrument Petting Zoo
Experience an up-close and personal encounter with a menagerie of musical instruments as Symphony Zookeepers introduce you to different types of instruments and help you figure out how to make some noise!
Little Acorns Toddler Oasis
The Toddler Oasis for our littlest Acorn Oakies includes toys and crafts. Kiddos can enjoy the popular bird seed box while parents lounge in nearby Adirondack chairs.
Talent Show with host Don Norton
Tryouts will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 pm on Friday and Saturday at the Children’s Stage. The show will begin at 2:30 pm on Sunday at the Children’s Stage.
Hands On Nature with the Cal Poly Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Lab (PERL)
Come by to meet a live snake up close, learn about local wildlife, play games enjoyed by Chumash children, and get creative with oak leaf art.
Game Zone
Hang out with friends and play a game of ping pong, frisbee golf, or tetherball. Compete in duck races and corn hole. Or, have fun with hula hoops! Activities will be held in the Children’s Area.
Lizard Hunt (best for ages 7+)
Have you ever gone hunting for Western fence lizards? The Cal Poly PERL team will teach you the fine art of lassoing a lizard! Kids can learn how to safely catch, investigate and then release lizard friends.
John Beccia and Friends Concert
John Beccia is a songwriter who has performed on the Central Coast for over 40 years doing children’s concerts and playing with local bands. John taught kindergarten in Paso Robles for 33 years, and he chooses songs that emphasize fun and movement with lots of tunes from the folk tradition. He also mixes in some of his own guitar and banjo compositions that he played regularly in the kindergarten classroom.
Nature Crown Creation
Join the SLO Botanical Garden in the creation of nature crowns. These fun, temporal, compostable, and decorative head adornments show off your style. Great for kids ages 5 to 105! Stop by the Botanical Garden’s booth in the Live Oak Art Walk.
Children’s Garden Activities
Visit the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden Children’s Garden throughout the festival for even more fun activities! You’re invited to drop in at any time, or to meet at the Children’s Garden entrance at the times listed. Enjoy a nature walk or test your problem-solving capabilities with a garden scavenger hunt!
Sushi Workshop with Michael & Stella
Michael and Stella are back by popular demand to share even more sushi-making classes! Families will learn to make a veggie sushi roll in this 45-minute workshop.
Morro Coast Audubon Society Bird Walk (best for ages 7+)
Enjoy a bird walk with MCAS guides. Meet at the Learning Among the Oaks (LATO) festival station, and then head off to the SLO Botanical Garden to observe, listen and learn about birds there. Binoculars and a fun learning experience provided.
Aerial Performance
Get inspired by seemingly gravity-defying aerial performances. See what’s possible with a hanging apparatus and diligent practice. Expansion of consciousness can be exhilarating by falling with grace.
Kids’ Yoga and Dance
Jen HayHay invites kids of ALL ages to boogie their way into the weekend by shaking off stress and dropping into the groove. Learn a few new moves to get the energy flowing in a positive direction. Parents are welcome to get down with their kids.
Silent Auction
The Live Oak Music Festival is a major fundraiser for KCBX Public Radio. As part of our fundraising effort, ArtWalk artists, community members, and local businesses donate unique items for our Silent Auction. Also included is this year’s official, original artwork.
Quilt Raffle
Dorothy Deis has handcrafted this amazing 2023 Live Oak Music Festival Quilt, featuring official Live Oak artwork from the first festival in 1989 to 2023 surrounding a guitar made up of bright, colorful flowers and butterflies. We can’t wait to see the 2024 quilt for the raffle!
Open Mic
Within the ArtWalk you will find the Open Mic Stage. Ever dreamed of playing on a Live Oak stage? There are several Open Mic sessions each day of the festival to showcase your musical abilities. To sign up, check out the bulletin board next to the Open Mic Stage. There are time slots ranging from a 5-minute single song, up to 30-minute sets for a full band. Your stage time will be professionally mixed and recorded for posterity!
Zen Den at the Botanical Gardens
Yoga
Join Tim on Saturday and Jessica on Sunday for Hatha yoga for all levels and all bodies.
Tea Ceremony
Come experience tranquili-tea and communi-tea in the Inari Tea Lounge. Offering a relaxing space to enjoy a consciously curated tea experience with beautiful tea from WAO Tea and opportunities to drop into the meditative journey of a Gong Fu tea ceremony.
Sound Bath
Need a little extra rest and relaxation? Enjoy a soothing sound bath with gongs and crystal singing bowls.