Valentine’s Day lands on Wednesday, Feb. 14, leaving plenty of opportunities to celebrate on the preceding weekend. This year’s picks include activities with your sweetheart, friends or family members plus a few that are fun and easy on the pocketbook. Whether you’re sipping champagne in front of the big screen, storming the castle, or even laughing for a good cause, we hope your special day will be a most memorable one!
Valentine’s Day Winemaker Dinner
Oso Libre Winery
7383 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles
A five-course meal by Chef Jeff Scott will be served in the tasting room from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, February 9. Cost: $125/person. Food and wine included. Space is limited. Call 805-238-3378 or reserve tickets at osolibre.com.
Chocolate Festival
Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery
3700 Mill Road, Paso Robles
On Saturday, February 10 from 5 to 8 p.m., chocolate vendors and local wineries will share their chocolate-themed creations during an evening to hail the mighty cocoa bean. Wine and port tasting, chocolate confections and baked goods galore. Enjoy live music. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County. Tickets: $40/person. Wine Club members receive two tickets for $35. Call 805-227-4812. Visit vinarobles.com.
SOLD OUT: ’The Kings of Cool’ – A Tribute to Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin
Park Ballroom
1232 Park Street (above McLintock’s), Paso Robles
Friday and Saturday, February 9 and 10
Starring Chad Stevens, Bobby Horn and John Laird with the Brett Mitchell Trio. Attend a dinner and a show for $85 each or $80 for groups of eight or more. Show only is $25. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for cocktails. Martinis/wines available for purchase. Dinner starts promptly at 6 pm and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Three-course dinner catered by Chef Andre Averseng of PasoTerra features choices of entrees, salads and desserts. Note: Dinner order deadline is six days prior to event. (Sorry, no dinner orders at the door.) Tickets and dinner orders: Call 800-838-3006 or visit winecountrytheatre.com.
Sweetheart Stroll & Wine Tasting
Throughout downtown Atascadero
Saturday, February 10
Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of winery sampling and downtown shopping on Saturday, February 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. Many merchants will have terrific Valentine’s Day specials. One ticket covers tasting the entire event. Hosted by Atascadero Main Street. Tickets: $20/person are available at Historic City Hall, 6500 Palma Avenue, beginning at noon. Entry includes wine glass. Age 21/older only. Enjoy listening to The Fairweather Four barbershop quartet and complementary docent-led tours of Historic City Hall. Sponsored by City of Atascadero and Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. Call 805-462-0177.
The Big Laugh Valentine’s Comedy Night
Atascadero Lake Pavilion on the Lake
9315 Pismo Avenue, Atascadero
Saturday, February 10. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Hosted by comedienne Lizette Mizelle. Music by Rewined. Featuring television’s favorite comics, including Mark Eddie, Collin Moulton, Paul Ogata, and your host, Lizette Mizelle. Showtime is at 8 p.m. Rated PG/21 years and up. Advance tickets/$35 or $40/door. Order at thebiglaughlive.com or call 805-712-0400. All event proceeds will support the all-volunteer nonprofit organization Second Chance at Love Humane Society in Templeton.
Valentine Movie Night
Park Cinemas
1100 Pine Street, Paso Robles
Sunday, February 11 begins at 7 p.m.
Enjoy the 1938 classic, “You Can’t Take It With You” on the big screen, starring Jimmy Stewart, jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore and Edward Arnold. Cost: $12 includes your choice of either popcorn and a soda or champagne and chocolate. Door prizes included, too. Hosted by Downtown Paso Robles Main Street Association. Call 805-238-4103 for tickets. Visit pasoroblesdowntown.org.
Hearst Castle Tours
750 Castle Road, San Simeon
offers an opportunity throughout February for sightseers to behold Randolph Hearst’s iconic “La Cuesta Encantada” estate, nestled high above the San Simeon coastline. The 127-acre property features twin towers, terraced gardens, fountains and pools. Note: The Neptune Pool is currently under restoration; the interior Roman Pool is open. Choose from several available themed tours by calling 805-444-4445 or visit hearstcastle.org.
Monarch Butterflies
On the coast with your loved ones is a relaxing and unique way to allow nature to take its course on Valentine’s Day Weekend. The monarchs are a Central Coast treasure, and can be seen daily throughout February at the Pismo Butterfly Trees, Highway 1 (at the south end of the North Beach Campground) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Docents from Morro Bay State Park share information from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sponsored by the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, 805-772-2694. Call Pismo Chamber at 800-443-7778 or visit monarchbutterfly.org.
