What happens when a coastal community fills its streets with hundreds of handcrafted scarecrows? You get an unexpected reason to take a drive along Highway 1.
Every October, the Cambria Scarecrow Festival brings colorful characters to Cambria’s East and West Villages, Moonstone Drive, and San Simeon. Some peek out from gardens and storefronts, while others appear in places you might never expect, turning a simple afternoon stroll into a scavenger hunt.
The festival is free and self-guided, so there’s no need to build your day around a strict schedule. Come for the scarecrows, wander through Cambria, and then follow Highway 1 north toward San Simeon.
Because the best part doesn’t have to end when the scarecrow hunt does.
Instead of turning around and heading home, stay the night in San Simeon. As the afternoon fades, the road grows quieter, the Pacific catches the last light of the day, and you have time to trade the colorful streets of Cambria for the wild beauty of the coast.
It’s one simple overnight escape, with a little fall whimsy, a scenic drive, and plenty of room to slow down.
The Cambria Scarecrow Festival returns October 1–31, 2026, with free, self-guided outdoor displays throughout Cambria’s East and West Villages, along Moonstone Drive, and in San Simeon. There’s no official route to follow, making it easy to explore at your own pace and build the festival into a day along Highway 1.
Festival maps and scarecrow locations are available through the Cambria Scarecrow Festival website and the Visit Cambria App, making the experience a good fit for families, couples, photographers, and anyone looking for an unexpected stop along the Central Coast.
Cambria Scarecrow Festival History: How It Started
A Little Festival That Grew Into a Fall Tradition
The Cambria Scarecrow Festival may look like a full-blown fall tradition today, but it started with just 30 scarecrows. Since then, it has grown into an annual celebration featuring hundreds of creations from local artists, businesses, organizations, school groups, and community members.
Some scarecrows embrace the traditional harvest spirit, while others draw inspiration from the ocean, animals, pop culture, and whatever else their creators can imagine. That variety is part of the fun—you never quite know what you’ll find around the next corner.
The displays change from year to year, giving the festival a sense of discovery that keeps visitors coming back.
At its heart, the festival is a reflection of Cambria itself: creative, welcoming, and always ready to have a little fun.
Where to Find Scarecrows at the Cambria Scarecrow Festival
Follow the Scarecrows Through Cambria
There’s no official route, which means you can create your own.
Displays appear outside local businesses, tucked into gardens, framed in shop windows, and scattered throughout the community. Some are playful and traditional, while others are wonderfully unexpected.
Take your time. Stop for coffee. Browse a shop. Grab lunch. Follow a display down a street you hadn’t planned to explore.
The fun isn’t just finding the next scarecrow. It’s seeing where the search takes you.
East and West Village Scarecrow Displays
Wander Where the Scarecrows Lead
Begin your scarecrow hunt in Cambria’s East Village or West Village, where Main Street and the surrounding businesses become part of the festival. Displays appear throughout the villages, so keep looking as you make your way from one stop to the next.
The East and West Villages are also where the festival’s community spirit shines. Local businesses, artists, organizations, school groups, and residents create displays inspired by fall, the coast, animals, pop culture, and plenty of ideas that are difficult to predict.
Bring your camera and pick out a favorite—or see how many you can find before moving on. The Cambria Scarecrow Festival map can help you navigate the displays and public parking, while leaving plenty of room to explore Cambria’s local shops and restaurants.
Moonstone Drive Scarecrows
Where Scarecrows Meet the Sea
When you’re ready to leave the villages behind, make your way toward Moonstone Drive.
Here, the festival takes on a distinctly coastal feel. Scarecrows appear near local businesses and hotels, while the Pacific stretches just beyond them. Park along Moonstone Beach Drive or near Moonstone Park and explore the area on foot.
The Moonstone Beach Boardwalk is an easy addition if you want to stretch your legs and take in the coastline before getting back on the road.
This is where the day starts to shift. The colorful characters of the festival meet the cool ocean air, rugged shoreline, and wide-open views of the Central Coast.
And then it’s time to continue north.
San Simeon Scarecrows: Where to Find Festival Displays
When the Scarecrow Hunt Reaches the Coast
The festival follows you all the way to San Simeon.
Additional displays can be found along the community’s frontage roads on either side of Highway 1, with the largest collection located near San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill.
It’s a little unexpected to find handcrafted scarecrows against a backdrop of coastal hills and the Pacific. After spending the day wandering through Cambria’s charming villages, San Simeon offers an entirely different setting for the festival.
Take a walk, find a few more scarecrows, and look toward the water.
Cambria Scarecrow Festival Tips for Visiting
Leave Room for the Unexpected
The best way to experience the festival? Don’t overthink it. A little planning helps, but leave yourself plenty of room to wander.
- Plan your visit anytime October 1–31. The festival takes place throughout the month.
- Give yourself time to explore. Displays are spread throughout Cambria, so there’s more to see than you might expect.
- Use the Visit Cambria App. It can help you find scarecrow locations and plan your route.
- Bring your camera. You’re going to want to photograph a few favorites. Share your finds with #CambriaScarecrowFestival.
- Dress for the coast. October can bring sunshine and cool coastal breezes, so layers are a good idea.
- Leave room for a detour. Grab lunch, stop at the beach, watch for wildlife, or take the scenic route toward San Simeon.
- Don’t rush the day. The festival is an excuse to explore, not something you need to check off a list.
Where to Stay in San Simeon During the Scarecrow Festival
Stay Where the Coast Slows Down
This is where a festival outing becomes a coastal escape.
Staying overnight means you don’t have to watch the clock or squeeze everything into a single afternoon. You can arrive in San Simeon while there’s still daylight, settle into your room, and let the rest of the evening unfold at a slower pace.
For an oceanfront stay, Cavalier Oceanfront Resort sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, with oceanview and oceanfront rooms, beach access, pools, fire pits, and an onsite restaurant. It’s an easy place to end the day with the sound of the ocean nearby.
Farther north, Ragged Point Inn offers a more secluded setting above the Pacific. Dramatic views, dining, shops, and the surrounding coastal landscape make the property feel like part of the journey itself.
For a beachside option, Sands By The Sea offers a convenient home base just three miles from Hearst Castle and close to the water.
However you choose to stay, the idea is simple: give yourself one night to experience San Simeon without rushing.
Watch the Sunset in San Simeon
Stay for the Last Light
Once you’ve checked in, head back toward the water.
Take a walk along San Simeon State Beach or wander out onto the San Simeon Pier. As the afternoon light begins to soften, the Pacific takes on warmer shades of blue and gold.
This is also a good time to simply stop.
Watch the waves. Look for seabirds. Keep an eye on the horizon. Let the last light stretch across the water before evening settles over the coast.
After a day spent looking for scarecrows, it’s a fitting change of scenery.
Where to Eat in San Simeon: Dinner by the Pacific
Let Dinner Stretch Into the Evening
When you’re ready for dinner, keep the coastal setting going.
For something casual and close to the water, head to San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill, where seafood, steaks, and classic favorites make an easy end to the day.
Or continue north toward Ragged Point Restaurant, where floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor patio overlook the Pacific. Time your dinner around sunset, and the changing light becomes part of the meal.
If you’d rather keep things simple, you can also stop earlier in the day at Sebastian’s General Store in Old San Simeon. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., it’s a convenient place for lunch, snacks, or something to drink before continuing your coastal adventure.
Things to Do in San Simeon the Morning After
Wake Up Beside the Pacific
One of the best reasons to stay the night is waking up somewhere you didn’t have to leave the day before.
Open the curtains and see what the morning looks like along the Pacific. Grab coffee, take a short walk, or simply enjoy a few quiet minutes before heading back onto Highway 1.
If you have time, make one more stop before heading home.
Watch for wildlife at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery, where northern elephant seals gather along the shore. Or take a final walk at San Simeon State Beach and let yourself linger a little longer.
You could even continue north toward Ragged Point for sweeping views where the highway climbs above the Pacific.
You don’t need a full day of plans. One more coastal stop is enough.
Why Stay Overnight in San Simeon?
Give Yourself One More Night on the Coast
The Cambria Scarecrow Festival gives you a reason to make the drive, but San Simeon gives you a reason not to turn around.
In one overnight escape, you can move from colorful scarecrows and charming village streets to rugged coastline, ocean views, wildlife, and a quiet evening beside the Pacific.
Spend the afternoon searching for your favorite scarecrow, then follow Highway 1 north as the scenery begins to change. Watch the sun sink toward the horizon, enjoy dinner near the coast, and wake up with another stretch of Highway 1 waiting outside your door.
It’s a different way to experience the festival—one that leaves room for the moments between destinations.
Maybe it’s the scarecrow you almost walked past.
Maybe it’s the golden light over the ocean.
Maybe it’s elephant seals calling from the beach the next morning.
Or maybe it’s simply having nowhere else to be until tomorrow.
Plan an Overnight San Simeon Getaway
Come for the Scarecrows, Stay for the Coast
The Cambria Scarecrow Festival runs throughout October, making it easy to plan an overnight coastal escape around a day of exploring.
Come for the scarecrows. Follow Highway 1 north. Stay for the sunset. Wake up beside the Pacific.
Ready to plan your stay? Explore where to stay, where to eat, and things to do in San Simeon to build your own coastal escape.
For festival details, maps, and updates, visit the Visit San Simeon events calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
When is the Cambria Scarecrow Festival in 2026?
The festival takes place October 1–31, 2026.
Is the Cambria Scarecrow Festival free?
Yes. There is no admission fee to view the scarecrow displays.
Where can I see the scarecrows?
Displays can be found throughout Cambria’s East and West Villages, along Moonstone Drive and in San Simeon. Consult the current festival map for individual locations.
Is the festival good for children?
The outdoor, self-guided format makes it an accessible fall activity for families. Adults should supervise children near streets and use designated crosswalks.
Where should I park for the Cambria Scarecrow Festival?
Street parking is available throughout Cambria’s East and West Villages. Public parking lots are also located between Main and Center streets in East Village and at Cornwall and Sheffield streets in West Village. Parking can fill up quickly on weekends, so visitors may want to park when they find a space and continue on foot. Check the current festival map before arriving. Official festival parking information
What is the best way to see the Cambria scarecrows?
Use the official festival map or Visit Cambria App to locate the displays. Visitors can explore Cambria’s East and West Villages on foot, then drive to additional displays along Moonstone Drive and in San Simeon.
Can I see the Cambria Scarecrow Festival in one day?
Yes. The festival can be included as part of a day trip to Cambria and San Simeon. Begin with displays in Cambria, continue along Moonstone Drive and Highway 1, and visit the participating locations in San Simeon. You can also add nearby attractions such as San Simeon State Beach, Hearst Castle, or the elephant seal rookery.
What else can I do near the Cambria Scarecrow Festival?
Nearby activities include visiting San Simeon State Beach and Pier, touring Hearst Castle, seeing the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, and exploring Old San Simeon. The festival can also be paired with shopping and dining in Cambria or a scenic drive along Highway 1.
How far is San Simeon from Cambria?
Cambria and San Simeon are neighboring communities connected by Highway 1. Add the actual mileage and typical drive time after confirming the exact starting and ending points you want to use, since “San Simeon” could refer to the lodging area, Old San Simeon, or Hearst Castle.
Where can I stay near the Cambria Scarecrow Festival?
San Simeon offers coastal lodging just north of Cambria along Highway 1, making it a convenient base for the festival and nearby attractions. Browse places to stay in San Simeon and plan time for beaches, wildlife, and Hearst Castle during your visit.
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What should I wear to the Cambria Scarecrow Festival?
Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring layers for changing coastal conditions. Because many displays are outdoors and spread across several areas, check the local forecast shortly before your visit.
Can I take pictures of the scarecrows?
Yes. Photography is encouraged. Visitors sharing their photos can use the festival’s promoted hashtags, #CambriaScarecrowFestival and #CambriaScarecrows. Official festival tips
Can visitors vote for their favorite scarecrow?
The festival traditionally allows visitors to vote for their favorite scarecrows and displays through its website. Check the current festival map and voting page for 2026 instructions once voting opens.