Last December 21, Santa started at the fire station on Fifth Street. Families met him there before he led a lighted parade through downtown Templeton with volunteer elves from Templeton Fire 71, and KSBY reported that local businesses stayed open to serve drinks and food to the crowd.
Templeton is unincorporated, so it has no city council planning a holiday program. Its holidays come from a chamber of commerce, a winery family, a church, a recreation department and a volunteer fire company. Most of their events raise money or collect help for another local group. So the useful way to plan December here is to start with who puts each event on.
The Two Dates Already Set
Two hosts have announced their December dates, and both events fall on Thursdays a week apart.
| Date | Event | Where | Host | Cost | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Dec. 3, 6–9 p.m. | Templeton Christmas Tree Auction and Awards | American Legion Hall, 805 S. Main St. | Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce | $125 per person; $1,000 table of 8; $1,200 table of 10 | Local nonprofits |
| Thu., Dec. 10, 5–8:30 p.m. | Bethel Rd. Annual Holiday Market | Bethel Rd. Distillery & Winery, 1266 Bethel Rd. | Castoro Cellars | Free | ECHO Shelter |
At the auction, the chamber sells decorated Christmas trees and gives the proceeds to local nonprofit organizations, according to Paso Robles Daily News. The ticket prices include sponsorship recognition at the table level. Tickets are sold through the chamber's event page.
The Bethel Rd. market costs nothing to attend. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance listing says it brings more than 15 local artisans and makers under one roof, selling handmade holiday decor, jewelry, specialty food, apparel and home goods. Etto is handling food, mulled wine will be served, and Josh Rosenblum is playing music.
One Family on Both Thursdays
One family is connected to both of these events.
The chamber named Niels and Bimmer Udsen of Castoro Cellars the 2026 Templeton Citizens of the Year, and they will be honored at the Dec. 3 auction. A week later, Castoro Cellars hosts the Bethel Rd. market.
According to the chamber's announcement, the Udsens have more than 50 years of roots in the greater Templeton area. They founded Castoro Cellars in 1983, and the chamber credits them with sustainable farming, support for local students, and helping create the Whale Rock Music Festival and the Whale Rock Disc Golf Course. If you've played the disc golf course or gone to Whale Rock, you already know some of their work.
The other honoree on Dec. 3 is also a longtime local business. Templeton Floor Company, led by Michael Torgerson and locally owned since 1979, is the chamber's Business of the Year. The chamber pointed to its local sponsorships, donated materials and support for community events. It also noted that New Times readers named it Best Flooring Company in the 2026 Best of San Luis Obispo County awards.
Between them, these honorees have been in business here for roughly 90 years combined. The auction honors people who have spent decades supporting Templeton's events, and one of them is hosting the market a week later.
Where the Money and Volunteer Hours Go
Who benefits from each event follows the same pattern.
- The Christmas Tree Auction raises money for local nonprofits through tree sales.
- The Bethel Rd. Holiday Market benefits ECHO Shelter.
- The Santa parade last December was staffed by volunteers from Templeton Fire 71, as KSBY reported.
So December here works a little differently from a city-run season. You buy a tree, a handmade gift or a cup of mulled wine, and that money goes to a cause someone in town picked. The free events are possible because a church, a fire company or a rec department staffs them.
How Last December's Traditions Ran
The rest of Templeton's season comes from the same kinds of hosts. Here is how each tradition ran in 2025.
- Templeton Recreation's Santa visit. On Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, Santa came to the Recreation Department at 599 S. Main St. from 4 to 6 p.m. KPRL's announcement listed cocoa, crafts, cookies and photos, all free.
- The tree lighting at Templeton Park. On Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, the tree lighting at Templeton Park, 550 Crocker St., was tied to Templeton Presbyterian Church. Santa arrived at 5 p.m. to mingle, and at 6 p.m. the tree was lit and a blessing was said, followed by hot cocoa and cookies, according to a regional holiday listing.
- Santa's lighted parade. On Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, Santa met families at the Fifth Street fire station before the parade through downtown, with Fire 71 volunteers alongside.
Notice how they were spread out. In 2025, the Recreation Santa and the tree lighting fell in the first week of December, two days apart, and the parade came close to Christmas. For this year's dates, check with each host: Templeton Recreation, Templeton Presbyterian Church and Templeton Fire 71.
Thursdays on South Main
On Dec. 3, the auction and the free Club Car Bar show are both on South Main. The American Legion Hall is at 805 S. Main St., and Club Car Bar at Templeton Mercantile is just up the street at 508 S. Main St.
The Templeton Mercantile events calendar has a show at Club Car Bar on each of the first three Thursdays of December:
- Dec. 3: Beck Beasley, 7 p.m., free and all ages. This is the same night as the auction down the street.
- Dec. 10: Melodious Funk, 6 p.m., free and all ages. This is the same night as the Bethel Rd. market.
- Dec. 17: Chris Shiflett, longtime Foo Fighters member, with Summercamp playing an acoustic set. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. It's all ages, but you'll need a ticket.
The Beck Beasley Band includes two players from Paso Robles High School's music programs. One of them earned a scholarship to play in the Cuesta College Jazz Band. So even the free Thursday show has local roots.
Saturdays, Trees and the Rest of the Week
The Templeton Farmers Market is listed for Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the North County Farmers Markets site. That's a good place to pick up food and small gifts between the Thursday events. Holidays can change a market schedule, so check before the Saturdays nearest Christmas and New Year's.
If you want to cut your own tree, Jack Creek Farms in Templeton lists Christmas trees among its seasonal u-pick offerings and posts December hours for Friday through Sunday.
Here's a practical way to plan the season:
- Thursday, Dec. 3: Christmas Tree Auction at American Legion Hall, or the free show at Club Car Bar.
- Thursday, Dec. 10: Holiday shopping at the Bethel Rd. market for ECHO Shelter.
- Thursday, Dec. 17: Chris Shiflett at Club Car Bar, if you have a ticket.
- Weekends: The farmers market, a u-pick tree from Jack Creek Farms, and the Santa events from Templeton Recreation, Templeton Presbyterian Church and Fire 71 as they post their dates.
If you live out on Bethel Road or anywhere else past the edge of downtown, December is a good time to meet the people who keep this town running. The calendar is mostly their work. If you'd like to talk about Templeton, whether you're settled here or thinking about where to put down roots, I'm always glad to hear from neighbors. Let's connect, and you can reach me through Michael Aanerud.
