– The 12th Annual Paso Robles Olive Festival, a Paso Robles Main Street Association event, was held this Saturday. Hundreds of people came out and braved the 100-degree heat, and sampled olive oils, honey, and other delicious culinary creations, as well as browsed local arts and crafts.

The festival featured olive oil and olive vendors both locally and outside our county featuring their products along with free olive oil tasting, tasting seminars, cooking demonstrations, and more. Local wineries and breweries were also featuring tastings with a commemorative wine glass for a fee.

“Over the last 11 years, the popularity of this event has proved that people want to learn more about the health benefits and culinary creativity of olives and olive oil, and that a festival makes it fun for the whole family,” said Executive Director of the Downtown Paso Robles Main Street Association’s Olive Festival committee Norma Moye.

Carol Faber, Susanne Marie Elena Genovese, and Marisa Bloch from Pasolivo. Photography by Skye Ravy.

Heather Warren from Gardenesque.

The ladies of the Main Street Association: Carole Demetri, Jenny Cisco dressed as an olive martini, Wendy McBane, Norma Moye and Shirley Mankins.

Rich Mathews, Lauren Alcoser, Diane Mathews, and young Cora Shady of Moonshadow, the oldest operating organic olive grove in California.

Some products of San Miguel based Legacy Olive Company.

Of Cholame based Olive U: Bud Chase, Bonnie Chase, Peggy Chase, Doug Chase and Whittney Jackson.

Hundreds of attendees enjoyed the festival in downtown city park on Saturday.