Your Irish Christmas Night Out in Arroyo Grande
A December evening together can be surprisingly hard to arrange. Between school calendars, shopping and end-of-year plans, the people you most want to see can end up waiting for a quieter week. Give yourselves a date to look forward to instead: dinner in Arroyo Grande, a live Christmas performance and time to enjoy it together.
An Irish Christmas comes to Forbes Hall at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts for two performances: Thursday, December 17, and Friday, December 18, 2026. Both begin at 7:30 PM. Choose the night that suits your family, friends or partner, then build an outing around it.
Choose Your Christmas Evening
Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Friday, December 18, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Forbes Hall, Clark Center for the Performing Arts487 Fair Oaks Avenue, Arroyo Grande
Both dates offer the same simple opportunity: step away from the December rush and share a fully staged celebration of Irish dance, live music, song and storytelling. You can keep it to dinner and the show, or start earlier with a little time in the Village.
Before the Show
2 PM Coffee and Time to Catch Up
If you have the afternoon free, begin at Café Andreini, 131 East Branch Street, in the historic Village. Meet over coffee or choose something from its breakfast and sandwich offerings before taking a stroll. Make this an early stop: the café lists a 3 PM closing time in its main hours section for both performance days.
If you are coming straight from work or school, skip the afternoon stops and begin with dinner. This itinerary is here to give you breathing room, not another list to finish.
3 PM Explore the Village and Swinging Bridge
Take a gentle walk along Branch Street, then visit Arroyo Grande’s Swinging Bridge while there is still daylight. The pedestrian bridge crosses Arroyo Grande Creek and gives your group a local landmark to enjoy before the evening at the theatre.
Keep the outing flexible for weather and everyone’s comfort. If a moving footbridge is not your preference, stay with the Village streets instead. This part of the afternoon is about enjoying time together at an easy pace.
5 PM Dinner That Fits Your Group
For families, Rooster Creek Tavern at 200 East Branch Street keeps dinner in the Village. Its menu includes burgers, pizza and children’s choices, making it a practical option for a group with different appetites. Plan an early meal so there is time for dessert before heading to the Clark Center.
For a date night or girls’ night, Ember at 1200 East Grand Avenue offers a wood-fired dinner option. Book ahead and tell the restaurant you are attending a 7:30 PM performance. Treat Ember as a before-show destination: it currently lists Thursday and Friday hours of 4 PM to 9 PM.
Prefer dinner in the Village? Mason Bar & Kitchen, 307 East Branch Street, takes reservations and begins dining-room dinner service at 5 PM. It is another option for meeting friends before the performance. Choose one restaurant, allow time to enjoy the meal and arrange transport onward to the theatre.
6 PM Leave Room for the Journey to the Theatre
Enjoy dessert with dinner if you would like a sweet finish, then leave enough time to reach Fair Oaks Avenue. The Village, Ember and the Clark Center are separate stops. Plan your drive or rideshare rather than treating the evening as one continuous walk.
6 30 PM Arrive at the Clark Center
Aim to arrive around 6:30 PM. The Clark Center’s visitor guide says Forbes Hall’s lobby opens an hour before the performance and seating opens thirty minutes before. Onsite parking is included with your ticket purchase at no additional charge.
If someone in your party needs accessible seating, choose the appropriate seats when booking or contact the box office at (805) 489-9444. A relaxed arrival gives everyone time to park, meet up and settle in before the show.
During the Show
7 30 PM Experience An Irish Christmas
When the performance begins, let the rhythm of Irish dance and the warmth of live music take over. An Irish Christmas brings award-winning dancers, musicians and singers together with seasonal songs and Irish storytelling. As seen on PBS, it invites you into the traditions of Christmas in Ireland through a shared theatrical experience.
You do not need Irish roots or prior knowledge of the dancing to enjoy the evening. Watch the precision of the footwork, listen to the live performers and share the moments that make you smile. For children, the movement and music offer plenty to follow; for adults, the evening leaves room for memory, heritage and the pleasure of being together.
The venue lists an approximately two-hour running time with a 20-minute intermission. Allow some flexibility when arranging your journey home or any later plans.
After the Show
Keep the Evening Relaxed
After the curtain call, there is no need to race to squeeze in another stop. Families may prefer to head home with the music still in their ears, especially if coffee, a stroll and dinner have already made it a full outing.
For friends or couples hoping to stay out, ask Rooster Creek directly about its bar’s closing time before making plans. The restaurant currently lists service until 10 PM, with its bar open until last call, but a late meal is not guaranteed. Mason lists a 9 PM Thursday close and 10 PM Friday close, so Friday offers a little more flexibility, subject to last seating and kitchen hours.
Keep Ember and Café Andreini as before-show stops. A dessert enjoyed with dinner, or a warm drink waiting at home, can make a more comfortable finish than a late reservation.
Your Simple Plan for a Christmas Memory
Choose Thursday or Friday. Reserve your seats. Invite the people you want beside you, then pick the dinner and optional afternoon stops that suit your group. With the plans in place, you can spend the evening enjoying each other and a Christmas celebration rooted in Irish music, dance and tradition.
Exploring other tour stops? See the An Irish Christmas tour schedule.
Questions About Your Visit
Which Dates Can We Choose
Thursday, December 17, or Friday, December 18, 2026. Both Clark Center performances begin at 7:30 PM in Forbes Hall.
Do Children Need Tickets
Yes. The Clark Center requires a ticket for every attendee, including infants and lap-seated children. Consider the evening start and approximately two-hour performance when planning for younger children.
Is Dinner Included
No. Meals and restaurant reservations are separate from performance tickets. Confirm opening times, holiday hours and menus directly with each business before your visit.
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