Santa Cruz County is buzzing with unforgettable events! Here’s your quick guide to the top events happening over the next few weeks in one of California’s most vibrant coastal destinations.
For a full list of events happening around Santa Cruz County, check our Events Page.
Sequoias in the Park at Roaring Camp
Select Fridays and Saturdays through October 23
This nighttime experience will bring you a magical and immersive perspective on the ancient forest at Roaring Camp. During the 0.8-mile loop walk, you will view 26 unique, lighted lanterns, hung approximately 50 feet above the ground. The lanterns were crafted by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Camp’s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. Kids under two enter for free. Roaring Camp’s food services and gift shop will be open. Get tickets here.
Santa Cruz: Wednesday Night Sailboat Races
Every Wednesday through October
Santa Cruz is known near and far for its surfing legacy, but there is another water sport that finds a niche on our coast, with a similarly devoted following. Sailboats dot the waves almost as frequently as surf boards here, benefiting from the tides and currents that make this beach town so special. So it is no surprise that the Santa Cruz Harbor and the Santa Cruz Yacht Club have become a nexus for the sailing community, with a calendar packed with activities and a weekly regatta, which brings out even the biggest land lover to admire the race every Wednesday.
U-Pick Apples at Gizdich Ranch
Weekends starting sometime in September until supplies run out. Call Gizdich before you go to verify.
It’s finally time! If you have not had a Gizdich pie have you really visited Santa Cruz County? Bring some containers to collect your own apples or purchase some there. When everyone is ready for lunch, enjoy a picnic behind their sales barn, and let the young-at-heart keep playing.
Location: 55 Peckham Road, Watsonville
Luz del Valle Farm: U-Pick Apples
Weekends from September 5 – October 31
Ticket price includes 1 pound of apples in addition to what you pick during your timed hour on the farm. Click the link in the orange button above to reserve your hour time slot. Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
Sweet Water Farms: U-Pick Apples
Weekends from September 5 – season closes
Enjoy another season of: U-Pick Apples; Pumpkins; Beautiful Orchard Views; and Family Fun! Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Train Rides Daily through 2026
Travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Multicultural Fair
October 3, 2026
Spend an afternoon wondering booths of cultural displays. Explore different cultures through their food, or admire the art, dances and music. Your group might decide to even join in a song and dance or two! Be sure not to miss the fashion show displaying traditional clothing of different cultures.
Location: Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley
Downtown Santa Cruz Harvest Festival
October 3, 2026
Enjoy a day filled with fun, food, and festivities under the crisp fall sky. This family-friendly event brings together a wide variety of local performers, artisans, food vendors, farm stands, classic carnival games and crafts.
Location: Pacific Avenue Between Water and Locust Streets, Santa Cruz.
Downtown Santa Cruz: Porch Fest
October 3, 2026
Santa Cruz Porchfest is a free, all-ages, one-day music event that turns downtown porches into stages. Wander the neighborhood, follow the sound, and discover your new favorite band on a neighbor’s front steps.
705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
Aptos Village Park: Gourmet Grazing on the Green
October 3, 2026
Held at beautiful Aptos Village Park, Gourmet Grazing on the Green is a fabulous day of fine wine, craft beer, gourmet food and live music! Spend the afternoon sampling the delicious flavors from dozens of the finest local restaurants, wineries and breweries.
100 Aptos Creek Rd, Aptos
Open Studios Art Tour
October 3–4 | South County |Studios Located South of Santa Cruz Harbor | 143 studios; October 10–11 | North County | Studios Located South of Santa Cruz Harbor | 211 studios; October 17–18 | All County | 250 studios; Saturday & Sunday | 11am–5pm
Open Studios is your opportunity to explore creativity in Santa Cruz County. For more than 40 years, their goal has been simple: connect artists with people who love art. For the first three weekends in October, artists from the redwoods to the bay open their studios so that friends, neighbors, and strangers from near and far can discover art in this stunning county.
Monterey Bay Festival of Birds
October 9-11, 2026
Mark the fall migration at one of the most beautiful places on the planet for the Monterey Bay Festival of Birds featuring field trips, workshops, family-fun activities, and keynote speakers. Activities are planned throughout the Monterey Bay area in the cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Salinas, and Monterey. This year the theme is “A joyful celebration of the life and the death of birds”. Celebrate the birds we have now, while learning about declining populations and conservation efforts. This theme is to honor and give space for different cultures and the different ways we commemorate death. Check out the website linked below for updates as they arrive.
T-Birds on the Wharf
October 10, 2026
Check out the Classic, Vintage and Retro Thunderbirds on display then stick around to enjoy fabulous shopping and/or grab a bite at one of the many fine local eateries with the best views in Santa Cruz!
Location: Santa Cruz Wharf
Mission Plaza Park: Japanese Cultural Fair
October 10, 2026
Enjoy Martial Arts, Japanese Food, Arts and Crafts, Kids Activities, Ikebana and Bonsai, Live Music and Dance. Free parking will be available at the Santa Cruz Government Center located in the designated parking area for the fair where you may access a free shuttle to the fair at the historical Mission Plaza.
103 Emmett Street, Santa Cruz
Open Farm Tours
October 10-11, 2026
Get to know your farmers and get a behind-the-scenes look into our regions vibrant working agricultural landscapes at the Open Farm Tours! There are 15 participating farms this year and a variety of activities. Press apples for fresh juice at one farm, taste over 10 varieties of figs at another, and then head over to another farm to pick tomatoes. Touring farms is a fantastic outdoor family activity and fall is a great time to get out and explore!
Location: Various Farms; see map for location information
Capitola Wharf: Monte Fireworks Extravaganza
October 11, 2026
The 32nd annual Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza is back! Finish off your beach town weekend with a grand finale over the restored Capitola Wharf. This show is free and fantastic!
Capitola Wharf, Capitola
Santa Cruz Film Festival
October 14-18, 2026
Explore narrative films, documentaries, animation, experimental work, environmental stories, student projects, locally produced films, and voices that challenge the familiar. Meet the filmmakers behind the screen, ask questions during live Q&As, and discover how an idea becomes a script, a production, and eventually a story shared with an audience.
Various Santa Cruz Theaters
Wilder Ranch State Park: Harvest Festival
October 17, 2026
Celebrate the fall at the Wilder Ranch State Park Harvest Festival! Enjoy living history demonstrations, crafts, games, live music, food and more! Taste history during the Heritage Apple Tasting hosted by the California Rare Fruit Growers Association!
1842 Coast Road, Santa Cruz
Pleasure Point Fall Sip and Stroll
October 18, 2026
Enjoy a fun-filled day of sipping and shopping in beautiful Pleasure Point. This in-person event is the perfect way to celebrate the fall season with friends and family. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support local businesses. Grab your tickets now and get ready for a memorable experience
Starting Location: 3811 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Mountains Passport Days
October 17, 2026
The Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Passport is the ultimate way to explore the region’s award-winning wineries. This exclusive pass provides access to over 35+ participating wineries, each offering unique tasting experiences and unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains. With the Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Passport, you’ll be able to taste them all and discover the unique flavors and characteristics that make each winery so special. The Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Passport is available for purchase online or at any participating winery.
Location: Various Wineries and Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Chili Cook-Off at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
October 24, 2026
Bring your appetite and join the fun as both professional and amateur chefs work their culinary magic and compete for the title of Best Chili!
Location: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz
Find a full list of events on our Events page.