Upcoming Events

With a wide range of free events taking place year-around, there’s always something to celebrate in Santa Cruz County every weekend. See what’s happening in Santa Cruz County and check out events here!

Santa Cruz Wharf: 13 Days of Halloween

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Enjoy 13 days of frightful fun on the Santa Cruz Wharf! Take part in the Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt, snap a photo at our scenic photo booth, and enjoy festive Wharf specials ALL 13 days! It all kicks off October 19! The Great Pumpkin BINGO Hunt - All 13 Days Join the the Great Pumpkin BINGO […]

Santa Cruz Restaurant Week 2025

Multiple locations throughout Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Once a year for eight days local food culture is celebrated as chefs showcase their creative talents. Guests dining at participating restaurants can enjoy a fixed-price, three-course dinner menu for $45, $55 or $65. Each menu includes choices of each: appetizer, entree and dessert. These dinner specials are always a great value as chefs strive […]

$45 – $65
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Bites and Brews

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Bites and Brews

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Come for great food and good vibes! Treat yourself to our mouthwatering specialty pub-style dishes, available for a limited time. They’re even better when paired with one of the Bay Area’s best craft brews. Specialty Food Available: Specialty burger slider of the week Chicken wings with buffalo, Korean BBQ, or cilantro-lime sauces to choose from […]

$24 – $38
Skypark: Food Truck Friday

Skypark: Food Truck Friday

Skypark 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley, United States

Head to Skypark in Scotts Valley for the area’s largest food truck festival! Lots of excitement, more food vendors, the fabulous SVEF Beer & Wine Garden, amazing Live Music and face painting!

Skypark: Halloween Food Trucks

Skypark 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley, United States

The LAST Food Truck Friday of 2025 in Scotts Valley is always an EPIC Party! Enjoy a Halloween style Food Truck party with live music from local fave: The Dadbeats. Scotts Valley Parks & Rec will also be hosting a Halloween themed movie starting just after the party in the field. There will be Tacos […]

Free

Kianti’s Pizza and Pasta: Nightmare Pizza Spinner Show

Kianti's Pizza and Pasta Bar Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, California, United States

Kianti’s is bringing “The Nightmare Before Christmas” back to life. This holiday performance features Jack Skellington, pizza spinners, dancing staff and a flame-raising kitchen. Shows every Friday & Saturday night October 10 thru the New Year. Shows approximately 6:00 and 8:00 pm. Click the link in the orange button above to make reservations!

$30 – $66

SC Beach Boardwalk: Chili Cook-Off

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

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!

$15
Sweet Water Farms U-Pick Apple Orchard

Sweet Water Farms: U-Pick Apples

Sweet Water Farms 848 Buena Vista Dr, Watsonville, United States

🍎 Sweet Water Farms U-Pick Apple Orchard 🍎 Spend a beautiful day at Sweet Water Farms in Watsonville picking your own apples straight from the orchard! Bring family and friends to enjoy crisp apple varieties, pumpkins, and a taste of fall in the countryside. This is a family-run orchard that loves welcoming visitors—perfect for kids, […]

Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains: Passport Celebration Day

All of Santa Cruz County

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 […]

$90
Santa Cruz Harbor: Winemakers Sail

Santa Cruz Harbor: Winemakers Sail

Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Chardonnay Sailing Charters features a different local winery every Friday evening from May through October. Enjoy the fabulous wines provided and entice your palate with complimentary hours-d'oeuvres while taking in the stunning views of the California coastline. Learn about the local wineries and the art of winemaking. Watch the sunset, raise your glasses, and give […]

$82
Far West Fungi: Myco-Mixer

Far West Fungi: Myco-Mixer

Far West Fungi 224 Laurel St APT A101, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Far West Fungi’s Santa Cruz Store & Café is launching Myco-Mixers - Enjoy an afternoon of food, fun, and fungi! Each Myco-Mixer will feature complimentary bites, product samples, and happy hour discounts on café favorites. Guests can meet the Far West Fungi team, learn about unique mushroom products, and discover new flavors to take home. […]

Free

Watsonville Plaza: Dia de los Muertos

Watsonville Civic Plaza 275 Main Street, Watsonville, CA, United States

See community altars and live/dead performances. There will be family activities and a market of the dead. Celebrate this beautiful tradition featuring altars, live music and dance and hands-on activities.

Capitola: Plein Air Festival

New Brighton School Washburn Avenue, Capitola, California, United States

Artists set up their easels on the wharf, shore, and streets of beautiful Capitola, to paint live for four days. You'll find hundreds of paintings on display, for sale, and entered into competition. You can take home a piece of Capitola culture, vote for your favorites for the People's Choice Award, have a delicious meal […]

Downtown Santa Cruz: Fall Wine Walk

Oswald Restaurant 121 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, United States

Presenting the Downtown Santa Cruz Fall Wine Walk 2025! Enjoy the heart of the Central Coast to taste great wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains and beyond. Sip while strolling through many favorite Downtown Santa Cruz shops. At Check-in, receive your glass and a map of the pouring locations, and enjoy an afternoon of tasting […]

$33.85 – $45
La Selva Beach Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach: Holiday Fair

La Selva Beach Clubhouse 314 Estrella Avenue, La Selva Beach, CA, United States

Need holiday gifts and goodies? Go to the La Selva Beach Holiday Fair! Over 50 craft vendors will offer unique jewelry, art, bags, pottery, candles, garden art, specialty foods, soaps, clothing, books and more.  Local food trucks Tacos el Jesse and S&B will sell street food favorites. Free admission. For more information, see the link […]

Free

Capitola Village: Sip & Stroll

Capitola Village Capitola Village, Esplanade Park, Capitola, CA, United States

Enjoy sipping local wines and beers while strolling through our charming shops and boutiques in Capitola by the Sea. Pre-registration includes: – Capitola Village Sip & Stroll commemorative glass – 12 two-ounce pour tickets to be used as you shop – A map to locate which Village shops are hosting Be a part of this […]

$55.20

Aptos Village: Wine Wander

Aptos Village 448 Granite Way, Aptos, CA, United States

Enjoy the heart of Aptos village for an exciting afternoon of wine tasting! Bring your holiday shopping list along. Discover local Santa Cruz Mountains wineries, while strolling through Aptos Village businesses. Must be 21 and over. This a rain-or-shine event. Tickets are non-refundable.

$49.87

Gayle’s Bakery: Pre-Order Thanksgiving

Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria Bay Avenue, Capitola, California, United States

Gayle’s will start taking Thanksgiving orders on October 3rd.  There are limited quantities, so make sure you order early! They have everything from traditional turkey dinners, sides & appetizers, dinner rolls & rustic breads to handmade pies and holiday desserts.  View their menu online at the link in the orange button above. 

$6 – $450

Capitola: Holiday Cookie Walk

Capitola Village Capitola Village, Esplanade Park, Capitola, CA, United States

Take a walk around historic Capitola Village and fill your box with delicious holiday cookies from participating stores!  Enjoy this family friendly stroll! Follow the link in the orange button above for the Eventbrite tickets to purchase ahead of time, or go to the Capitola Candy Company on 205 Capitola Ave to purchase your box […]

$23.18

Roberts Ranch Vineyards: Holiday Wine Tasting, Appetizers and Jazz

Roberts Ranch Vineyards 875 Roberts Road, Ben Lomond, CA, United States

Enjoy the Steve Abrams Jazz Trio as you merry at the Holiday Wine and Charcuterie celebration.  Go get your first pour and plate at the crush pad, then find a comfy spot to enjoy the views!  Attended children and well-behaved pups are welcome to join.  Just make sure you get a kid's ticket through the […]

$12.51 – $49.87
Abbott Square: Artisan Fair

Abbott Square: Artisan Fair

Abbott Square 118 Cooper St., Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Enjoy the Artisan Fair! Explore unique creations from local artists and makers, such as clothing, jewelry, skin care, candles, toys, bags and more! Enjoy live music from 1–3 PM, and soak up all the vibrant Abbott Square vibes. Explore local talent and wind down your weekend in the best way—every Second Sunday.

Free

London Nelson Community Center: Santa Cruz Fungus Fair

London Nelson Community Center 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The 2026 celebration will be at the London Nelson Community Center and feature hundreds of fascinating species from the area, uniquely displayed in a re-created woodland habitat. This unique Santa Cruz tradition will offer three days of fun, demonstrations, informative speakers, and fungus-forward activities for the whole family. 2-5pm on Friday. 9am to 6pm on […]

Free

45th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Attention chowder lovers! Taste the best at the 45th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off! Sample chowder from Amateur Chefs on Saturday, followed by Professional Chefs on Sunday. Both days feature Boston and Manhattan Clam Chowder, and you can help pick a winner each day. Rain or Shine! Tasting kit proceeds benefit Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation.

Roaring Camp: Santa Cruz Mountain Mushroom Festival

Roaring Camp 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton, CA, United States

Discover the wonders of mushrooms!  Through wild mushroom exploration, cooking and cultivation demos, functional mushroom talks, and DIY workshops, the Santa Cruz Mountain Mushroom Festival offers an incredible opportunity to connect to the mycological network.