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!
Trick-or-Treating on Halloween Day (Friday, Oct. 31st) • Trick-or-Treat your way down the Wharf from 3PM to 6PM! Photo Booth on the Wharf Stage • Snap a festive photo with your family with the scenic Monterey Bay and Lighthouse as your backdrop. Wharf Specials • Enjoy fabulous, unique specials from restaurants and gift shops perfectly […]
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 […]
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. […]
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!
Sample a variety of creative, mouthwatering vegan mac n’ cheese dishes made by talented local chefs! Attendees will taste and vote to decide who will take home the title of Best Vegan Mac in Santa Cruz! Vendors who will be at this event includes: Eat for the Earth Little Hill Sanctuary Hole Foods Vegan Donuts […]
She Sets the Table is Dream Inn Santa Cruz's intimate, multi-course dinner celebrating the creativity, talent, and stories of women in culinary. For this special evening, three accomplished culinary women will come together to create a collaborative menu inspired by the season, the Central Coast, and their individual culinary perspectives: Chef Michelle Gomez Executive Chef, […]
Enjoy a curated lineup of food vendors serving street food, desserts, and specialty drinks. With live entertainment and a curated maker market, every stop is built to be shared—friends, families, and first-timers welcome. You’ll find: 🍜 Street food + global-inspired eats 🍧 Desserts worth the stop (and the comeback) 🧋 Specialty drinks & refreshing sips […]
Bring your family, friends, and picnic blankets for an evening packed with delicious food truck eats, live music by FIREPEACH, cold beer and wine, and community fun. Costumes are strongly encouraged! Stick around after sunset for a special treat—Scotts Valley Parks & Rec presents Movie in the Park, featuring a free screening of Hocus Pocus […]
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! Music Lineup: • April 24 (Starts 4:30 PM) — Music by Shady Rest Band • May 29 — Music by The Swag Tones […]
This is a 21+ event, because some of the libations are even scarier than the costumes. Live music comes courtesy of Space Heater and Batucada Allstars, two acts guaranteed to raise the dead and get them dancing. Between sets, It’s Good To Be Here DJ Crew will keep the party moving, so the dance floor […]
Sink your teeth into the most enchanting party of the spooky season! Dress in your finest attire or costumes (not required) and prepare for a night that will awaken your inner vampire. 21+ only event. Tickets and Overnight Package available. Enjoy a cash bar, a heavy bites station, a vampire DJ, dancing, a costume contest, […]
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 […]
Check website for times of operation.
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 […]
Celebrate Thanksgiving at Chaminade with a world-class festive buffet overlooking Santa Cruz & the Monterey Bay. $95++ per person (Ages 13+) $35++ per person (Ages 3 - 12) ++ Plus Tax & Gratuity Reservations Required
Go meet and get your picture taken with Santa and his friends at the Chaminade as you enjoy a festive brunch and beautiful views of the Monterey Bay.
Attention chowder lovers! Taste the best at the 46th 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.
