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!

Audrey Stanley Grove: Shakespeare In The Park

Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park 501 Upper Park Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Head to DeLavega Park to enjoy the full outdoor theatre experience! You can bring your own picnic basket and drinks to enjoy the picnic bluff area or check out concession options before you go! Why not grab some wine from the Santa Cruz mountains and a curated charcuterie box to make it a picnic and […]

Santa Cruz County Fair

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA, United States

The showstopping Santa Cruz County Fair returns September 16 - 20th for family fun, great entertainment, live shows, animal displays, carnival rides,  and more!!!

Sweet Water Farms: U-Pick Apples

Sweet Water Farms: U-Pick Apples

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

Enjoy another season of: 🍎 U-Pick Apples 🎃 Pumpkins 🌳 Beautiful Orchard Views 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Fun Apples are notorious for not reading travel itineraries. Please double check on what is ready to be picked before you go!

$2 – $20

Live Earth Upper Farm: Forage Dinner

Live Earth Upper Farm 172 Litchfield Lane, Watsonville, CA, United States

Enjoy this multi-course dinner in the fields with a view of the Pajaro Valley featuring the best local, seasonal food, wine, live music, an interactive appetizer hour, and great company!  Featuring Chef Pamela Burns of Wild Plum Cafe, Chef Diego Felix of Fonda Felix, a Keynote Speaker & live music.

$150 – $10000
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
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! Music Lineup: • April 24 (Starts 4:30 PM) — Music by Shady Rest Band • May 29 — Music by The Swag Tones […]

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Thompson Square

Chaminade Resort and Spa 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The award-winning, multi-platinum country duo Thompson Square takes over the breathtaking courtyard at Chaminade Resort & Spa for a night that will feel bigger than a stadium show, with the kind of intimacy you cannot get anywhere else. With multiple number one hits, including “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” and a catalog of […]

$89.73 – $172.45

Capitola: Beach Festival

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

6:30 AM - 9:00 PM See website for details.

Free

Soquel: Taste of Soquel Festival

Congregational Church - Soquel, Parish Hall 4951 Soquel Drive, Soquel, CA, United States

Taste, sip and tap your toes as you sample local eateries, farms, breweries, vintners and musicians of the Soquel neighborhood! Enjoy kids' games, prizes and more!

$21.51 – $33.85
Lester Estate Wines: Guided Hike

Lester Estate Wines: Guided Hike

Lester Estate Wines 2000 Pleasant Valley Rd, Aptos, CA, Aptos, CA, United States

Explore and discover the beauty of Deer Park Ranch with a 90-minute guided hike through the vineyards and ranch with Lester Estate brand ambassador, Steve Johnson. Get your heart pumping as you hear about the wine’s journey from soil to glass. Learn about the winery’s history & vineyard practices while taking in 360-degree views of […]

$75
Roaring Camp Railroads: Moonlight Train Dinner Party

Roaring Camp Railroads: Moonlight Train Dinner Party

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

Treat yourself to an evening of fun and relaxation at Roaring Camp's Redwood Evening Dinner Train Party. Start with a hearty BBQ dinner while you enjoy live musical entertainment. After, get into the swing of things by line dancing or two-stepping the night away, followed by a leisurely train ride aboard vintage railway cars. The […]

$75.15 – $100.65

Aptos Village Park: Gourmet Grazing on the Green

Aptos Village County Park 100 Aptos Creek Rd, Aptos, United States

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.

$65.87 – $107.48

Downtown Santa Cruz: Harvest Festival

Downtown Santa Cruz Pacific Avenue & Cooper Street, Santa Cruz, United States

Harvest Festival returns to Downtown Santa Cruz. There will be throwing up tents, popping popcorn, stacking hay bales and setting up a slew of silly, throw-back games and fun activities for all of you. Think of a sweet nook version of county fair meets a school fair but, filled with local farms and businesses. The […]

Free
Lester Estate Wines: Summer Sundowner Concerts

Lester Estate Wines: Summer Sundowner Concerts

Lester Estate Wines 2000 Pleasant Valley Rd, Aptos, CA, Aptos, CA, United States

Live music, food and wine overlooking the Lester Family Vineyards in the heart of Pleasant Valley. Friday, June 12 from 5-8pm: Music by Alex Lucero Band⁠ and Food by SnB Food Truck Friday, July 3 from 5-8pm: Music by B-Movie Kings and Food by Happy Dog Friday, July 10 from 5-8pm: Music by Bastard Sons […]

$25

Santa Cruz County: Open Farm Tours

All of Santa Cruz County

Do you love local food and farms? Want to get to know your farmer better and get a behind-the-scenes look into our regions vibrant working agricultural landscape? During the 2026 Open Farm Tours, you can meet the farmers and learn what it takes to bring your favorite high-quality local farm products to your plate. All […]

$25

Mission Plaza Park: Japanese Cultural Fair

Mission Plaza Park 103 Emmett Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

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.

Free

Seacliff Village: Street Fair

On Broadway between Center Ave and Santa Cruz Ave 4 Broadway, Aptos, CA, United States

Enjoy the best of Seacliff! Get ready for an afternoon of fun at the 6th Annual Seacliff Village Street Fair! The adorable Doggie Parade kicks off the fair at 11:30 AM Delicious bites from the food trucks, Local Vendor Stalls Live music by the Steven Graves Band and The Joint Chiefs. Crafts Ice Cream a […]

Free

Santa Cruz Mountains: Wine Passport 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 Wharf: 13 Days of Halloween

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

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 […]

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!

Dream Inn Santa Cruz: Oceanfront Dinner

Dream Inn Santa Cruz 175 W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

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, […]

$265

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: 805 Night Market

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA, United States

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 […]

$6.40

Chaminade Resort and Spa: Vampire Ball

Chaminade Resort and Spa 1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

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, […]

$82

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 […]

Free

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

46th 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 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.