Weekend Guide: Things to Do in Santa Cruz & Monterey, October 10-11
This is a golden October weekend in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties: the Japanese Cultural Fair fills Mission Plaza Park with taiko drums and tea ceremony, Open Farm Tours throws open 13 family farms across Santa Cruz County, more than 350 artists open their studios for the Open Studios Art Tour, Thomas the Tank Engine pulls into Roaring Camp in Halloween mode, the Monterey Grain Festival bakes up in Monterey, and Old Fisherman's Wharf turns 181. Add two counties' worth of farmers markets, pumpkin patches at full swing, and live music from the Quarry Amphitheater to Felton Music Hall, and you have a weekend worth planning around. This is your share-ready guide to October 10-11, from someone who has called this coast home for more than 50 years.
I am Kieron Bery, a REALTOR® and Pricing Strategy Advisor with Century 21 Masters, and this is the kind of October weekend I live for. Every event on this list is verified and current as of this week, and nearly all of them are the work of neighbors who love this place as much as I do. Pick one thing or try five, but get out the door. Here is your plan.
Saturday, October 10
Saturday Farmers Markets
Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Westside Santa Cruz Farmers Market, Mission Street Extension at Western Drive: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Scotts Valley Farmers Market at its new Graham Plaza home, 219 Mt. Hermon Road: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Old Town Salinas Certified Farmers Market, 300 block of Main Street: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Greenfield Certified Farmers Market, 315 El Camino Real: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Five Saturday markets across both counties, zero wrong choices. Aptos at Cabrillo is the big weekend ritual, the Westside market is a Santa Cruz institution, and Scotts Valley just settled into a brand new home at Graham Plaza, which is the kind of community news worth celebrating with a bag of apples. October is peak winter squash season everywhere, so load up early and go play.
Japanese Cultural Fair
11:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Mission Plaza Park, 103 Emmett Street, Santa Cruz | Free
The headline event of the weekend. The Japanese Cultural Fair takes over Mission Plaza Park with taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremony, Japanese food, arts and crafts, kids' activities, ikebana and bonsai displays, and live music and dance all afternoon. Admission is free, with free parking and a free shuttle from the Santa Cruz Government Center lot. The fair was postponed from its usual June date this year, so this weekend is the real thing, and it is one of the most joyful family events on the calendar. Bring a blanket, stay for hours, and let the kids try everything.
T-Birds on the Wharf
8:00 AM | Santa Cruz Wharf, 21 Municipal Wharf | Free
Classic, vintage, and retro Ford Thunderbirds line the wharf Saturday morning, with owners coming from all over the Bay Area. It is free to wander, the cars are gorgeous against the ocean, and the wharf's shops and restaurants are right there when you need a snack. A relaxed, very Santa Cruz way to start the day.
Swing Dancing by the Sea
Saturday afternoon | Wharf Stage near Olitas, Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf | Free
The second-Saturday swing dance returns to the wharf with a free beginner lesson followed by hours of dancing to East Coast, West Coast, Lindy Hop, Charleston, and more, all with the bay behind you. Weather permitting, it is one of the most charming free things you can do on the waterfront all year. Grab a partner or come solo, someone will pull you in.
Thomas & Percy's Halloween Party at Roaring Camp
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday | Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
The Halloween train rides roll into Roaring Camp this weekend and run three consecutive weekends. Heads up from the source: this first weekend features Thomas the Train (Percy joins for the October 17-18 and 24-25 weekends), and it includes a roughly 25-minute ride through the redwoods, a costume contest, pumpkin decorating, photos with Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt, and bounce houses. Tickets start at $25 ($27 peak departures), kids under 1 ride free, and it sells out, so book at roaringcamp.com now. If your kids love trains, this is the weekend they have been waiting for all year.
Open Farm Tours: South County Day
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Farms across south Santa Cruz County | $25 Friends & Family pass per carload of up to 5
The 13th annual Open Farm Tours opens Saturday in south county with eight farms: Birdsong Orchards, Dos Aguilas Olive Grove, Live Earth Farm, Esperanza Community Farms, Blossom's Biodynamic Farm, Live Oak School Farm, Thomas Farm, and Luz Del Valle Farm. Meet the growers, pick produce, and taste what the Pajaro Valley grows best. One $25 pass covers a carload of up to five for both days, so you can do south county Saturday and north county Sunday. Tickets and farm activity guides at openfarmtours.com.
Open Studios Art Tour: North County Weekend
11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday | Artist studios across north Santa Cruz County | Free
More than 350 artists open their studios this weekend for the North County leg of the 41st annual Open Studios Art Tour. Painters, ceramicists, jewelers, and printmakers show their process and have work for sale, all free and self-guided. Grab the tour map, plot a route through town or the mountains, and meet the artists who make this community what it is.
Seacliff Village Street Fair
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Broadway between Center Avenue and Santa Cruz Avenue, Aptos | Free
A free, family-friendly neighborhood street fair in Aptos with local vendors, food, and community tables, hosted by the Seacliff Business Partnership. Easy to wander, easy to love, and a perfect stop after the farmers market at Cabrillo.
2nd Annual Yoga For All Day
12:00 PM | Downtown Santa Cruz | Free
A free community yoga gathering in downtown Santa Cruz, open to every level. Roll out a mat, breathe in the October air, and start the afternoon centered.
Zapotec Weaving & Dyeing Workshop at Redtail Ranch
10:00 AM | Redtail Ranch, Santa Cruz County
A hands-on workshop in Zapotec weaving and natural dyeing at Redtail Ranch. Space is limited for these craft workshops, so check the organizer's listings and reserve ahead if you want in.
Community Comeback: Casalegno's Country Store Reopens
Ribbon-cutting 10:00 AM, Italian mandolin music until 1:00 PM | 3 Laurel Glen Road, Soquel
The historic Casalegno's Country Store, a Soquel landmark dating to 1929, reopened Friday under new family ownership, and Saturday it celebrates with a 10:00 AM ribbon-cutting and live Italian mandolin music until 1:00 PM. This is exactly the kind of community news that makes a weekend feel special: a beloved local institution coming back to life.
Arts & Film on Saturday
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night, 7:00 PM | Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
Big-screen adventure on a Saturday night. The Banff World Tour brings a fresh lineup of mountain and outdoor films to the Rio. Tickets through the Rio.
"Though Lost to Sight, In Memory Dear," with gallery events Saturday | Casa Gutierrez Community Arts Gallery, Monterey
A new exhibition at Monterey's Casa Gutierrez gallery opened Friday with related gallery events Saturday. A chance to see fresh local work in one of the city's lovely arts spaces.
Monterey County, Saturday
Meet the Makers Art & Wine Walk, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Starts at Devendorf Park, Ocean Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea
The 7th annual Art & Wine Walk strolls the Carmel Art Walk meeting local artists, with Monterey County wineries pouring and craft food makers handing out bites along the way. The perfect civilized way to spend a golden October evening on the Peninsula.
Monterey Grain Festival kickoff, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Monterey Community Center
The free grain-themed festival starts Saturday with a Bread Camp (1:00 to 4:30 PM), a "Liquid Bread" beer presentation at 5:00 PM, and a focaccia workshop at 5:30 PM, all building toward the free main festival on Sunday.
Wild Ride, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM | Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey
A hauntingly fun horror-comedy experience for the Halloween season, with tickets from $27 and kids 10 and under free. Equal parts giggle and shiver.
"Life is Funny" comedy showcase, 7:00 PM | Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado Street, Monterey
A night of stand-up in one of Monterey's grandest venues if you want to stay on this side of the bay.
Live Music Tonight
BEAT at the Quarry Amphitheater, UC Santa Cruz: 8:00 PM
The progressive rock supergroup BEAT plays the stunning open-air Quarry Amphitheater under the stars. A bucket-list venue and a big night for fans.
DOMi & JD BECK at The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz: 9:00 PM
The genre-bending duo brings their WHO ASKED? tour to one of the coast's most storied clubs.
Damien Jurado with St. Yuma at Felton Music Hall, Felton: 8:00 PM, doors 7:00 PM, 21+
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Damien Jurado in the intimate redwood-town music hall. A warm, close-up show for a fall evening.
Coffee Zombie Collective with Rabbit Truck at Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz: doors 8:00 PM, show 9:00 PM, $18
An $18 Saturday night of genre-bending sounds at Moe's Alley.
Sin Sisters Burlesque & Drag Halloween Show at Kuumbwa Jazz, 320-2 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz: 8:30 PM
A Halloween-season burlesque and drag show in one of the best rooms in town. Expect glitter, laughs, and a costume-worthy crowd.
Bill Reiland Trio at Discretion Brewing: 3:00 PM
Afternoon jazz on the Discretion patio, the perfect post-market pause.
Sunday, October 11
Sunday Farmers Markets
Live Oak / Eastside Farmers Market, 15th Avenue at East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Marina Certified Farmers Market, 215 Reservation Road, Marina: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Live Oak is the only Sunday market in Santa Cruz County, so treat it like the institution it is: grab your fall haul and walk a block to Seabright Beach for an October picnic with the waves rolling in. Across the bridge, Everyone's Harvest keeps Marina sunny and family-friendly. Apples are at their peak, so do not leave without a bag.
181st Old Fisherman's Wharf Birthday Party
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey | Free
Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey turns 181, and the party is free: birthday cake, live entertainment, wharf-themed activities, and a day on one of the most storied spots on the bay. Stroll the stalls, watch the sea lions, and have a slice of history. Details at montereywharf.com.
Open Farm Tours: North County Day
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Farms across north Santa Cruz County
Sunday's Open Farm Tours lineup heads north with five farms: Beeline Blooms, Flip Flop Farm, the Homeless Garden Project, Santa Cruz Permaculture, and Swanton Berry Farm. If you took the south county route Saturday, your same $25 pass gets the whole carload in again today. Tickets and maps at openfarmtours.com. If you want the full farm-to-table finale, the separately ticketed Open Farm Dinner happens at Pajaro Pastures in Corralitos from 5:00 to 7:30 PM.
Monterey Grain Festival (Main Day)
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Monterey Community Center | Free
The free main day of the Monterey Grain Festival brings bread, stew, and a seasonal harvest celebration to the community center, with everything built around local grains and the people who bake and brew with them. A warm, delicious, very Monterey way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Anderson & Roe Piano Duo at Carmel Music Society
Sunday | Sunset Center, Carmel-by-the-Sea
The electrifying piano duo Anderson & Roe opens the Carmel Music Society's 100th season this weekend at Sunset Center. A landmark season opener for one of the Peninsula's great cultural institutions.
Dance in the Park & Clothing Swap
3:00 PM | Oceanview Park, 102 Ocean View Avenue, Santa Cruz
The monthly family Dance in the Park pairs with a clothing swap this Sunday afternoon. A joyful kids' event that turns a neighborhood park into a dance floor. Bring something to swap and a little energy.
Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents Min Jin Lee
2:00 PM | Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
Bestselling author Min Jin Lee appears in Santa Cruz for her new novel "American Hagwon," presented by Bookshop Santa Cruz at the Rio. One of the great literary events of the fall, and a chance to hear a master storyteller in person.
AC Myles & Band: Stratocaster Masters Matinee
2:00 PM | Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
A Sunday matinee of Stratocaster guitar masters with AC Myles & Band at Moe's Alley. An afternoon of six-string fireworks, with plenty of daylight left afterward. The perfect way to ease out of the weekend.
Yellowjackets at Kuumbwa Jazz
7:00 PM | Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz
The legendary jazz fusion group Yellowjackets plays Kuumbwa on Sunday night. A world-class room and a world-class band to close out the weekend.
49ers at Seahawks Watch Party
1:25 PM kickoff | Pono Hawaiian Grill, 1201 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
The 49ers take on the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday afternoon, and Pono is hosting a watch party with good food, big screens, and a roomful of fans. Go Niner Gang.
All Weekend: Outdoors, Family & Fall Flavors
Monterey Bay Festival of Birds
Friday through Sunday | Events across Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Marina, Carmel Valley, and the Monterey Bay region
The Bird School Project's celebration of fall migration runs all weekend. Confirmed free field trips Saturday include an Oak Woodland Bird Walk and Habitat Restoration with C4SM from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Marina, and Family Birding and Bird Art with MPRPD from 2:30 to 4:30 PM in Carmel Valley, plus a free Saturday-evening Night Market. Workshops, keynotes, and family-friendly programming round out the weekend. Check birdschoolproject.org/festival for the full schedule.
Pumpkin Patches at Full Swing
The Great Pumpkin Patch at Cuny Farms, 2124 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz: daily 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM through October 31
Rodoni Farms, 4444 Coast Road, Davenport: u-pick pumpkins daily through October 31
October means pumpkin patches. Cuny Farms brings the full carnival treatment: petting zoo, hay ride, train ride, pumpkin slingshots, climbing walls, gold mining, paddle boats, pumpkin painting, and a hay maze. Rodoni Farms keeps it classic with u-pick pumpkins in the field, hay bales, and a five-acre corn maze ($5 per person). Take the kids, take your camera, and come home with more pumpkins than you planned on.
Sequoia Lights at Roaring Camp
Weekend nights through October | Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
Beyond the Halloween trains, Roaring Camp's lighted-redwoods experience (officially Sequoias at Night) glows after dark on Friday and Saturday nights through October. Check roaringcamp.com for the exact schedule before you book, since hours vary by night.
Raise a Glass This Weekend
Meet the Makers Art & Wine Walk, Carmel: Monterey County wines with the artists, Saturday 4:00 to 7:00 PM.
"Liquid Bread" beer presentation, Monterey Grain Festival: Saturday at 5:00 PM at the Monterey Community Center.
Open Farm Dinner at Pajaro Pastures, Corralitos: the farm-to-table finale to Open Farm Tours, Sunday 5:00 to 7:30 PM, separately ticketed.
October is harvest season, and both counties pour it well.
Community News & New Openings
A few things happening around town this week worth knowing: besides Casalegno's Country Store reopening in Soquel, El Barrio Oaxaqueño in Watsonville has started serving customers, a welcome new flavor on the Oaxacan food scene. And in case you missed it, the Japanese Cultural Fair's return this weekend was the news itself, since its June date was postponed. Add the Scotts Valley Farmers Market in its brand new Graham Plaza home and you can feel the community investing in itself. That is the Santa Cruz I know and love.
Shareable Social Captions
Planning to post about the weekend? Here are some ready-to-copy captions for Instagram and Facebook, written the way I would share my own plans with friends.
Saturday is basically a festival: the Japanese Cultural Fair takes over Mission Plaza Park with taiko drums, tea ceremony, and the best food booths in town, T-Birds are lined up on the wharf, and Open Farm Tours opens the gates to farms across our county. I am starting at the market and ending at the fair. Who is coming with me? 🎊 🍎 #SantaCruzEvents #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #WeekendInSantaCruz #SantaCruzLife #MontereyBay
Parents, this one is for you: Thomas the Tank Engine is rolling into Roaring Camp in Halloween mode this weekend for train rides through the redwoods, and the pumpkin patches at Cuny Farms and Rodoni Farms are in full swing. The kids will lose their minds, and honestly, so will I. 🚂 🎃 #SantaCruzEvents #WeekendInSantaCruz #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #SantaCruzLife
Two counties, one golden October weekend: meet the makers at Carmel's Art & Wine Walk, celebrate 181 years of Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey on Sunday, and toast the Monterey Grain Festival. I will be the one with cake in one hand and a wine pour in the other. 🍷 🥂 #MontereyBay #SantaCruzEvents #WeekendInSantaCruz #ThingsToDoSantaCruz
Arts and birds and books, oh my: more than 350 artists open their studios for Open Studios North County, the Banff mountain film tour screens at the Rio, Min Jin Lee is in town for Bookshop Santa Cruz on Sunday, and the Monterey Bay Festival of Birds is on all weekend. My calendar is full and I could not be happier about it. 🎨 🐦 #SantaCruzEvents #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #WeekendInSantaCruz #SantaCruzLife #MontereyBay
My full weekend script: Aptos market at 8, Japanese Cultural Fair by 11, pumpkins before dark, and birthday cake on Fisherman's Wharf Sunday. October on the Central Coast is the best kept secret in California, and the secret is staying with us. 🌊 #WeekendInSantaCruz #SantaCruzEvents #MontereyBay #SantaCruzLife #ThingsToDoSantaCruz
Enjoy the weekend, everyone. Whether you are drumming at the Japanese Cultural Fair, riding a Halloween train through the redwoods, touring artist studios, hunting pumpkins, or walking the wharf with a slice of birthday cake, I hope this October weekend gives you exactly what you need. And if you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Santa Cruz or Monterey County, I would love to hear from you. Call me at (831) 247-5719 or visit the contact page. I want you to make informed decisions, and I love helping people find their place in this beautiful corner of California.
Talk soon.
Kieron Bery, REALTOR® with Century 21 Masters
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