Weekend Guide: Things to Do in Santa Cruz & Monterey, October 2-4, 2026

October arrives and the Central Coast does that thing it does best:the fog thins,the crowds ease,and both counties hit that golden sweet spot between summer and the holidays. First Friday lights up Santa Cruz,and Monterey on the same night. The Carmel International Film Festival unspools through Sunday. Poodle Day brings its gloriously silly parade back to Carmel. Roaring Camp glows in the redwoods at night. And the whales,the farms,and the farmers markets all deliver fall at peak flavor.

I have lived in Santa Cruz County for more than 50 years,and I have learned that early October is when the people who know this place best come out to play. The weather is mild,the light is golden,and there is a calm that feels entirely different from the busy summer months. So pull on a light jacket,keep your layers in the car,and let us get you out the door.

Friday, October 2

First Friday Santa Cruz

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Downtown Santa Cruz galleries, shops,and cultural venues
The monthly First Friday art tour is back,and the October edition is one of the best. Galleries,studios,and shops across downtown stay open late,filling the sidewalks with live music,and that block-party energy that makes the monthly art walk feel like a town festival. Free and open to everyone. Just wander,look up,and follow the crowds.

Free First Friday at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History

12:00 PM to 8:00 PM | MAH, 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz
The MAH throws open its doors free all day for First Friday,with the usual $10 suggested admission waived. Grab a look at whatever is on the walls,poke around the galleries,and stay for the evening energy riding the art walk in. One of my favorite free Friday traditions in town

Santa Cruz Art League First Friday Reception

Roughly 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Santa Cruz Art League, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz
SCAL hosts a free First Friday reception with fresh work from local artists on the walls,and usually the makings of a real neighborhood party. It is also an Open Studios satellite night,so you can preview work from artists across the county while the art walk rolls. A must-stop for anyone who loves handmade things

Boulder Creek First Friday

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Forest Street, Boulder Creek
The mountains do First Friday their own way: artisan vendor booths,and food trucks,and a small-town evening up in Boulder Creek. It is a chill, friendly, walkable night out with a completely different vibe than the coast. Perfect if you want art walk energy without the crowds

Friday Night Music: Twin Temple at The Catalyst

9:00 PM | The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz
Twin Temple brings their wildly theatrical,tongue-in-cheek brand of rock and roll to the Catalyst for a Friday night show. Expect costumes,crowd participation,and an audience that came to have a good time. Tickets at catalystclub.com

Friday Night Music: Diggin Dirt at Moe's Alley

Doors 8:00 PM, Show 9:00 PM | Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
Moe's Alley keeps the two-night streak alive. Diggin Dirt plays Friday and Saturday night. This room is a Santa Cruz treasure:a small,sweaty,dancing kind of place where good music sounds even better. Check moesalley.com for tickets,and the Saturday lineup

First Friday Food and Drink Stops

Discretion Brewing, 2703 41st Avenue, Soquel: the brewery turns its taproom into a First Friday hangout with Local Honey at 5:30 PM. A great way to start the art walk circuit south of town.
Pono Hawaiian Grill, 120 Union Street, Santa Cruz: Aloha Friday kicks off at 6:00 PM with Huna Wai playing live. Island plates,tiki vibes,and you are instantly on vacation.
The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz: folkYEAH presents SODA BLONDE at 7:00 PM,$20. A cozy,eclectic corner where the crepes,the bands,and the mismatched chairs all somehow work perfectly together

Saturday, October 3

Westside Santa Cruz Farmers Market

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Mission Street Extension at Western Drive, Santa Cruz
Saturday morning market,year-round,and at peak fall flavor right now. Heirloom tomatoes lingering from summer,peppers,greens,the first of the winter squash,and apples from nearby orchards. Grab a coffee,make the full loop,and stock up for the weekend. This market is a Saturday ritual for a reason

Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos
One of the county's best-loved markets,open weekly in the Cabrillo College parking lot. Early October brings the last of the summer fruit alongside the first of the fall squash,plus artisan food vendors that make it feel like a tiny festival. Worth the trip from anywhere in the county

Scotts Valley Farmers Market

8:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Graham Plaza, 219 Mt. Hermon Road, Scotts Valley
The friendly mountain market runs Saturdays through November,and this is one of its last full months of the Season. Local produce,crafts,and a warm small-town pace that makes it a lovely Saturday morning stop above the fog

Carmel International Film Festival

October 1-4, 2026 | Golden Bough Theatre,and venues around Carmel-by-the-Sea
Runs Thursday through Sunday,packing four days of screenings,filmmaker panels,parties,and awards across Carmel. The Golden Bough Theatre anchors the fest,and smaller venues around town fill in the rest. A great way to disappear into great films for the weekend,with a walkable village around every venue. Pass details at ciffest.com

Poodle Day in Carmel

Saturday morning,parade about 9:30 AM | Crossroads Carmel, 243 Crossroads Boulevard, Carmel-by-the-Sea
One of the most joyful,gloriously silly traditions on the entire Central Coast. Poodle Day brings a judged parade of poodles,and doodles,in costume,and beauty categories,and off-leash beach play at Carmel Beach. Watching the parade is free,and all proceeds benefit the non-profit NorCal Poodle Rescue. Come for the dogs,stay because you will not stop smiling

Monterey Museum of Art: Free Family Fun Day

Saturday | Monterey Museum of Art, Pacific Street, Monterey
The museum follows Friday's First Friday with a free family day,part of its "Big Weekend." Bring the kids,look at art together,and enjoy a low-pressure,welcoming museum morning. A perfect Monterey Peninsula family stop

Sequoias At Night at Roaring Camp

Fridays,and Saturdays,8:30 PM to 10:00 PM | Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
A gentle 0.8-mile lantern-lit loop through old-growth redwoods towering 250 feet overhead,with 26 handcrafted lanterns glowing about 50 feet above the trail. This is the first weekend of the fall season for this event,and it is magical. Adults $26.50,kids ages 2-12 $15.90,under 2 free. Book tickets in advance at roaringcamp.com

Sunday, October 4

Live Oak / Eastside Farmers Market

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | 15th Avenue at East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Sunday market on the east side,year-round,with a relaxed neighborhood pace. Grab your produce haul,and walk a block to Seabright Beach for an October picnic with the waves rolling in. Peak season for apples from nearby orchards,so load up

Redwood Forest Steam Train at Roaring Camp

Daily departures through the afternoon | Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
If Friday's lights were your night out,Sunday is your day for the classic: the narrow-gauge Redwood Forest Steam Train climbing through towering old-growth redwoods to the summit of Bear Mountain. The train runs daily in October,so this is your weekend chance to ride through the fall light. A timeless family adventure

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Open daily,roughly 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 886 Cannery Row, Monterey
October is a wonderful time to visit this world-class aquarium:school-season crowds are thinner,the light on Cannery Row is lovely,and the Kelp Forest never disappoints. Tickets must be purchased in advance online,and no tickets are sold at the door. Admission is $65 for adults,$50 for youth,ages 5-17,and seniors 70+,and children under 4 free. Book ahead at montereybayaquarium.org,and enjoy an unhurried afternoon with the sea creatures

Final Day: Carmel International Film Festival

Sunday | Golden Bough Theatre,and venues around Carmel-by-the-Sea
Sunday is the festival's last day,so if you have had passes,this is your final chance for screenings,and closing-weekend events. If you missed it this year,put CIFF on your calendar now:it is a gem that keeps Carmel feeling like a real film town every fall

An Easy Sunday Stroll: Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail

Anytime | Monterey waterfront
Sometimes the best plan is no plan. The paved path along the Monterey Bay waterfront is an easy,gorgeous walk or bike ride with views of the bay,Cannery Row,and the Peninsula. Rent a bike or just amble a stretch with coffee in hand. October light along the water is worth leaving the house for

All Weekend: Outdoors, Wildlife & Fall Flavors

Whale Watching in Monterey Bay

Daily departures | Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey
Early October is one of the best wildlife windows of the entire year on Monterey Bay. Blue whale season runs through October,humpbacks are still feeding heavily,and killer whales are sighted most often from late August through October. Chris' Whale Watching departs at 10:00 AM,and 1:30 PM daily,and Monterey Bay Whale Watch runs daily tours,too. Dress in layers:it is always cooler on the water than you expect,even on a golden October day

Monarch Butterflies: Early Check-In at Natural Bridges

Natural Bridges State Beach, West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Monarch season it is right around the corner. The butterflies begin arriving at the Natural Bridges Monarch Grove typically around mid-October,peaking,in late November,and early December,and if you bring the kids now,you can watch the trees begin to fill with butterflies in the weeks ahead. Consider this your preview,and a beautiful eucalyptus grove walk at any time

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Weekend Ride Hours in October

Weekend hours in fall | 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz
Summer's daily schedule has wrapped,and in October the Boardwalk runs rides mostly on weekends,and select weekdays,with hours varying by day. If the Giant Dipper at sunset is on your list,this is your weekend to make it happen. Check the hours page at beachboardwalk.com before you head out,and enjoy fall on the beach with way fewer crowds than July

Wine Tasting: A Few Favorite Local Pours

A handful of Santa Cruz favorites have tasting rooms open for the weekend:Birichino Winery at 204 Church Street,Storrs Winery at 303 Potrero Street #35,MJA Vineyardsat 328 Ingalls Street,Big Basin Vineyardsat 525 Pacific Avenue,and Silver Mountain,and Bottle Jack,both at 328 D Ingalls Street. Santa Cruz Mountain grapes,poured at home. Perfect for a relaxed Saturday afternoon between farmers market,and dinner

A Brewery Stop in Monterey

Alvarado Street Brewery, 426 Alvarado Street, Monterey
A Monterey institution with excellent craft beer,and pub food in a lively downtown setting. Also worth the detour:Dust Bowl Brewing's Tap Depot,in the historic old train station,at 290 Figueroa Street, Monterey. Both are easy,delicious ways to toast a day on the Peninsula

Coming Up: Mark Your Calendar

Boardwalk Fright Flicks

Wednesdays,October 7-28,at 8:00 PM | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Free horror movies as October evenings arrive at the beach. A fun,slightly spooky midweek thing that kicks off Halloween season. Check beachboardwalk.com for the lineup

Thomas & Percy's Halloween Party at Roaring Camp

October 10-11, 17-18,and 24-25 | Roaring Camp Railroads,Felton
Dress-up Halloween train rides through the redwoods for little ones,with activities along the way. If you have kids who love trains,this is the October event to circle on your calendar. It sells out,so book early

More October Highlights

Santa Cruz Comedy Festival,October 12-17:a week of laughs across venues in town. Japanese Cultural Fair,October 10:food,performances,and family fun celebrating Japanese culture. Monterey Fisherman's Wharf 181st Birthday Party,Sunday,October 11:cake,music,and a celebration of one of the most storied spots on the bay. Halloween on the Wharf,October 31:costume fun in Monterey. Boardwalk Season-Pass Bring-a-Friend Days,October 24-25:two freebie days for pass holders,and friends. Mark a few,and enjoy a fall packed with reasons to stay local

Shareable Social Captions

Planning to post about your weekend? Here are some ready-to-copy captions for Instagram,and Facebook,written as if I am sharing my own weekend plans with friends

First Friday hits both counties this weekend: art walks in downtown Santa Cruz,and Old Monterey on the same night,the Carmel International Film Festival runs through Sunday,and Boulder Creek does its cozy mountain version up in the trees. I am starting at the MAH,wandering downtown,and probably ending with a crepe,and a show. Who is joining me? 🎨 🍷 #FirstFridaySantaCruz #SantaCruzEvents #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #WeekendInSantaCruz #MontereyBay

Poodle Day is back in Carmel,and honestly it is the most joyful thing I will do all month. A parade of poodles,in costumes,and off-leash beach play,and all of it benefiting poodle rescue. Free to watch,weird in the best way,and totally family-friendly. Then Saturday night I am walking the lantern-lit redwoods at Roaring Camp. October,you are already my favorite. 🐕 🌳 #PoodleDay #CarmelByTheSea #SantaCruzEvents #WeekendInSantaCruz #MontereyBay

Whale watching is peaking right now: blue whales through October,killer whales on the prowl,humpbacks still feeding. The farmers markets are at peak fall harvest,with apples,and winter squash arriving. And the fog has finally thinned out into those perfect golden October afternoons. This weekend is why I never leave. 🐳 🍎 #MontereyBay #WhaleWatchingMonterey #SantaCruzEvents #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #WeekendInSantaCruz

My October weekend plan: Friday art walks in Santa Cruz,and Monterey,Saturday poodle parade in Carmel,and lantern-lit redwoods in Felton,Sunday farmers market,steam train,and jellies at the aquarium. The crowds are gone,the light is golden,and the coast feels like ours again. See you out there. 🌊 🌙 #SantaCruzEvents #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #WeekendInSantaCruz #SantaCruzLife #MontereyBay

Enjoy the weekend,everyone. Whether you are wandering the art walks,watching poodles parade,or riding a steam train through trees that are older than the country,I hope this first 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,or just want to talk about what this market looks like for your situation,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