Weekend Guide: Things to Do in Santa Cruz & Monterey, October 3-4
This is the weekend to get out and enjoy Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. Saturday, October 3 brings the Santa Cruz County Multicultural Fair, the family-friendly Downtown Santa Cruz Harvest Festival, and Zoom Honk Smash Touch A Truck outside the Capitola Mall, while Friday night kicks everything off with free First Friday art walks. Over on the Peninsula, the Monterey Museum of Art joins the First Friday celebration, the Walk For Freedom returns, Monterey Bay Moves hosts its Fall Fitness Fest, and the Elkhorn Slough Reserve leads an early bird tour at 8:30 AM. Live music fills both nights, from Killer Queen at The Guild Theatre on Saturday to Anthony D'Amato on Sunday, plus shows at Felton Music Hall and The Ritz.
I have lived in Santa Cruz County for more than 50 years, and early October is one of my favorite times to be out in these two counties. The crowds ease, the light turns golden, and the locals come out to play. I confirmed every event in this guide against official event calendars and local listings this week, so you can plan with confidence. Grab your people, pick your adventure, and get out there.
Friday, October 2: First Friday Kicks Off the Weekend
First Friday Art Tour
Friday evening | Various locations across Santa Cruz | Free
Downtown Santa Cruz galleries throw open their doors for the monthly First Friday Art Tour, a free evening of gallery openings and art walks. Wander from space to space, meet the artists, and let the evening take you wherever it wants. It is the perfect warm-up for a full weekend, and it costs nothing at all.
First Friday at the Monterey Museum of Art
Friday evening | Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey
The Monterey Museum of Art joins the First Friday celebration with gallery openings and art walks on the Peninsula. Start the weekend with art in Monterey, then cross the bay to Santa Cruz for everything Saturday has in store.
Saturday, October 3
Santa Cruz County Multicultural Fair
Saturday afternoon | Santa Cruz County
An afternoon of cultural booths, food, art, dance, and music celebrating the many traditions that make this county home. Wander the booths, taste something new, and stay for the performances. It is the kind of warm, welcoming community day that reminds you why this place is special.
Downtown Santa Cruz Harvest Festival
Saturday | Downtown Santa Cruz
A family-friendly day in the heart of the city: local performers, artisans, food vendors, farm stands, carnival games, and crafts. Easy to wander with kids, easy to fill an afternoon, and made for the whole family. One of my favorite community traditions of the season.
Zoom Honk Smash Touch A Truck
Saturday | Outside the Capitola Mall
A dozen-plus large vehicles line up outside the Capitola Mall for kids to explore up close. Climb in, honk the horn, work the controls, and let the little ones play driver and builder for the day. Free, low-pressure, and an absolute hit with the under-ten crowd.
Live Music Saturday Night
Saturday evening | The Guild Theatre, Felton Music Hall, The Ritz
Killer Queen brings the songs of Queen to The Guild Theatre at 8:10 PM for a big night out. More live music is on across the county at Felton Music Hall and The Ritz, so pick your room and settle in. End the day with a song in your head and the weekend still ahead of you.
Monterey: A Full Saturday on the Peninsula
Saturday | Across Monterey
Start early with the Elkhorn Slough Reserve's Early Bird Tour at 8:30 AM, a guided morning look at the slough as it wakes up. Then spend the day moving with Monterey Bay Moves at its Fall Fitness Fest, and join the community for the Walk For Freedom. One Peninsula, one very full day, and all of it good for the soul.
Sunday, October 4
Anthony D'Amato at The Guild Theatre
7:00 PM | The Guild Theatre
Close out the weekend with Anthony D'Amato live at The Guild Theatre at 7:00 PM. A warm, intimate way to end two full days, with great music and a room full of neighbors. If you have been on your feet all weekend, this is the perfect slow-down.
Shareable Social Captions
Planning to post about your weekend? Here are some ready-to-copy captions for Instagram and Facebook, written the way I share my own weekend plans with friends.
Saturday is basically a festival: the Downtown Santa Cruz Harvest Festival brings local performers, artisans, food vendors, farm stands, carnival games, and crafts, while Zoom Honk Smash Touch A Truck parks a dozen-plus big vehicles outside the Capitola Mall for the kids. And the Multicultural Fair fills the afternoon with food, art, dance, and music. Who is coming with me? 🎶 🌻 #SantaCruzEvents #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #WeekendInSantaCruz #SantaCruzLife
First Friday is the perfect way to start the weekend: free gallery openings and art walks across Santa Cruz, plus First Friday at the Monterey Museum of Art on the Peninsula. No cover, no rush, just art and neighbors. Start Friday night and keep the momentum through Sunday. 🎨 ✨ #FirstFriday #SantaCruzArt #SantaCruzEvents #WeekendInSantaCruz #MontereyBay
Music is everywhere this weekend: Killer Queen at The Guild Theatre Saturday at 8:10 PM, Anthony D'Amato at The Guild Theatre Sunday at 7:00 PM, and more live shows at Felton Music Hall and The Ritz. Two counties, two nights, one very good soundtrack. 🎸 🎶 #LiveMusic #SantaCruzEvents #WeekendInSantaCruz #MontereyBay #ThingsToDoSantaCruz
Monterey has a full Saturday too: the Elkhorn Slough Reserve Early Bird Tour at 8:30 AM, the Monterey Bay Moves Fall Fitness Fest, and the Walk For Freedom. Start with the birds, spend the day moving, and feel part of something good. 🌊 🐦 #MontereyEvents #MontereyBay #WeekendInMonterey #SantaCruzEvents
Parents, this one is for you: Touch A Truck outside the Capitola Mall is the easiest win of the weekend. A dozen-plus vehicles, zero entry fee, and kids who will talk about it all week. Pair it with the Harvest Festival downtown and you have a full Saturday with very happy little people. 🚒 🎪 #TouchATruck #SantaCruzEvents #FamilyFun #WeekendInSantaCruz #ThingsToDoSantaCruz
Enjoy the weekend, everyone. Whether you are dancing at the Multicultural Fair, watching the kids light up at Touch A Truck, strolling the First Friday galleries, catching Killer Queen on Saturday, or slowing down with Anthony D'Amato on Sunday, 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, 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
More from Kieron Bery: Neighborhood guides | Client reviews | October 2-4 weekend guide | Summer living in Santa Cruz County | Market data | About Kieron