Here, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
Santa Cruz’s inaugural Downtown Harvest Festival takes place at the intersection of Lincoln and Chestnut streets on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. This free family-friendly event, hosted with Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets, offers seasonal crafts, food vendors, farm stands, classic carnival games and a variety of local performers, and seeks to bring the community together to celebrate the simple joys of the season.
Gourmet Grazing on the Green, one of Santa Cruz County’s premier tasting events, returns this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Aptos Village County Park (Lookout is a media sponsor). At this all-inclusive event, dozens of chefs, restaurants, catering companies and cottage food businesses share small bites while local wineries and breweries offer unlimited tastes of wine and craft beer. This is a fundraiser for Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of those living with cancer in Santa Cruz County. Tickets are $99.
Best of Santa Cruz County food and drink events, Oct. 4-10
Here are some upcoming local food and drink events you might be interested in:
Friday, Oct. 4
- Comedy with Richard Stockton, Phil Griffiths and Michael Meehan | 7 p.m. @ El Vaquero Winery Tasting Room | $15
Saturday, Oct. 5
- Gourmet Grazing on the Green | Noon @ Aptos Village County Park | $104.74
- Downtown Harvest Festival | Noon @ Chestnut Street & Lincoln Street, Santa Cruz
- Harvesting Hope: Farm-to-Fork Fundraiser | 4 p.m. @ Marquita Farm | $135.23
Sunday, Oct. 6
- 45th Harvest Festival | Noon @ Silver Mountain Vineyards
- UCSC Free Guided Farm Tour | 2 p.m. @ Cowell Ranch Hay Barn
Tuesday, Oct. 8
- Flaky Biscuits & Scones Baking Class | 6 p.m. @ The Grove Cafe and Bakery | $65
Thursday, Oct. 10
- Boardwalk Bites & Brews | 4 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk