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.
October is here, and the Harvest Festival in downtown Santa Cruz returns Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. to celebrate fall with autumn treats, hay bales and classic games. The community event takes place at Lot 16 – next to the downtown branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library – and Church Street, with family activities, treats like pupusas, eloté, popcorn and ice cream, live music, a petting zoo, arts and crafts and more. All proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.
On Sunday, visit Chaminade Resort & Spa for a dinner that’s out of this world. The Moon Dinner Series combines a chef-made family-style dinner with stargazing. Held from 7 to 9:30 p.m., the theme for this event is Our Miraculous Moon, and is led by astronomy and planetary science educators from UC Santa Cruz, followed by a telescope viewing. Tickets are $93.
Best of Santa Cruz County food and drink events, Oct. 3-9
Here are some upcoming local food and drink events you might be interested:
Friday, Oct. 3
- Gateway School Fall Festival | 4 p.m. @ Gateway School
- Jazz & Oysters | 6 p.m. @ Madson Wines
- Santa Cruz Comedy Festival: Laughtopus | 7:30 p.m. @ Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
Saturday, Oct. 4
- Aptos Farmers Market Aptos | 8 a.m. @ Cabrillo College
- Santa Cruz Veterans Mac & Cheese Cook-Off | 11 a.m. @ VFW Post 7263
- Harvest Festival | Noon @ Downtown Santa Cruz
Sunday, Oct. 5
- Live Oak Farmers Market Live Oak | 9 a.m. @ East Cliff Village Shopping Center
- Wee Kirk Market | 9 a.m. @ Wee Kirk Church
- Sweet Water Farms: U-Pick Apples | 10 a.m. @ Sweet Water Farms
- Lunch & Learn at 1440: Immersive Pinsa Workshop | 10 a.m. @ 1440 Multiversity
- Paint Your Bottle | 3 p.m. @ Aptos Vineyard Tasting Room
- Moon Dinner Series: Our Miraculous Moon | 7 p.m. @ The View at Chaminade | $93
Tuesday, Oct. 7
- Healthier Eating: Why It’s So Hard to Do What’s Best | 6 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Wednesday, Oct. 8
- Whiskey and Wings with Shawn Yanez! | 6 p.m. @ Bruno’s Bar and Grill
- Witchy Night – Layered Wood Paint Party | 6 p.m. @ Cocoa Vino
- Unhinged Spelling Bee | 7 p.m. @ Lupulo Craft Beer House
Thursday, Oct. 9
- MYCOMIXER @ Far West Fungi | 2 p.m. @ Far West Fungi Store and Caf
- Save The Waves Coalition Summit Dinner | 5:30 p.m. @ Dream Inn