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.
The Capitola Art & Wine Festival returns to Capitola Village this Saturday and Sunday for its 42nd year. For two days, artists, craftspeople, food vendors and wineries line the streets, showing off their talents. The festival is free to enter. To taste wine, purchase a 2025 festival glass for $20 and tasting tokens. This event is hosted by the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce and raises money for the chamber.
Local nonprofit Teen Kitchen Project’s annual fundraiser at Everett Family Farm in Soquel is Saturday from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Held at Rich and Laura Everett’s beautiful organic farm, this elegant event raises money for youth development and meal delivery programs. Teens in the program will help prepare a four-course family-style meal, led by chef Jeffrey Wall of Johnny’s Harborside restaurant in Santa Cruz. Tickets are $185, $125 of which is a tax-deductible donation.
Best of Santa Cruz County food and drink events, Sept. 12-18
Here are some upcoming local food and drink events you might be interested in:
Friday, Sept. 12
- Santa Cruz County Fair | Noon @ Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
- Watsonville Farmers Market | 2 p.m. @ Downtown Watsonville
- Twelve Stones Winery Tasting | 5 p.m. @ Saison Cellar & Wine Bar
- Hands-On Cooking Class to Celebrate Late Summer Goodness | 5:30 p.m. @ Private home in Aptos
- Vine to View: Alfaro Family Vineyards | 6:30 p.m. @ Chaminade Resort & Spa | $155
Saturday, Sept. 13
- Aptos Farmers Market | 8 a.m. @ Cabrillo College
- Fellow Day at Toque Blanche | 9:30 a.m. @ Toque Blanche
- Capitola Art & Wine Festival | 10 a.m. @ Capitola Village
- Cheese Making | 10 a.m. @ 2880 Research Park Dr., Soquel
- Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds: Agricultural History Project | 11 a.m. @ Agricultural History Project Center and Museum
- Santa Cruz County Fair | Noon @ Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
- Teen Kitchen Project Fundraiser | 4:30 p.m. @ Everett Family Farm
- Moonlight Dinner Party | 6 p.m. @ Roaring Camp Railroad
Sunday, Sept. 14
- Live Oak Farmers Market | 9 a.m. @ East Cliff Village Shopping Center
- Capitola Art & Wine Festival | 10 a.m. @ Capitola Village
- Santa Cruz Bible Church Fall Kickoff: BBQ & Baptisms | 11 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Bible Church
- Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month Festival | Noon @ Woodhouse Blending & Brewing
- Santa Cruz County Fair | Noon @ Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Tuesday, Sept. 16
- Summer Beer Sail with Discretion Brewing | 5 p.m. @ Santa Cruz Harbor
Wednesday, Sept. 17
- Volunteer at Second Harvest’s Chefs’ Dinner | 1 p.m. @ Chaminade Resort & Spa
- Chef’s Dinner for Second Harvest | 6 p.m. @ Chaminade Resort & Spa
Thursday, Sept. 18
- Weekly Farmstand | 12:30 p.m. @ Cowell Ranch Hay Barn
- Sunset Market | 5 p.m. @ Downtown Santa Cruz