WEEKENDER
Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County.
July 9, 2026
BEER, WINE & GOOD TIMES
If you like day drinking outside with friends, this is the weekend to do it. On Saturday, Hop N Barley Beer Festival returns to Sky Park in Scotts Valley for an all-day event with beer and hard cider tasting, live music, lawn games and food from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry is free and it’s family- and dog-friendly. Tasting wristbands with a festival glass are $65.25. Proceeds benefit Santa Cruz nonprofit The Homeless Garden Project.
The Aptos Wine Wander, sponsored by Santa Cruz Mountain Wines, takes over Aptos Village for samples from some of the region’s winemakers inside nearby businesses. Shop and sip from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 at the door.
On Sunday, Woodhouse Brewing & Blending in Santa Cruz will co-host the inaugural Summer Shindig with Sylvan Music, a longtime Santa Cruz music store. The rock-focused lineup of local bands includes Kentucky Mule, Poi Rogers, Annie Rye and Wildflour and Wolf Jett. This event is free and all-ages. – Lily Belli
UPCOMING EVENTS YOU’LL LOVE
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A TREAT BEFORE YOU GO
Check out my list of the best things I ate and drank in Santa Cruz County in June for some summer treats, including a smash burger at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, a poke bowl with Monterey Bay salmon, a tender, nutty blue born cookie, and a punchy barley and kale salad.
