WEEKENDER
Your cheat sheet for eating well and going out in Santa Cruz County.
Oct. 22, 2026
SPOOKY FUN & CHILI COOK-OFF
Author Obi Kaufmann will read from and sign his newest book, “California Inside Out,” at Bookshop Santa Cruz this evening at 7. Check out a preview of this event and a peek inside the environmentalist’s latest work by Lookout contributor Wallace Baine here.
Midterms aren’t for a couple more weeks, but you can cast your vote this weekend at two food events. On Saturday, the annual Boardwalk Chili Cook-Off returns to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Purchase a tasting kit for $15 to sample chilis of all kinds and vote for your favorite. Across town at the Santa Cruz Portuguese Hall, eight chefs will compete to create the best vegan mac and cheese at the first Santa Cruz Mac Down. Tickets are $10 to $15.
Spooky fun starts this weekend. On Saturday afternoon, the Santa Cruz Harbor will transform into a Haunted Harbor, with trick-or-treating, Halloween activities and a festive atmosphere for the whole family. On Saturday night, a Witches Ball will be held at the Brookdale Lodge, one of the county’s most haunted spaces. On Sunday, visit the Castro Adobe State Historic Park in Watsonville to celebrate Mexican heritage at Día De Los Muertos, and Capitola Village hosts a Halloween Parade, with trick-or-treating at participating businesses. – Lily Belli
UPCOMING EVENTS YOU’LL LOVE
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FAVORITE MOCKTAIL MENU
HULA’S ISLAND GRILL
“Good selection, nice ambiance.”
ICYMI: ARTS & DINING STORIES
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A TREAT BEFORE YOU GO
Mixing engineer Math Bishop worked on Taylor Swift’s Grammy-nominated album “Red” and has credits with bands like The Killers and Modest Mouse. After more than a decade in Los Angeles, he moved to Aptos for a slower pace, and he’s hoping to get plugged into the local music scene around Santa Cruz County. Read the story here.
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