Weekend Guide: Things to Do in Santa Cruz & Monterey, October 9-11

October's second weekend in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties is an embarrassment of riches: the Japanese Cultural Fair takes over Mission Plaza Park, Open Farm Tours throws open 15 farms across the county, Thomas and Percy roll into Roaring Camp in Halloween costume, and Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey turns 181. There are two days of Oktoberfest with motorcycle racing at the Monterey Fairgrounds, a Banff mountain film night at the Rio, the Monterey Bay Festival of Birds, and farmers markets at full fall harvest. This is your share-ready guide to the best of October 9-11, from someone who has called this coast home for more than 50 years.

I am Kieron Bery, a REALTOR® and Pricing Strategy Advisor with Century 21 Masters, and I live for these October weekends. The crowds have thinned, the light has gone golden, and every weekend feels like a harvest festival. Pick one thing or try five, but whatever you do, get out the door. Here is your plan.

Friday, October 9

Monterey Bay Festival of Birds: Day One

Friday through Sunday, October 9-11 | Events across Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and the Monterey Bay region
The Bird School Project's three-day celebration of fall migration returns for the second weekend of October. Expect field trips, workshops in nature journaling, writing, and photography, family-friendly activities, and keynote speakers across the region. Recent editions have also wrapped the weekend with a free community Birder's Night Market open to the public. Registration and the full 2026 schedule are at birdschoolproject.org/festival. Birders of every level are welcome, and binoculars are recommended.

Friday Farmers Markets

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds market, 2601 E. Lake Avenue, Watsonville: Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center, 1410 Del Monte Center, Monterey: Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Two Friday morning markets to stock the fridge before a busy weekend. Watsonville's year-round Friday market sets up right at the county fairgrounds, and Monterey's Del Monte Center market runs 8 AM to noon. Apples, winter squash, and the last of the peppers are showing up everywhere right now. Fill the cooler, then go play.

BEAT at the Quarry Amphitheater

Friday, 7:00 PM | Quarry Amphitheater, UC Santa Cruz
One of the biggest shows of the fall in Santa Cruz: BEAT, the supergroup of Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin, and Terry Bozzio, performs the music of King Crimson under the stars. The Quarry Amphitheater is a stunning open-air venue tucked into the UCSC campus, and a night of that music up there is something you will remember. Check the venue for tickets.

The Breaks at Moe's Alley

Friday night | Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz
Moe's Alley keeps the Friday tradition rolling with The Breaks. Small room, big sound, dancing encouraged. Check moesalley.com for the showtime and tickets before you head out.

Biers & Gears: Oktoberfest & Moto: Night One

Friday, 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey
Oktoberfest and motorcycle racing collide at the fairgrounds. Friday is open practice from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the arena, with a beer garden, food vendors, and live music filling out the festival grounds. Saturday is race day. Prost, and let the engines sing.

Saturday, October 10

Saturday Farmers Markets

Aptos Farmers Market, Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Westside Santa Cruz Farmers Market, Mission Street Extension at Western Drive: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Scotts Valley Farmers Market, Graham Plaza, 219 Mt. Hermon Road: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Three Saturday markets, one county, zero wrong choices. Aptos at Cabrillo is the big weekend ritual, the Westside market is a Santa Cruz institution, and Scotts Valley stays cozy above the fog. October is peak apple and winter squash season, so load up.

Japanese Cultural Fair

11:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Mission Plaza Park, 103 Emmett Street, Santa Cruz | Free
The Japanese Cultural Fair takes over Mission Plaza Park this Saturday, and it is one of the most joyful family events on the calendar. Taiko drumming, tea ceremony, martial arts demonstrations, Japanese food, arts and crafts, kids' activities, ikebana and bonsai displays, and live music and dance all afternoon. Admission is free, and free parking with a shuttle runs from the Santa Cruz Government Center. The fair usually lands in June, but the 2026 edition moved to this October date. Do not miss it.

T-Birds on the Wharf

8:00 AM to 3:00 PM | Santa Cruz Wharf, 21 Municipal Wharf | Free
Classic, vintage, and retro Ford Thunderbirds line the wharf from 1955s through the early-2000s retro birds, with owners coming from all over the Bay Area. It is free to wander, the cars are gorgeous against the ocean, and the wharf's shops and restaurants are right there when you need a snack. A relaxed, fun, very Santa Cruz Saturday morning.

Open Farm Tours: South County Day

Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Farms across Santa Cruz County
The Santa Cruz County Open Farm Tours open 15 farms over two days, and the $25 Friends & Family Weekend Pass covers a carload of up to five for both days. Saturday visits south county farms including Live Earth Farm, Esperanza Community Farms, Dos Aguilas Olive Grove, Blossom's Biodynamic Farm, Thomas Farm, and Live Oak School Farm & Birdsong. Meet the farmers, pick produce, and taste what the county grows. Tickets and maps at openfarmtours.com.

Thomas & Percy's Halloween Party at Roaring Camp

Saturday and Sunday, sessions through the day | Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
Thomas the Tank Engine and Percy roll into Roaring Camp in Halloween costume for dress-up train rides through the redwoods. The event day runs roughly 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with set train departure sessions (10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM are typical), so plan to arrive about an hour before your departure. Tickets start around $25 to $27, kids under 1 ride free, and parking is $10. It sells out, so book at roaringcamp.com now. If you miss it, it runs again October 17-18 and 24-25.

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night

Saturday, 7:00 PM (doors 6:00 PM) | Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz | $24
Big-screen adventure on a Saturday night, and for a great cause: this screening benefits the Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship. The lineup is all-new films fresh from the Banff festival, headlined by Best Day Ever, which took the Audience Choice award and Best Film: Mountain Sports. Tickets are available through the Rio.

DOMi & JD BECK at The Catalyst

Doors 8:00 PM, show 9:00 PM | The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz
The virtuosic keyboard-and-drums duo DOMi & JD BECK bring their "WHO ASKED?" tour to the Catalyst for a Saturday night of jaw-dropping jazz-funk that has to be seen live. Tickets at catalystclub.com.

Biers & Gears: Oktoberfest & Moto: Race Day

Saturday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM | Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey
Race day at the fairgrounds: motorcycle racing runs 2:00 to 5:00 PM in Pattee Arena with awards at 7:00 PM, surrounded by the full Oktoberfest setup of beer, food vendors, and live music. Loud, festive, and unlike anything else on the calendar.

Meet the Makers Art & Wine Walk

Saturday, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, starting at Devendorf Park | $50
The 7th annual Meet the Makers Art & Wine Walk tours artist-owned galleries in downtown Carmel with Monterey County wine tastings and food along the way. It is the perfect civilized way to spend a golden October evening on the Peninsula. Details at carmelcalifornia.com.

Pinnacles Film Festival

Saturday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | King City Theater, 200 Broadway Street, King City
Down in southern Monterey County, the inaugural Pinnacles Film Festival launches with the theme "Stories on the Edge," celebrating storytelling and emerging film in King City. A brand-new festival worth a road trip for movie lovers.

An Evening of Poetry

Saturday, 5:30 PM | Pacific Grove Library
A free, low-key evening of poetry hosted with the Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium at the Pacific Grove Library. Words, warmth, and October chill outside the windows. A lovely quiet counterpoint to a busy day.

Sunday, October 11

Live Oak / Eastside Farmers Market

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | 15th Avenue at East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Sunday morning on the east side, year-round and neighborhood-chill. Grab your fall haul and walk a block to Seabright Beach for an October picnic with the waves rolling in. Apples are at their peak, so do not leave without a bag.

Marina Farmers Market

10:00 AM to 2:00 PM | 215 Reservation Road, Marina
Everyone's Harvest runs this sunny, family-friendly Sunday market in Marina, across the bridge in Monterey County. A relaxed way to start your Peninsula day before heading to the wharf party.

Open Farm Tours: North County Day

10:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Farms across north Santa Cruz County
Sunday's lineup heads north with Pie Ranch, Swanton Berry Farm, Rodoni Farms, the Homeless Garden Project, Beeline Blooms, Post Street Farm, Flip Flop Farm, and Santa Cruz Permaculture. One $25 pass covers both days for a carload of five, so go south on Saturday and north on Sunday.

Thomas & Percy's Halloween Party: Day Two

Sunday sessions | Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton
If you could not snag a Saturday departure, Sunday sessions run the same dress-up Halloween train rides through the redwoods. Check roaringcamp.com for remaining availability and departure times.

181st Fisherman's Wharf Birthday Party

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (the wharf site lists festivities through 9:00 PM) | Old Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey
Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey turns 181, and the party is free: guided wharf walks, birthday cake, and activities all day on one of the most storied spots on the bay. Stroll the stalls, watch the sea lions, and have a slice of history. Details at montereywharf.com.

AC Myles & Band: Stratocaster Masters at Moe's Alley

Doors 1:00 PM, show 2:00 PM | Moe's Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz | $18
A Sunday matinee of Stratocaster guitar masters with AC Myles & Band at Moe's Alley. Eighteen bucks, an afternoon of six-string fireworks, and still plenty of daylight left afterward. The perfect way to ease out of the weekend.

Monterey Bay Festival of Birds: Final Day

Sunday | Events across the Monterey Bay region
The festival wraps up its third day with the last field trips, workshops, and family programming of the weekend. If you have been meaning to try birding, this is the gentlest door into it on the entire coast. Check birdschoolproject.org/festival for what is still open.

All Weekend: Outdoors, Family & Fall Flavors

Monarch Butterflies: Watch the Season Arrive at Natural Bridges

Natural Bridges State Beach, West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Monarch butterflies typically begin arriving at the Natural Bridges Monarch Grove around mid-October, so this is the exact weekend to catch the first of them drifting in. Peak numbers come in late November and early December at the only State Monarch Preserve in California. Free docent-led walks run through the season, and even before the grove fills, the eucalyptus loop is a gorgeous fall walk. Bring the kids and start a family tradition.

Free Docent Tours at Elkhorn Slough Reserve

Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM | Elkhorn Slough Reserve, near Moss Landing | Free
One of the best birding spots on the bay runs free docent-led tours both weekend mornings. Otters, harbor seals, shorebirds, and the quiet of the slough, all within a short drive. Great for families, photographers, and anyone who needs a reset.

Beer, Wine & Cozy October Pours

A few local favorites for the weekend:
Humble Sea Brewing Co., 820 Swift Street, Santa Cruz: a sunny Westside taproom favorite with playful small-batch beers and a big patio.
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, 402 Ingalls Street #27, Santa Cruz: organic brews in the heart of the Westside tasting room district.
Shanty Shack Brewing, 138 Fern Street, Santa Cruz: a neighborhood taproom just off Soquel Avenue with a relaxed local crowd.
Birichino Winery, 204 Church Street, Santa Cruz: a laid-back downtown tasting room pouring Santa Cruz Mountain varietals.
MJA Vineyards, 328 Ingalls Street, and Big Basin Vineyards, 525 Pacific Avenue: two Westside tasting rooms where the grapes come from our own mountains.
Vino by the Sea, 55 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz: a glass of wine with an ocean view right on the wharf, perfect after the T-Birds cruise.

Coming Up: Mark Your Calendar

Thomas & Percy's Halloween Party continues at Roaring Camp on October 17-18 and 24-25. If the kids love trains, book now, because these weekends sell out.

Wednesday sailboat races run at the Santa Cruz Harbor through October, so grab a spot on the jetty and watch the fleet round the buoys on a midweek evening.

Monarch peak is on its way: late November into early December is when Natural Bridges fills with butterflies, so make the early-arrival visit this weekend and plan a return.

Shareable Social Captions

Planning to post about the weekend? Here are some ready-to-copy captions for Instagram and Facebook, written the way I would share my own plans with friends.

Saturday is the day: the Japanese Cultural Fair takes over Mission Plaza Park with taiko drums, tea ceremony, and the best food booths in town, T-Birds are lined up on the wharf all morning, and Open Farm Tours opens the gates to 15 farms across the county. I am starting at the market and ending at the fair. Who is coming with me? 🎊 🍎 #SantaCruzEvents #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #WeekendInSantaCruz #SantaCruzLife #MontereyBay

Parents, this one is for you: Thomas and Percy are rolling into Roaring Camp in Halloween costumes this weekend for dress-up train rides through the redwoods. My favorite part is that it runs three weekends, so you have time. The kids will lose their minds, and honestly, so will I. 🚂 🎃 #SantaCruzEvents #WeekendInSantaCruz #ThingsToDoSantaCruz #SantaCruzLife

Two counties, one perfect October weekend: meet the makers at Carmel's Art & Wine Walk, toast 181 years of Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, and catch Oktoberfest with actual motorcycle racing at the fairgrounds. I will be the one with cake in one hand and a wine pour in the other. 🍷 🥂 #MontereyBay #SantaCruzEvents #WeekendInSantaCruz #ThingsToDoSantaCruz

My full weekend plan: farmers markets at peak harvest, mountain films at the Rio benefiting our trail stewards, monarchs starting to drift into Natural Bridges, and a Sunday birthday cake on the wharf. October on the Central Coast is the best kept secret in California, and the secret is staying with us. 🌊 🦋 #WeekendInSantaCruz #SantaCruzEvents #MontereyBay #SantaCruzLife #ThingsToDoSantaCruz

Enjoy the weekend, everyone. Whether you are drumming at the Japanese Cultural Fair, riding a Halloween train through the redwoods, tasting wine in Carmel, or just walking the wharf with a slice of birthday cake, I hope this October weekend gives you exactly what you need. And if you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Santa Cruz or Monterey County, I would love to hear from you. Call me at (831) 247-5719 or visit the contact page. I want you to make informed decisions, and I love helping people find their place in this beautiful corner of California.

Talk soon.
Kieron Bery, REALTOR® with Century 21 Masters