Gourmet Grazing on the Green Returns to Aptos Village Park
Gourmet Grazing on the Green returns to Aptos Village Park on Saturday, Oct. 11.
The food, wine and beer festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. and offers guests an afternoon of sampling gourmet dishes, fine wines, craft beers, local spirits and more.
More than 40 restaurants, wineries, breweries and artisans will take part, including Café Cruz, The Crow’s Nest, Bargetto Wines, La Vida Bella, Penny Ice Creamery, Aptos Vineyards, Venus Spirits and Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery. Live music and shaded picnic-style seating will round out the afternoon.
General admission is $104.74, designated driver tickets are $63.79 and minors ages 10–20 are $48.04.
Parking is limited at the park, but shuttles will run every 15 minutes from Cabrillo College’s lot K from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limited handicap parking will be available on site, and rideshare drop-off will be located at the top of the park.
Organizers recommend layered clothing, sun hats and sunscreen, as past years have seen warm, sunny weather. Guests are welcome to bring a blanket to relax on the shaded grassy areas.
Tickets and more information are available at sccbg.org.
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Watsonville to Host Día de Esperanza Organic Farming Festival
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County will host the Día de Esperanza Organic Farming Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 19, at 275 Lee Road, adjacent to Esperanza Community Farms.
The two-day event celebrates organic and regenerative farming practices with hands-on activities, educational experiences, and family-friendly fun. Visitors can explore the farm, learn about sustainable agriculture, and enjoy local food and seasonal festivities.
Festival organizers are also inviting artists and craft makers to participate. Creative vendors are encouraged to share their art and handmade goods, helping make the weekend colorful and engaging for the community. Interested artists can sign up in advance to showcase their work at the festival.
The festival runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, including vendor registration and event details, visit www.landtrustsantacruz.org.
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Santa Cruz Film Festival Returns for 25th Anniversary
After a brief hiatus, the Santa Cruz Film Festival is making a triumphant return this Oct. 8–12, marking its 25th anniversary with five days of independent films, parties, and community celebrations.
Founded in 2000, the festival has brought bold, independent films to the Central Coast, drawing filmmakers, cinephiles and local audiences alike. Organizers say the 2025 festival will highlight creativity, community engagement, and stories that inspire, challenge, and transform viewers.
Opening Night will take place at the historic Del Mar Theatre, a long-standing hub for cinematic events in the city. Attendees can follow the screening with the festival’s Opening Night Gala at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, a night that promises a blend of art, culinary delights, and live entertainment. Festival organizers describe it as a celebration of Santa Cruz’s bohemian spirit and enduring creativity.
Screenings will be held across multiple venues, including Santa Cruz Cinema, The 418 Project, The Colligan Theater at the Tannery, and the newly opened HWY 17 Studios.
In addition to screenings, the festival offers filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and themed parties, creating opportunities for discussion and networking long after the credits roll. The festival aims to be an artist-driven, filmmaker-forward celebration, spotlighting innovative storytelling across the moving-image medium.
The full lineup will be released in the coming weeks. For more info visit www.santacruzfilmfestivals.org
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Distinguished Artists Concert Series Celebrates its 40th Season
The Distinguished Artists Concert Series marks its 40th anniversary with a star-studded season featuring world-class pianists, acclaimed ensembles, and special benefit concerts.
The season opens Oct. 12 with a double piano concerto performance of Beethoven’s Emperor and Gershwin’s Concerto in F, featuring renowned soloists Alon Goldstein and Alexander Tutunov.
The fall lineup continues Nov. 23 with South Korean pianist HaeSun Paik performing works by Beethoven, Bartók and Schumann. On Dec. 12, Cliburn Competition finalist Clayton Stephenson takes the stage with music by Stravinsky, Keith Jarrett and Gershwin.
The spring series begins Jan. 25, 2026, with a Mozart birthday celebration led by pianist John Orlando and Ensemble San Francisco. Soprano Hyunah Yu joins Goldstein March 15 for Love Triangle, exploring the music and letters of Clara Schumann, Brahms and Robert Schumann. Duo-pianists Nikita Fitenko and Katerina Zaitseva close the series April 26 with works by Rachmaninoff, Ravel and Gershwin.
Cellist Amit Peled headlines a special benefit concert Oct. 30 at Resurrection Church in Aptos, performing works by Schumann and Chopin. Another benefit, on Nov. 30 at Peace United Church, features pianists Jeffrey Chappell and John Orlando in a four-hands program including Mozart, Ravel and Schubert.
Tickets and details are available at www.distinguishedartists.org. Early bird discounts for season tickets run through Sept. 3. Single tickets go on sale Sept. 4.