OCTOBER 3 – 4

Step into the incredible world of steam power at the Harvest Faire & Steam Festival presented by Kinetic Steam Works and Roaring Camp Railroads. Welcome Fall with heritage children’s activities like scarecrow making, pumpkin patch picking, candle making and gold panning. Behold steam-powered line shafts, player pianos, letterpresses, printing presses and more! Admission is FREE for the whole family October 3-4 and children with a Steam Train ticket get to pick out a free pumpkin from the Harvest Pumpkin Patch on Bear Mountain.

Harvest & Steam themed activities include ‘Make & Take’ Scarecrows, Blacksmith and Print Shop demonstrations, gold panning, candle making, hand car racing and much more.

More information: http://www.roaringcamp.com/events

Celebrate our wild heritage with a melodrama,historic hikes and games for kids as we honor the visionaries, valued workers and visitors that have shaped the character Big Basin over the past 100+years. Revel in the beauty of the majestic old growth redwoods that inspired the movement to Save the Trees!

More details:Big Basin Founders’ Day and Redwood Jubilee

The 11th annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival, home of one of the most splendid birding and wildlife venues in North America, is happening soon. September marks the beginning of fall migration, with wintering shorebirds arriving en masse as well warbles and other passerines. It’s in Watsonville, Sept, 24-26

More information: Monterey Bay Birding Festival

Free film festival celebrating the ocean. Fun and educational short films produced by students, amateurs and professionals on marine science and ocean conservation. 

More details at: Beneath The Waves Film Festival

We are all superheroes! Let’s celebrate our superpowers and come together as a community on bikes. Because if heroes couldn’t fly, they’d be riding bikes.

Superhero costumes encouraged.

This is a kid-centric and family-friendly ride appropriate for all ages and skill levels—from toddlers to teens, push bikes to mountain bikes. Our route will be flat and off-street on the Santa Cruz River Walk (San Lorenzo Levees). We’ll ride to the Boardwalk and back.

The route is about 2 miles and begins and ends at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street in Santa Cruz.

4pm – 5pm: Kid’s Happy Hour activities including cape making, superhero photo booth, bike decoration and helmet stenciling

5pm – 6:30pm: Bike Ride on the Santa Cruz River Walk

Organizer website: Bike Santa Cruz County

On the 11th of October From 10 am to 4 pm

FREE self-guided tour of 6 Corralitos area family-run farms.
FREE demonstrations on canning, fermentation and pickling.
FREE historical agricultural exhibitions and hands on activities.
FREE music, fresh apple juicing, farm animals and more!
Farm-fresh fun served at participating farms!
Bring the whole family for this one day only event to meet your local farmers and their families. Tour 6 family owned farms to learn how they grow our food and participate in farm activities that the whole family will enjoy. The tours are self guided and open to the public… and FREE! There’s no set agenda and you can tour at your own pace.
Just download the tour map… and GO!

Market Place activities all day long!
The Agricultural Historical Project is collaborating with COFT this year in presenting a fantastic array of farm based exhibits and hands on activities that celebrate our rich farming heritage. Stop by for a healthy farm fresh lunch, prepared by the Pajaro Incubator Kitchen! Be sure to check our events page for demonstration times and details of activities offered at participating venues.

To learn more visit:Corralitos

One more free event for the whole family. Beautiful performances at our public libraries and Tannery… let’s enjoy this amazing cultural exchange event. Learn, Dance, Enjoy Life!!!

* photo credits to: Cliff Warner

Click here to check the event schedule: Santa Cruz Ethnic Dance Festival

Saturday, September 12 from 10 am to 4 pm

Celebrate the Ohlone People of the past with those of the present at Ohlone Day. You will see traditional dancers and Ohlone demonstrators will share traditional basketry, songs, stories, tools, musical instruments, language and history. You can throw an atlatl, make a  a tule boat, try hot rock cooking, play Ohlone games, and try your hand at fire making. Event is held in the group picnic area located at in the Day Use Area. The Day Use Area is located off of Highway 9 in Felton at 101 Big Trees Park Rd Felton. This event is appropriate for all ages. Day-use parking fee is $10. More information is available at (831)335-7077 or (831) 335-3174. This event is sponsored by Mountain Parks Foundation, the Arts Council Santa Cruz County, Valley Women’s club, and California State Parks.

For more information please visit: Mountain Parks Foundation

The Santa Cruz County Festival is coming soon.  You don’t want to miss it.

September 16-20. Don’t forget to buy your tickets!

For more information visit their website: Santa Cruz County Fair

Labor Day Community Swim @ the Simpkins Family Swim Center, Monday, 9/1 from 12-4 PM. Admission is FREE, taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Let’s go to swim, play on the new “Wibit” inflatable, splash down the water slide, or challenge yourself on the climbing wall. The Boys and Girls Club will be selling tasty BBQ food. Sponsored by Santa Cruz County Parks and the Simpkins Family.

For more information please visit: Simpkins