This is a great festival for art and wine. I purchased the full combo package at $40 that included…read morea wine glass and 25 tokens. The tastings varied between 3 to 5 tokens per 2-3 ounce pour. It lasted the three hours that I attended this event. I prefer to attend this event on Sunday, better deals and lesser crowds. Come prepared to sample great wines and bring cash to pay for the cool art as some vendors will offer you discounts by paying cash.

Very nice first experience in beautiful and sunny Capitola. I was so happy to see people and see…read moretons of SUN! We arrived passed 4 pm, so no problem finding parking in that huge parking lot where you pay per hour (I found 50 cents per hour to be super cheap!). We walked over the area with wine tasting and art selling and just loved the vibe, mostly because I am social and need to see lots of people from time to time (although at moments felt overwhelmed). From the parking lot area to the event we walked I would say less than 10 minutes. It was very pleasant. We did not care about the wine tasting part (we don't want to pretend we are connisseurs when we are not) but I liked to observe and admire various artists, being an artist on the side myself. I don't understand the no photo policy of some booths. Honestly in this day and time where your portfolio is on Instagram, who cares if someone takes picture of your art? It is scared of being copied? I dont get it, you cannot control that from happening plus is a turn off (at least for me). That said, there was a lot of great arts and crafts there and loved also to see the pretty ladies with sundresses, cute hats and glass of wine in hand strolling towards the beach. There was a concert going on by the water, creating an amazing summer cohesive atmosphere of fun and festive mood. I will go back next year.

First timer at the tequila & taco music festival...Had an absolute blast!? Who would of thought…read morecombining my two favorite things would bring so much joy! We arrived early and wow there was surely a line to meet us. It was pretty smooth entering when you arrive when the event starts. Now let's taco bout how awesome this event was!? We opted to get the souvenir glass with the one margarita drink purchase. We walked up to the margarita stands trying to see the options. One of the bartenders came up to us and asked, do you want to try the best margarita you'll ever had!? I mean who could say no to that, we were like game on! I was a bit skeptical at first because that's a tall order to serve. Once I took my first sip, my eyes lit up and I immediately took in all the flavor. I have to say, that was the best margarita I've ever tasted! It was a perfect combination of sweetness, watermelon flavor, salt, and spicy mix. Big shout out to Red and Aria for fixing a mean delicious drink! I set out to find the best al pastor tacos and I sure found many. So many choices of wonderfully authentic Mexican food. But, it's all about the tacos! There were carne asada fries, al pastor galore, lobster tacos, and so much more! The event got more and more busy as the day went on so we appreciated coming when they opened. We got to go home with full happy bellies, souvenir t-shirts, and souvenir glasses. We'll definitely be back for years to come! Cheers to tacos and tequila!

Took my niece and nephew here and my nephew kept screaming "best day ever" while running around, so…read moreI'd say this place is a resounding success! We went at around 9 pm on July 4th and there was still a lot of people but not enough to dampen the experience thankfully. Tickets are easy to grab online and there is ample parking available because it's in the great mall. When we first walked in we were greeted with lots and lots of foam. Foam in the air like its snowing, and foam on the ground. My nephew was so excited and kept running through it excitedly which was cute. We were also told the last show of the day was about to start so we luckily caught it. Loved watching all 3 performers - aerial, juggling, and hoops. From there we just walked around and saw as much as we could. The little rooms they have with different decorations and aesthetics are great for pictures and selfies. There are so many good photo ops that I basically spent an hour being the munchkins personal photographer :) was a great time

Saw this event on my feed on Facebook and brought my daughters over. They both absolutely love it!…read more There is so much magic on this exhibit! It was just beautiful! It is so fun to see them laughing and skipping and jumping around. It really melts my heart. Yeah. Lots of photo ops for all of us. The exhibit also had a small acrobatic performance and a show that a transformer changed into the robot from the car. This was not communicated. We figured out when it was too late. Wish these timeline were either on their website for informed when people checked in. The flowers are beautiful to look at but it had the plastic smell. Also there are some rooms that we just can't breathe with so much chemicals..: hence one star off

My husband and I went to the Santa Cruz Blues Festival on Saturday, May 25, 2013. We got to the…read moreparking area at 10:00am and took the shuttle bus to the concert. We had to wait in line for 2 hours to get in the concert. We missed the first band. When we got in the concert there weren't any spaces left to put our blanket in the main concert area. We went to the far west side near the fence and put our blanket down. As soon as we stood up to dance we were told by a security man with a blue shirt to sit down and there is "NO DANCING". I told him I wanted to speak with his supervisor because the information we got via email said bring your dancing shoes. His supervisor told me if we did not sit down he was going to throw us out of the concert. I asked if we could get a refund. He told me to go to the front gate to get the refund. I went to the front gate and was told I could not have a refund. I told two Santa Cruz police officers what happened. They said we should be able to dance. There are no rules that said no dancing. I spoke to the head of security and he said if you dance people sitting can not see the concert. We left the concert at 12:30pm because the only reason we went there was to dance, enjoy the music and see the musicians. From where we were we could not do any of these things. We have never been treated so badly at a blues festival before. We have gone to hundreds of festivals. We will never again attend this festival!

The fest was fun. It was cool to see bands that I have loved for a long time. The setting is…read morebeautiful and the sound quality was awesome. I was not a fan of having to buy food tickets to get grub. We ended up having more food tickets than we could use..LAME...And the bathrooms were horrid. But for music this place is pretty cool. Check a show out here if you get the chance.

Literally, my only complaint is how busy it gets (especially for parking) and hard to walk on the…read moresidewalks it is. But just being able to walk down with family or friends and admire all the beautiful lighting and decorated homes is such a vibe!

Crowded and it's really only one block that's decorated. The surrounding blocks are normal. Highly…read morerecommend coming earlier in the evening to avoid the super crowds and park a couple blocks over to walk. I can't believe they let people sell the lighted balloons here, like Christmas in the Park. It's $20 / balloon, fyi you can buy 10 of those balloons on Amazon for the same price. But tis the season? Almost every house on the ONE block is super decorated and babies/kids love it. It's a good little stop by.

What a fun day and experience...it was our first time at the clam chowder cook off and it was a…read moreblast. We decided to go on Saturday which was for amateurs, Sunday was the pros. 6 tastes for $15-you think it's not much but by the last one, I was getting full, lol. You are given a kit with one cup and one spoon so don't lose or drop them! We got there a little later than I wanted and it was pretty packed by then so next year I'm going to pre-buy my kit. The vendors are set up along both sides of the boardwalk from one end to the other but since there was such a large turnout, it was very crowded. So if you don't like being pressed up against a lot of people this event is not for you. But if you don't mind crowds and love clam chowder, I'd highly recommend going to this event. Good food and good friends with the ocean as the back drop made for a perfect day.

Awesome annual fundraiser held at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an ideal setting for engaging in…read moreother activities on site, but be prepared for crowds and long lines in the afternoon. Online ticket sales ended 2 days before the first day of the event. Then on the day of, tasting kits went on sale at 10am for those without advance tickets, and there were already lines at the Parks & Rec booths along the street side of the park, but it moved quickly just like the tasting lines later. The cheapest package, costing $15, included 6 tasting tickets (plus one red and one white ticket for voting), with 43 different clam chowder booths to choose from during the amatuer competition on Saturday, stretching from the boardwalk colonnade near the arcades to the ferris wheel and giant dipper roller coaster. Only 12 of the 43 were manhattan chowders. Of course I saved all my tickets for the creamy boston style concoctions... so yummy! The competition consisted of four categories, amateur chefs on Saturday (Boston and Manhattan), professional teams on Sunday (Boston and Manhattan). In addition to winners in each category, prizes were awarded for People's Choice, Most Tasted, and Best Theme. I'm glad I stuck with just the 6 tasting tickets because these were good-sized helpings, and I was already full after the first 4 or 5 cups. Yup, between oyster crackers and mini slices of bread, many of the chowder tents offer more carbs than you'd expect, to fill you up fast. Arriving early before the crowds showed up, I was able to carefully decide which ones I would want to try, observing the peeling, chopping, and mixing of all the ingredients during the prep and cooking period... potatoes, bacon, herbs and spices, and lots of butter! And of course clams. In fact, I was entertained by the decor, costumes, and characters of many of these chowder tents, with clever names like "Invasion of the Clam Snatchers", "Clams Gone Wild", and a Dr. Seuss themed "Clam I Am". The six chowders I tried were: Speer BBQ, Rosie's Clam & Get It, Rocky Horror Clam Show, Clams of the Caribbean, La Clam De La Clam, and The Silence of the Clams (this last one winning multiple first place awards at the Pirate Stage results show in the end, for the 2025 event). Of those I tried, my fave, the Rocky Horror Clam Show, won me over with the heavy bacon flavor and thick and creamy stock. Clams of the Caribbean was a close 2nd based on taste. And Speer BBQ had the best bread IMO. In addition, La Clam De La Clam had the cutest costumes, and Rosie's and Silence of the Clams best decor and setup (along with Rocky Horror which got my People's Choice ballot). I know that in trying only 6 out of the 43, I probably missed out on some other really good ones, but that just gives me more incentive to come back next year :D

A lot of nice artists from the Bay Area bought me my first original artwork I reframed it on the…read moreway home at Hobby lobby can't wait to hang it up in my kitchen someday once I move

This festival has been going on for over 30 years! I enjoyed coming every now and then as a kid. My…read morefamily really enjoyed the music, art, and food. San Juan is a small town so it gets pretty packed. Come early since parking is limited. Bring cash since there are a few parking lots you can pay to park if you can't find a neighborhood parking. I could also only find one atm in town. Many of the merchants took cards. There was a lot to do for the kids and adults. There is a alcohol garden and vendors who offer non-alcoholic drinks. The restaurants get really packed. Wear your hat it's usually gets really hot! We will be back next year!

This review is for Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls specifically. They really are the best cinnamon…read morerolls ever! Huge, freshly baked, served warm, ooey and gooey, with the perfect amount of frosting (i.e., A LOT of frosting), surprisingly not too sweet, and the Tres Leches cinnamon roll was genius! Drenched with deliciousness. I'm drooling as I write this. The staff is also super friendly! If they're in town, you must go!!

I've been to the OC County Fair, Alameda County Fair, a bunch in the East Coast, and now this one a…read morefew times. I do enjoy the Santa Cruz County Fair, but it has its negatives and positives. Positives: - more local activities and exhibits (you can feel the pride!) - more little shops and carts - camels!!! - more agriculture (specific flower exhibits, specific tree exhibits, etc) - it has some of the same things you'd find at the other fairs, like the miniature pig races, a magic act, a Ferris wheel, some other rides, food vendors like funnel cakes and BBQ. Negatives: - no fireworks (like at Alameda County Fair) - high ticket price ($22/adult, $15 parking) - fewer daily promotions for lower entrance fees - smaller ride area (some fairs have 2 sections: one for older kids, one for younger kids) - smaller fair overall - fewer exhibits and shows (ie, no motocross, no horse racing) - no large concerts Overall it is very fun to attend with friends and loved ones, but it can be pretty expensive, and you don't need to spend all day here since there isn't that much to do compared to other County Fairs. I can't complain though... I always have fun here.

Food trucks, live entertainment, and mushroom madness at Roaring Camp Railroads... We had so much…read morefun this past weekend! Such a well-organized event guaranteeing a good time, whether or not you're a mushroom lover. Food offerings stayed true to the theme of this festival. We got some chicken bacon flautas from SC Eatery, stuffed mushroom skewers and pork belly tacos with glazed oyster mushrooms from the Vegan Hood Chefs, new england style mushroom chowder from Far West Fungi, and some sweet treats from the Penny Ice Creamery offering flavors like candy cap mushroom (though I just got a scoop of fresh mint chip) and Santa Cruz Fungi's popsicles with benefits (tried the key lion's mane pie, it was decent). We loved picnicking in front of the music stage with several bands providing awesome tunes throughout the day. Hay bales were provided, but we brought our own mat to lay on the grass, and there was a ton of seating (picnic tables, etc.) throughout the entire event space too. There were also several stages with different mushroom-related presentations at different times, to entertain and educate the public, and cooking demonstrations as well where the audience could taste the creations (the oyster bahn mi was yum). A short nature walk in the forest led us to our favorite stage at the festival, among the towering trees, where we got to hear funny and interesting mushroom hunting stories from David Aurora and a panel of four mushroom enthusiasts/mycologists. We had some laughs and also learned a thing or two, especially about the glowing jack-o-lantern mushroom. We checked out the art displays and merchandise vendors as well, and didn't leave empty-handed. Picked up some wormwood from Forest + Sea Dreams (home of the original sea shrooms), a nicely designed banana slug shirt from Erin Rose Prints, and of course assorted mushrooms from Far West Fungi.

From the owner: Santa Cruz Mountain Mushroom Festival is the premier celebration of all things fungi—set in the…read moremajestic redwoods of Roaring Camp Railroad. Our 2024 debut welcomed over 3,000 mushroom lovers for a vibrant weekend of exploration, education, and community. With 50+ expert speakers, world-renowned chefs, hands-on DIY workshops, live music, nature walks, art, and more, there's something for everyone—from curious kids to serious mycologists. Whether you're into medicinal mushrooms, gourmet cooking, cultivation, or just the magic of the mycelial world, this is the place to connect, learn, and grow. Join us under the redwoods for the ultimate mushroom experience!

I was so excited to go to the Strawberry Festival for the first time but was unfortunately very…read moreunderwhelmed. There's not enough strawberry if that makes sense. There's really only the main street that has food with strawberries in it like the strawberry tacos, strawberry tamales, strawberry pizza, etc. The rest of the streets are just full of assorted vendors and other food trucks. I was expecting stands with strawberry jams, jellies, candy, I mean the possibilities are limitless. I tried the big 3, strawberry tacos, strawberry tamales, and strawberry pizza. The taco line was the longest one at the entire festival and they were mediocre. The tortilla is just colored pink and I could barely taste the strawberry in the salsa and the strawberry bits on top also didnt add any strawberry flavor so it was basically just a sub par street taco. You get 4 per order but really not worth the $20. The strawberry tamale was the star and the only thing I would ever consider going back for. It was piping hot with whipped cream and fresh strawberry on top. There's no filling but it's still packed with strawberry flavor and I went back to get another before leaving. The strawberry pizza was good, fresh made so there may be a bit of a wait. I just wish there was more strawberry pieces and jam on top because it looked pretty much like a slice of cheese pizza with a sprinkle of strawberry. Parking was $10 in the city plaza structure, I recommend going early to get a spot as it was pretty full when we left. Overall I wouldn't go back again but good to experience the one time.

Strawberry Festival comes by annually and definitely brings in the crowd. You can tell everyone was…read morehappily strolling around taking it in. So many amazing foods and drinks to choose from, y first strawberry tamale!! Vendors selling crafts and advertising products! If you've never been, you've gotta go!